Home made face masks during Monsoon

Shahnaz Husain

Monsoon is a time when our skin experiences host of skin problems like fungal infections and acne due to severe humidity, sweat, grime, heat as well as dampness and moisture. The    muggy, moisture-laden climate brings a new set of skin problems due to   constant change in temperature and weather,  however, going to the beauty parlour  may not be a good idea at this pandemic time given the alarming number of COVID related infections around the country.
You need specific skincare treatments for the rainy season mainly for   skin dryness, unnecessary pimple growth and a sudden strange red bump that appear like a pimp on the face. While you can not avoid humid hot fluctuating weather but  and it is quite necessary to maintain healthy glowing skin at the same time.
Detoxification of the dull and dry skin is essential during  this  fluctuating weather as it prevents allergies, puffiness and skin diseases. 
Here we list  homemade packs that will come straight out of your Kitchen 
Fresh Fruit Mask
Fruit face pack ---Add one piece of  any four five seasonal  fruits of your choice  and one tsp honey.
Put all the ingredients in a bowl and mash them using a fork.
Mash all them using a fork or blend them in a blender . Make sure the paste is of a smooth consistency and do not have lumps.
Apply this face pack on your face and uncovered areas for 30 minutes  and wash it with clean fresh water after 30 minutes for glowing , radiant and attractive skin   The fruits also contain elements that are anti-inflammatory. Therefore, it relaxes and soothes acne-prone skin.  
Fuller’s Earth Pack
In a bowl, mix 1 tbsp. of fuller’s earth (multani mitti) and rose water  and whip together to make a thick and smooth paste,  making sure there are no granules. Apply this face pack on your face and uncovered area and wash it off with clean fresh water after 30 minutes . You can apply this face pack once in a week . This pack is best for people with oily/combination skin. Alternately, if you have dry skin and still want to use it, make sure you use a good moisturiser once you have washed it off.
RICE POWDER
Rice flour pack  with  tomato juice and  almond oil   is  best ways to ensure skin whitening and brightening.
Take one tablespoon of rice flour and mix it with two tablespoons of tomato juice. You can also add one teaspoon of almond oil for dry skin. Mix the ingredients well and apply the paste on your  Apply this on the face and neck, massage gently and keep it on the skin for 30 minutes and wash the skin with fresh clean water. .Tomato contains lycopene, which is a natural antioxidant substance. It helps to protect our skin from UV damage.
Rice flour pack  with oats and honey is great for your skin.  Take rice flour, oats, honey, and cold milk in equal quantity and mix them well in a bowl to make a smooth paste  Apply the paste on your skin and uncovered areas of the body and let it dry in the natural environment. Wash off the skin with clean natural water when you feel comfortable.
Rice powder helps get rid of pimples and acne. Oats contain ‘saponin’ which deeply cleanses our skin and removes the toxins from the skin along with other impurities
Oats  contains a good amount of zinc which
helps in skin lightening by exfoliating dead cells and impurities from the surface and revealing fresh, glowing, and flawless skin.  Using honey on the skin also helps with exfoliation. It removes the dead skin cells and helps fresh and brighter skin to show up. Also honey has natural bleaching properties.
Malai and Turmeric Face Pack
To get radiant skin, take one   tbsp of malai with 2 tsp of turmeric powder and add few drops of rose oil.  Mix all the ingredients and massage this face pack into your skin and after 15 minutes wash it with a mild face cleanser. When used on the face and body, Turmeric can make the skin brighter, clearer, and flawless. Rose oil helps to clear up acne, wrinkles, and fine lines and adds to the natural beauty of the skin. Malai is a rich source of lactic acid which works as a natural exfoliator that can remove the dead skin cells from the skin and enhance the complexion and helps in eliminating the dead skin cells.
Aloe Vera – Skincare cannot be complete without aloe vera. The humble white, goopy gel might seem like any other plant extract but it really is a wonder ingredient that comes packed to the brim with beauty benefits.   Its skin benefits are quite known and worth swearing by.
Here is an easy face mask that you can make at home easily. Mix equal quantities of aloe vera gel and lemon juice. Apply the pack on your face for 15 minutes and allow it to dry in a natural environment for 15 minutes  .It boosts collagen production, fights acne, improves texture, and hydrates your skin.
Wash and Grind  Neem leaves in rose water and add aloe vera gel and some water to get a thick paste.
Apply this paste onto your skin and let it dry for 10 minutes. Wash off with cool water for the best results.   
Neem with its anti-microbial properties works wonders to cure skin acne. Neem also has anti-bacterial properties which help clean pores and thus prevent breakouts and pimples. Apply this once or twice a week depending on the severity of your acne.
Take two tablespoons of aloe vera gel and mix it with a tablespoon of curd and honey each. Apply the pack on your face for 15 minutes.
This mask improves your skin in multiple ways. It boosts collagen production, fights acne, improves texture, and hydrates your skin. Most importantly, it is suitable for all skin types.
VEGETABLE FACE MASK
Vegetables are considered an excellent option for making your skin glow. It keeps your skin moisturized and hydrated. Either eating them raw or applying them on the skin is beneficial as it provides decent care for all skin types.
 Onion Face Mask
Not only onions are good for health,  but vital vitamins C present in onion can help in increasing your blood circulation, and also, helps you  to treat dark spots, ugly patches, and get wrinkle-free skin. Onions contain  naturally antiseptic and anti-bacterial and packed with other elements like flavonoids, sulfur, vitamins.  Onions help in combating free radical damages, skin allergies, and heal acne issues giving us healthy and glowing skin. Extract onion juice in a jar and then dip a cotton ball in the onion juice and apply it to your face and neck area and let it remain for a minimum of 30 minutes. Then, wash off your face with normal water. Using this pack twice a week can help you get the best results.   Mix the onion juice with few drops of almond oil. Apply it gently on your face and neck area and wash off with cold water after half an hour.
Take  2 tablespoons of onion juice and add one tsp of lemon juice and pinch of salt to make a mixture. Apply this mixture on your skin and uncovered areas with the help of a cotton ball and rinse it off after 15 minutes. You can Mix the above mixture with raw milk if easily available.
Tomato Face Masks
Tomatoes can be used on any skin type. Tomatoes have a high content of lycopene that has amazing skin benefits. Tomatoes are good for facial masks as it allows the skin to breathe, develop new young skin by removing dead cells. Tomato protects the skin against the harmful UV rays thus reducing tan and brightening the skin as well.
Take out the tomato pulp or grate the tomato along with lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of gram flour, and 1 tablespoon of orange peel powder. Add raw milk into the ingredients. Apply gently on your face and neck And allow it to dry completely. Rub it smoothly and wash your face with plain water.
Take 1 tomato,  1 tbsp. oatmeal and  1 tsp. yogurt. Blend the tomatoes and add oatmeal and yogurt to make a mixture. Apply the mixture on the skin with a cotton pad in a gentle way around the face and neck and wash off after 20 minutes with fresh clean water. You can apply it twice a week or as per your skin type.
Papaya face pack
Papaya tops the list of the homemade recipes or the natural ingredients that can guarantee you radiant, attractive, and glowing skin.It contains  contains vitamin A, C, papain, alpha hydroxy acid, and potassium which keep your skin moisturized and hydrated in extremely hot conditions. It reduces the impacts of sunburn and refreshes your skin
Just mash a small slice of papaya and add some honey and apply all over the face and neck. Wait for 30 minutes then wash with normal water. This is excellent to add glow on all skin types.
Mash ripe papaya in a bowl to as much as you need to make a smooth paste. It is better to peel the papaya before making pulp. Now put 1 teaspoon of honey with it and stir both to mix for a pack. Apply this mixture carefully on your face and leave it for 30 minutes. Then cleanse off your face with normal water and enjoy beautiful soft, supple and radiant skin.
The author is an international fame beauty expert and is called herbal queen of India