In order to prevent sun induced damage, one needs to apply a sunscreen or a sunblock. However, synthetic sunblocks and sun protection products may lead to breakouts. One can however make use of natural substances and some minerals to make a home-made sunscreen which prevents our delicate from harsh UV radiation. Here is the formulation.
Use this natural sunscreen to prevent your glowing skin from getting dull in the sun.
3. Tomato Massage
This is a simple home remedy which has excellent results when used consistently. Cut a tomato in half. Then rub the inner surface all over your face. You can do this for the entire skin, but that would require lots of tomatoes. Make sure that the tomato is not refrigerated. If it is frozen, it feels good, but it does not provide all that therapeutic properties.
Tomato contains lycopene. This is a carotenoid nutrient which helps the body quickly recover from sun damage.[3]
4. Take Steam
Yes, it is pretty simple, but extremely effective. Your goal is to get radiant skin. But, that is difficult to achieve unless your skin has the natural release of sebum. You see, sebum is very important. Lots of sebum and your skin looks oily. If there is lack of sebum, then the skin looks dull. So, there has to be just the optimum flow of sebum. For that, one should take steam.
Prepare steam using a vaporizer, humidifier or just by boiling water. Let your face take the steam and cover your head with a towel. Do this for about 5 minutes. It opens up skin pores [4] and promotes sweating, which is great for the skin.
5. Sleep More
Many people, even dermatologists talk about something which is known as "beauty sleep". Well, it is for real. Sleep is a very important biological process. One should try to get at least
9 hours of sleep each night. This much sleep may leave you a little lethargic at the morning. But, the skin should be visibly better.
During sleep, one should try to avoid distractions. During sleep, our body performs most of the regeneration and repair work. Allow the skin to properly regenerate each day by sleeping as well as you can. [5]
6. Dab some Honey ( for the sparkling skin )
Get ample amount of honey. It is better if you have organic, filtered honey. Massage it onto the skin. Let it sit for about 15 minutes. All this while, save yourself from ants. After that, wash it with warm water. This leaves the skin with a brilliant glow which mimics as though you got a glowing facial.
There are many health benefits of applying pure honey on the skin.
- It contains natural sugars which create bright glow on the face.
- It provides antioxidant power to the skin. This way the skin is better equipped for dealing with free radicals.
- Honey is a mild natural antibiotic. It can help to kill acne bacteria, thus reducing breakouts.
- Honey is also an exfoliant. It dissolves away dirt, grease and dead skin cells from the surface of skin.
- It provides nutrition to the skin.
7. Glycerin and Clove Essential Oil
This is a home remedy which I have perfected for glowing skin. It is pretty unique combination, and I stumbled across by chance. This is the story behind it. Clove essential oil is one of the few natural substances that benefit in cystic acne. But, it cannot be applied directly to the skin as it is highly irritating. Clove oil is really very powerful. So, I diluted it in a mixture of rose water and glycerin ( vegetable glycerin ). One can also use jojoba oil in place of glycerine, but there is one difference. Glycerin is a humectant ( attracts moisture ). It stores moisture from the environment and locks it into the skin. This gives a fuller, flushed look which makes the skin look well hydrated.
- Ingredients
Clove essential oil
Glycerin
Rose water
- Directions / How to use
To about 150 ml of glycerin, add about 50 ml rose water and 10 drops clove essential oil. There you go. This is your daily moisturiser for dull skin.
8. Potato Mask
This face mask is excellent for reducing unwanted skin, that is to get a fairer complexion. Potato has a natural bleaching action. Therefore, it lightens the skin. When it is mixed with lemon juice, it forms a powerful skin lightening home remedy.
- Ingredients
Potato
Lemon juice
- Directions / How to use
Mash a potato with its skin. Add 10 drops of lemon juice to a cup of mashed potato. Mix it well and then apply it wherever you need. If you have pimples, then it may sting. However, it is not comedogenic and won't aggravate breakouts. Apply it in a thin layer and keep it on the skin for about 30 minutes. Then wash it off with warm water. Do this routine at night only, because lemon juice makes the skin photosensitive. Therefore, one should use this home remedy prior to going out in the sun.
In the morning, apply a sunscreen and then head out in the sun.
9. Egg Face Mask ( for thin, sagging skin )
As we age, our skin becomes thinner and it starts to sag. This is accompanied by a concurrent dullness of skin. This can be improved by applying eggs on your skin. Eggs are excellent in terms of nutrition. They contains small amount of carbs, healthy fats and lots of protein. This protein when applied directly to the skin helps to keep it taut, preventing sag. When the skin is naturally stretched, it looks more radiant and less dull.
- Ingredients
Egg whites ( from 2 eggs )
Pineapple juice
- Directions / How to use
Take the egg whites out from 2 eggs. You can also directly buy egg whites at a body building store ( they mostly use egg whites ). Then add few drops of pineapple juice. Mix it together. Leave the mixture for about 15 minutes. Then apply on the skin, or even your facial skin. Apply a thin coat of this mixture. It would smell egg like and somewhat unpleasant, but you have got to bear this. Keep it on the skin for about 20 minutes. One should be able to feel a stretchy sensation on the skin, which means that the remedy is working. Wash it after that. Apply moisturiser over this, as the skin would have dried by now.
- Why it works ?
There is a secret behind choosing pineapple juice. Pineapple contains an enzyme called bromelain, which breaks down protein externally. This breaks down the protein in egg whites into a simpler form, which is easily absorbed through the skin. This improves the efficacy of this treatment.
10. A Glass of Carrot Juice
Drink a glass of carrot juice every day. Make sure you follow this routine without fail. This simple inclusion in diet can do wonders for your overall health, and of course, lend you glowing skin.
- Carrot juice taken from orange carrots is an excellent source of beta-carotene. This is also a carotenoid, like lycopene, but more importantly the body uses it as Vitamin A. This vitamin is essential for proper cell turnover rate. This makes sure that your skin cells are shedding and regenerating at a regular pace.
- Secondly, beta carotene can get stored under our skin in fat cells [6].When the body gets more beta carotene than it is using at that time, some of it is released into the fat cells under our skin. This makes our skin looks orange, and thus achieve a natural glow. Some people may not like this orange colour on skin, while others may prefer this healthy colour.
11. Yogurt - Turmeric Face Pack
This is a really excellent face pack for getting glowing skin. Take about 2 tablespoon of yogurt ad add 1/2 tablespoon turmeric. Mix it nicely. Then plaster it on your face in a thin layer. Let the pack sit on your face for about 20 minutes. Then wash this mixture away. This face pack has many health benefits.
- Yogurt performs skin cleansing. It contains lactic acid which lightens the skin.
- Turmeric adds slight glow to the skin, although it may add a yellowish tinge which goes away in some days. Turmeric is strongly anti-inflammatory [7]. It reduces acne, pimples and redness on the skin, which attract unwanted attention.
12. Fuller's Earth Face Mask
Fuller's earth, also known as Multani mitti ( soil from Multan ) is a kind of clay which is renowned for its excellent properties. It has been use in many cultures for application on the skin, a tradition which continues to this day. One can get Fuller's earth locally. This is how it is to be applied.
- Ingredients
Fuller's Earth
Blender
Rose Water
- Directions / How to use
You normally Fuller's Earth in chunks of clay. This needs to be beaten down to an ultra fine powder. Put Fuller's Earth in a blender or grinder and turn it into a fine powder, the finer the better. Then add rosewater to this clay and make a mud like consistency. Apply this on the face and keep it for 1 hour.
- Why it works ?
Fuller's earth is an excellent toxin remover. It extracts toxins from the skin through capillary action, thus leaving the skin cleansed and toxin free. This reduces burden on the blood to release toxins, thus making skin healthier.
" Bentonite clay also produces a similar effect. "
13. Papaya Face Mask
Papaya is one of the best natural substances for achieving naturally radiant skin. It contains many skin friendly nutrients like lycopene, Vitamin C and many polyphenols. These nutrients are great for boosting skin's texture and external appearance. However, papaya would not stick well to the skin when used pure. So, you need to add some more ingredients to bind the face mask together.
- Ingredients
Mashed papaya
Ground rice
Yogurt
- Directions / How to use
Take about half cup of mashed papaya. Add 2 tablespoon of crushed rice to add a gel like consistency. Yogurt makes the consistency even better. Add 2 tablespoon of yogurt. Mix it for some time using a spoon and then apply on skin in a thick layer. Allow the papaya to perform its skin exfoliation and rejuvenation work for about 20 minutes. Then wash it away. This treatment leaves the skin exfoliated and cleansed. The skin looks brighter and healthier.
14. Diet
It is important to reflect your diet to make sure that you get all the essential nutrients much more than the RDI. The minimum dietary allowance are made on the basis of the minimum requirement of any vitamin or nutrient. However, our body can use much more than that amount. So, make sure that your diet provides you with lots of Vitamins, Minerals and micro - Nutrients.
Although all nutrients are required by the body, some Vitamins and Minerals have been associated with healthy skin. So, be extra sure about these ones.
Vitamins and Minerals for healthy skin.
- Biotin ( Vitamin B 7 ) - Arguably the most important vitamin for healthy skin, hair and nails.
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Zinc
Select foods that are exceptionally rich in these nutrients and incorporate them in your diet.
15. Fish Oil
The oil of fatty fish, like salmon, or cod is excellent for skin. Salmon oil contains omega - 3 fatty acids which help to lower inflammation and help one achieve flawless skin. You can either fish oil in supplement form, or eat fish directly.
Enjoy salmon with thyme and meat tenderizer. Fish twice a week would give you glowing skin.
Herbal Remedies for Glowing Skin
Women , and even men in ancient times too were obsessed with achieving flawless glowing skin. Many ancient medicinal systems like Ayurveda and ancient Egyptian medicine had devised herbal remedies for this effect. These are some of them which you should look into.
- Ayurveda prescibes the use of sesame oil, aloe vera, turmeric and sandalwood for flawless skin.
- TCM ( Traditional Chinese Medicine ) believes that dull skin is a result of low body qi ( life force ). There are numerous remedies for this condition, like chrysanthemum flower.
- Native Americans too use Aloe Vera to get healthy, supple and radiant skin.
References
