Get, set & glow

Who doesn’t like to dress up and use make-up, especially with the festive season in full swing? But festival time or not, we all crave glowing skin all year-round.
While a healthy skincare routine starts with what you eat, there’s a growing trend of putting superfoods directly on your skin. Not only does it align with the spirit of DIY beauty accelerated during the lockdown, it also nourishes your skin naturally and provides long-lasting benefits.  

Superfoods are packed with essential nutrients and antioxidants and have the power to refresh and hydrate your skin instantly. Including them in your diet and beauty regime will help you get rid of skin issues like dullness, teenage acne problems, and sunburn, among other issues. The best part about superfoods is, you don’t have to look too far to find them. They are right there in your kitchen.  
Dolly Kumar, Cosmetic Engineer and Founder and Director, Cosmic Nutracos, parent company of skincare brand Skinella, has a few DIY tips that you can try with superfoods  

Orange and lemon face mask

Oranges are packed with essential vitamins.  Orange is rich in Vitamin C, which acts as a powerful antioxidant vital for collagen production. Moreover, lemon juice is a natural toner and acts as a bleaching agent. While you should include it in your diet, incorporating it into your beauty regimen will rejuvenate dry and withered skin.

While orange and lemon juice help lighten blemishes and acne scars, a touch of honey in the mask will help lock in the moisture.  

Honey & oatmeal face scrub  

Oatmeal has anti-inflammatory properties which help reduce skin redness. The superfood also helps with itching and soothes skin irritation. Perfect for dry skin, it acts as a protective barrier, preventing moisture loss, resulting in glowing and healthy skin.

DIY face scrub

Mix together one-fourth cup honey, half tablespoon of brown sugar, one-fourth cup of milk, and half cup cooked oatmeal till you get a thick, yet grainy texture. Apply it on your face and rinse away gently with water after it dries.  
Pro tip: Use twice a week for best results.

Papaya facial mask  

An excellent source of Vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium, papaya is a powerful antioxidant. Its healing and exfoliating properties make the
superfood a natural beauty enhancer.  

DIY face mask:  
Mix three to five tablespoons of blended papaya with one tablespoon of honey in a bowl. Spread the mask over your face and rinse it off with warm water after 15 minutes.  

Pro tip: Use twice a week for best results.  

DIY face mask:

Take two tablespoons of orange juice and one tablespoon each of honey and lemon juice, and mix well. Use a cotton ball to apply the mixture on your face evenly (take care to avoid the eyes). Let it dry for 20 minutes and rinse with water.  

Pro tip: Use this mask thrice a week for acne-free and glowing skin.   Cucumber, mint & lemon facial mist  Enriched with Vitamin C and K, cucumber hydrates the skin and boosts collagen levels. It helps to tighten the skin too. The Vitamin A in mint strengthens tissues and controls oil production.  

DIY facial mist:  

Mix half a teaspoon of mint leaves, one-fourth teaspoon of lemon juice, and juice of half a cucumber. Stir well and put it in a spray bottle. Spray it on your face and spread evenly using a cotton pad.  

Pro tip: For best results, use it daily before bedtime.  

Coffee olive oil & honey lip scrub  

Coffee’s antioxidant properties will brighten the lips, soothe irritation, and help reduce fine lines. It also improves blood circulation and makes the lips smoother.

DIY lip scrub 

Take two tablespoons of honey, two teaspoons of olive oil, and one tablespoon of coffee powder, and mix thoroughly to get a paste-like consistency. Transfer it to a small container. Apply a little on your lips with your finger and rinse it off after 10 minutes.

Pro tip: Ensure that you use the lip scrub twice a week and moisturizer daily. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of water.