Your skin is not a part of your body that you can forget about (like
an appendix or a kidney), assuming that it will look after itself. It is
a high-maintenance part of your body, which is sensitive to the slightest
changes in your health, emotions and environment. You binge on chocolates
and your face becomes a mass of pimples; you don't get a good night's sleep
and dark circles appear under your eyes; you're out in the sun a lot and
you get burnt or develop freckles. The list is endless. So let's take a
look at skin care regimes for different kinds of skin.
Dry skin
Use a rich cream cleanser instead of soap and water. Avoid astringents,
as they will further dry your skin. Instead, use a mild skin toner after
cleansing your skin. Apply a good moisturizing lotion in the day, before
sleeping, before applying make-up and after removing make-up.
Once a week, wash your face with the juice of a melon. You can give
yourself a weekly facial by mixing a yolk of an egg with two tablespoons
of milk and half a tablespoon of honey. Apply this on your face and leave
it on for about fifteen minutes. Then wash with lukewarm water. If you're
out in the sun a lot, milk mixed with melted butter helps soften the dry
skin.
Lanolin, apple juice, peach juice, sour cream and crushed almonds are
also helpful for dry skin.
Oily skin
You may not believe it, but oily skin actually has some advantages.
As a result of excess lubrication, wrinkles do not form prematurely and
skin is not much affected by wind and sunlight. However, oily skin is a
magnet for dirt and grime and thus a good and regular cleansing regime
is a must. If oily skin is not cleaned thoroughly and regularly, the dirt
will clog the pores in the skin and blackheads will appear.
People with oily skin should wash their faces with medicated soap and
water. The use of astringents is advised as they have a tightening and
drying effect on the skin. Buttermilk or beaten egg whites also have a
drying and tightening effect. Parsley juice mixed with honey and a few
drops of lemon or ginger is good for an oily skin. This mixture controls
the secretion of oil.
Fuller's earth (Multani mitti), oatmeal, almond paste, or lime juice
or vinegar mixed with water are excellent cleansers. Steaming opens up
the clogged pores and you can push out blackheads and whiteheads and prevent
pimples.
Avoid rich fried foods and load up on green vegetables instead. Take
two tablespoons of lecithin granules (a by-product of soyabeans) daily.
After washing your face, soak a towel in hot water and press it to your
face. Repeat this process two or three times. Next wet the towel in ice-cold
water and repeat the process two or three times to close enlarged pores.
Cucumber, parsley, cabbage, tomato, yoghurt and lemon are natural aids
for an oily skin.
Combination skin
If you have an oily nose and forehead, but dry cheeks and chin, you
will have to treat each area of your face separately depending on whether
it is dry or oily.
