Skin is the largest organ of our body, and it is a mirror of what is going on inside the body, and quite often than not, we are faced with various issues plaguing our skin. Clear, healthy skin is a dream for millions of people, and we end up spending money- a lot of money, on skincare products promising miraculous products, only to be left disappointed, depressed, and with a hole in our pocket.

What’s the solution then, when drug store skincare products fail? The answer lies in your kitchen. Our mothers, grandmothers often stressed on the importance of using home remedies. And we millennials ran away from it. It’s time to reconnect with our knowledge and reap the benefits.

First thing first—not everything green is natural and not everything which has herbal written on it, is actually herbal. But what is green and herbal is the raw ingredients found in your kitchen. When combined in the right proportion, these ingredients can work wonders on your skin and overall health.

Today I am going to discuss few home remedies which if done regularly, can yield results that are safe, natural, and most importantly, long-lasting.

Honey and Lemon:

Organic raw honey is antibacterial and loaded with antioxidants. It is also deeply moisturizing and clarifying. While lemon is known for its anti-inflammatory and mild anti-fungal properties. Lemon juice contains citric acid known to lighten the skin tone and reduce acne marks and spots.

Procedure:  Add one tablespoon of honey and a few drops of lemon juice to make an excellent face pack. Apply this on your clean face and neck. Let it rest for 10-15 mins and then wash it off with cold water.

Side note: Citrus juices are photosensitive—meaning —they can tan or give you sunburn when exposed to UV light. So it’s best to try this remedy at night and wait for 12 hours before you go out in the sun again.

Skin Icing:

The ultimate beauty secret is ice cubes. If you are suffering from acne or sunburn or just having another stressful day, rubbing ice cubes on your face can soothe and calm your skin down. Regularly massaging your skin with ice cubes can increase blood circulation on your facial skin, tighten pores, and reduce inflammation and redness.

You can also make different face masks with ice cubes like milk ice cubes, cucumber juice ice cubes, Rose petals ice cubes, and coconut water ice cubes to maximize the benefits.

Procedure: After cleansing your face, rub 2-3 ice cubes on your face every day either in the morning or at night. Let the water dry naturally and follow up with your regular skincare or makeup routine.

 Side note: For people with thin skin, rubbing ice directly on skin may break the delicate capillary under your face. You can use a clean cloth to wrap the ice and massage it on your skin. Also, don’t rub it for more than 15 mins.

Castor Oil:

The eyes are the doors to the soul and eyebrows are the gateway guarding it. A beautiful set of eyebrow and eyelashes accentuate your eyes. However, only some lucky people are blessed with naturally thick brows and long full lashes.

Rest assured, you are not doomed- Castor oil to rescue. This miracle oil is made up of ricinoleic acid, which is shown to treat hair loss. You can select from two types of castor oil—cold-pressed, clear castor oil or Jamaican black castor oil. Religious application of castor oil can work like magic on your brows and lashes.

Procedure: Use a cotton bud or old clean mascara wand to take a small quantity of castor oil and gently apply to your eyebrows. Repeat for a few times with the same bud and let it rest it overnight.

For your eyelashes, apply the oil on your lashes with care taken to avoid the eyes. Keep it overnight and wash it the next day.

Side note: Castor oil is a thick and sticky oil, and a patch test is a must for sensitive skin. Be careful not to apply any oil on your eyes as it can cause irritation and redness.

That’s it folks for today. While there are hundreds of home remedies from an array of ingredients for any beauty problem under the sun, it’s wise to see what works for you and what doesn’t. Additionally, always use pure and fresh ingredients for any DIYs and make sure to conduct a patch test first. Most of the natural remedies take time to start showing results, so patience is the key.

In conclusion, I would like to leave you with – “It doesn’t matter how others see you; all that matters is how you see yourself.” If you see yourself as not good enough or not pretty enough, then no matter how good your hair or skin looks, you will never feel good about yourself; you will never be enough. Remember, Love Starts From Within!

We will discuss a few more beauty DIYs in Part 2 of our skincare blog until then keep smiling, self-loving, and of course, keep taking TPS surveys.