I have a combination skin. When I use sunscreen or moisturiser, my face becomes oily and dark. Suggest a remedy.

Your skin must be extremely oily. Oily skin looks oilier and dark after the application of creams. If you use a sunscreen, there is no need to also apply a moisturiser. During the day, after cleansing and toning, apply sunscreen lotion sparingly. Wait for 10 minutes and then apply a compact powder. It would help the skin look less oily. Avoid moisturisers. After washing the face, wipe it with an astringent lotion, using cotton wool. Use a facial scrub two or three times a week. It would help to remove tan. You can also mix multani mitti with rose water and lemon juice and apply on the face three times a week. Wash it off when it is dry. It will also help to remove tan.

How should I keep my skin soft? I have normal skin.

If your skin is normal to dry, use mild glycerin soap, or avoid soap and use a cleansing gel.
Mix honey with a little milk and apply daily on the face. Wash it off after 15 minutes with plain water. Apply a sunscreen lotion before going out in the sun. At night, after cleansing, apply a nourishing cream and massage it on the face with a little water. Wipe off excess cream with moist cotton wool before bedtime.

Please tell me how to prepare and apply henna.

To the henna powder, add 4 teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee, 2 raw eggs and enough curd to turn it into a thick paste. It should be of toothpaste-like consistency. Divide hair in sections and apply henna on both sides of the section, so that it is totally covered with henna. Wrap the section around the head. Now repeat this with each section, till hair is totally covered with the henna paste. Keep it on for at least one hour and wash off. You need not shampoo your hair. You can wash it off with plain water. You can use shampoo after a day or two, if you wish. If your hair is dry, also add 2 teaspoons hair oil to the henna paste.

I have curly hair. I only straightened it twice. Now I have lots of hair breakage. I use hair gel, but the hair gets very dry. What do you recommend?

Hair straightening with chemical lotions and direct heat application can make the hair dry and brittle. Rather than using hair gel, you can take two drops of olive oil or sesame seed (til) oil on your palm. Rub both palms lightly together so that the oil spreads on both palms. Then smooth the palms over the hair or massage lightly into the hair. You can even use a leave-on conditioner or hair serum to add shine to the hair and make it smoother. Twice a week heat pure coconut oil and apply on the hair. Then dip a towel in hot water, squeeze out the water and wrap the hot towel around the head, like a turban. Keep it on for 5 minutes. Repeat the hot towel wrap 3 or 4 times. This will improve the texture of the hair.

I had pimples 2 years back. It became better, but now my skin has become very dry and there are lots of marks and eruptions. Can I use olive oil? What soap to use?

Using oil can again lead to pimples. There can be superficial dryness in pimple prone skin as many of the anti-acne products cause dryness. Mix one teaspoon pure glycerin with 100 ml rose water and keep in a bottle in the fridge. Apply a little of this lotion on the face after cleansing, or whenever the skin feels dry. It will relieve dryness. Use a mild glycerin soap to wash the face.
For the eruptions, you can mix a little rose water with sandalwood paste and apply daily. Wash it off after 15 minutes. Take 2 teaspoons curd, add a pinch of turmeric and apply daily on the entire face at any time. Wash it off with plenty of water after 15 minutes. This will also relieve dryness and help both pimples and marks. Mix multani mitti with rose water and lemon juice into a paste and apply on the face two or three times a week. Wash it off when it dries.

My nails are brittle and short. Please suggest some home remedies.

Wear rubber gloves for your washing chores. Massage cream on the hands and nails daily, especially after using detergents and soaps. Put cream on each nail and massage the nail and the skin surrounding it, using circular strokes with your thumb. Avoid using very hot water to wash the hands. If you have brittle nails, avoid frosted nail varnish. Put a cupful of warm milk in a bowl. Soak your hands in it for five minutes to strengthen nails and soften the skin. Mix almond oil and honey in equal quantities and massage it on the hands, nails and cuticles. Include skimmed milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, fish and sprouts in your diet. Follow a ten-day programme of taking gelatin. Dissolve one teaspoon gelatin in a little boiling water, cool the water and add it to fruit juice. Have this daily for ten days.

I have acne and spots on my back. How to get rid of them?

Check if you have dandruff, as it can lead to acne on back and shoulders. Apply an astringent lotion on the back twice a day, using cotton wool. Mix a little rose water with sandalwood paste and apply, washing it off after 15 minutes. Sandalwood paste can be applied directly on the eruptions. Mix multani mitti with sandalwood paste, rose water and lemon juice into a paste. Apply on the back two or three times a week and wash it off when it dries. Wash the hair three times a week. Rinse well with water. After shampoo, add the juice of a lemon to a glass of water and use it as a last rinse.

My lips are dark and dry. Please tell me how to lighten them.

The skin of the lips is very thin and delicate. However, after washing the face, when the lips are wet, rub them gently with a soft towel. This helps to remove dead skin. Add a few drops of lemon juice to cream of milk (malai) and apply on the lips. Leave on for an hour. Apply pure almond oil daily on the lips at night and leave on overnight. Look for a lip balm with sunscreen.

I have had chicken pox marks on my face for years. Is there any way to get rid of them?

If the marks are in the form of pits in the skin, they can be minimized with Veg Peel treatments at a skin care clinic. You can also try some home remedies. Make a paste of bicarbonate of soda and a little water. After washing the face in the morning, apply the paste daily on the areas with marks and wash it off after 5 minutes. Use a facial scrub twice a week. Rice powder and curd make a good scrub. Apply it on the face and rub gently on the skin in small circular movements. Wash off with water. Take two teaspoons curd, add a pinch of turmeric and apply on the face daily. Wash it off after 15 minutes. It cures dryness, if any, and also helps remove marks.

After going out in the sun, I become dark even though I apply sunscreen. How to remove tan?

Look for a sunscreen which also has anti-tan properties. This may be mentioned on the label. Mix one teaspoon each of honey and lemon juice and apply daily on the face at any time. Wash off after 20 minutes. Or, take two teaspoons curd, add a pinch of turmeric and apply daily the same way. Wash off after 20 minutes with plenty of water. Twice a week, apply a face mask. Mix three teaspoons oats with one teaspoon each of honey, curd and lemon juice, or egg white. Apply on the entire face, avoiding the lips and area around the eyes. Wash it off after half an hour.

My arms are dark and the skin is rough. Can you suggest some home remedies to remove the tan and make the skin softer?

Apply sesame seed (til) oil daily and massage it on the skin. Use mild glycerin soap for bathing, or a soap free bath gel. Immediately after bath, apply a body lotion while the skin is still damp. This helps to seal off moisture. Mix gram flour (besan), curd, lemon juice and a little turmeric (haldi) and apply at least three times a week on the arms. Wash it off after half an hour. Then apply sesame seed oil and massage it on the skin, as recommended. You can also apply lemon turmeric cream daily.

Can you suggest home remedies to achieve clear and glowing skin?

Tone the skin daily with rose water. Toning stimulates blood circulation to the skin surface and adds a glow. Keep rose water in a bowl in the fridge and soak cotton wool pads in it. Use them to wipe and pat the skin. Use a facial scrub once or twice a week. For a scrub, mix ground almonds with yogurt. Dried and powdered lemon and orange peels, or dry and powdered mint leaves may be added to the scrub, for glowing skin. Apply scrub on the face and leave on for a few minutes. Then, rub gently, in small circular movements, washing off with water. A facial scrub can also be made with walnut powder, honey and lemon juice. Mix honey and lemon juice in equal quantities and apply daily on the face. Wash it off after 20 minutes. It leaves the skin very soft and glowing. Egg white can also be added to this mixture.

What are the major problems that the skin is exposed to during winter?

The main problem during winter is dryness of the skin, caused by loss of moisture. The moisture has to be replenished daily. Habitual lack of moisture can lead to excessive dryness, flaking, rough skin, red sensitive patches, etc. The skin is also exposed to air pollutants, which tend to hang in the air during the winter. They can cause skin sensitivity, eruptions, rashes, etc.

When buying a skin cream/moisturiser for winter, what are the specific things you have to keep in mind?

In winter, the skin would need richer moisturisers. For dry skin, a moisturising cream can be used, instead of a lotion. Look for cleansers containing ingredients like aloe vera, as they would cleanse without disturbing the moisture balance. Apply a sunscreen with high SPF before going out in the sun. A nourishing cream should be used at night to massage the face, as this improves the skin’s moisture retention ability. Creams containing ingredients like wheatgerm oil, carrot seed, almond, honey, aloe vera, dates, etc., would improve the skin’s ability to hold moisture and also nourish the skin. For normal to oily skin, a cleansing milk may be used and a light moisturising lotion may be applied. A moisturising lotion containing Neem would help normal to oily and pimple prone skin. All skin types may be toned with a rose-based skin tonic.

Suggest tips for oily skin during winter.

Oily skin also feels dry during winter. Add a little milk to honey and apply on the face daily. Wash off after 15 minutes. After washing the face, wipe with rose water, using cotton wool. Use an oil-free sunscreen, or a day cream for oily skin. Light liquid moisturisers can also be applied. Add a drop of water for a lighter coverage. Or, mix one teaspoon pure glycerin to 100 ml rose water and keep in an airtight bottle. Use a little of this on the face to relieve dryness.

Can you suggest some home remedies to nourish the skin in winter?

Apply honey on the skin and wash it off with plain water after 20 minutes. Honey helps to improve the skin’s ability to hold moisture, making it soft and smooth. You can also mix honey with a few drops of orange juice. Apply this on the face for 20 minutes and wash off with water. It suits all skin types. Grate carrots and apply on the face for 15 to 20 minutes. Carrot is rich in Vitamin A and good for nourishing the skin in winter. Suits all skin types. Mix half a teaspoon honey, one teaspoon rose water and one teaspoon dried milk powder. Mix into a paste and apply on the face. Remove after 20 minutes with water. Suits normal to dry skin. Applying mayonnaise or egg yolk on the skin also helps to relieve dryness. Suits dry skin.

What are the causes of hair problems in winter?

During winter, when the weather is cold and dry, the hair also becomes dry. Both hair and scalp lose moisture to the atmosphere, due to lack of humidity. This is also the time of year when we like to sit outside and enjoy the warm sunshine. We use hot water for bathing and washing the hair. Both sun-exposure and hot water also cause dryness. Dry hair is difficult to manage. It has that “fly away” unmanageable look. The texture may also become rough and it can be prone to split ends and breakage. Hair that has been subjected to chemical treatments like colouring, dyeing, straightening, bleaching or perming, seems to suffer more, as the hair is already dry and in a weakened state.

What are the Dos and Don’ts pertaining to hair care in winter?

  • Dry hair lacks moisture and needs plenty of nourishment. Use mild shampoos containing ingredients like amla, bael and brahmi, which are suitable for dry hair.
  • A conditioner helps to give the hair protection and body. A good conditioner works by coating the hair. If the hair is dry, apply a creamy conditioner after your shampoo. Take less quantity and massage lightly into the hair. Apply on the ends too. Leave on for two minutes and rinse with plain water. Or, you can apply a leave-on type of conditioner or hair serum. They help to add shine and make the hair more manageable. You can also buy a shampoo with a built-in conditioner, so that it performs a dual task of both cleansing and conditioning the hair.
  • Get regular oil treatments with warmed oils. Professional head massage and conditioning at a beauty salon would help. Head spa treatments are also available.
  • Avoid very hot water for washing the hair.
  • Cover the head when you sit in the sun.
  • If the hair is in a very dry and damaged state, avoid chemical treatments till the condition improves.

Recommend some simple Home Remedies to combat the above mentioned hair problems.

  • Mix together one tablespoon pure coconut oil with one teaspoon castor oil. Heat and apply on the hair and scalp. Then dip a towel in hot water, squeeze out the water and wrap the hot towel around the head, like a turban. Keep it on for 5 minutes. Repeat the hot towel wrap 3 or 4 times. This helps the hair and scalp absorb the oil better.
  • Once a week, give your hair a deep conditioning treatment. Mix together one egg, one tablespoon pure almond oil, the juice of a lemon and one teaspoon pure glycerin. These ingredients should be well mixed. Massage this well into the scalp and apply on the hair too. Wear a plastic shower cap and keep on for an hour, before washing the hair.
  • Apply egg yolk or curd half an hour before shampoo. Egg yolk, by itself can soften and nourish dry hair. Take the yolks of two eggs and beat them together. Apply this on the hair and leave it on for 30 minutes. Then wash the hair with a mild shampoo. For extremely dry and damaged hair, mix together a little olive oil and the yolk of an egg. Apply this on the hair. Tie an old scarf on the head and leave the mixture on for an hour. Then, shampoo the hair, using a mild shampoo.