I won the Mrs. Beautiful Skin title in Haute Monde Mrs. India Worldwide in the year 2014. I was also one of the top 10 finalists in the show. People often ask me about my skin care tips hence I have been meaning to write this blog for the longest time.
Finally I got down to it! So here goes! :)
This picture was clicked few weeks back. Lipstick is the only cosmetic I have applied here. So this is what my skin looks like without make-up.
Firstly, I believe in nurturing my skin from within more rather than nourishing it only from the outside. For example, I would rather eat cucumber and papaya everyday, instead of applying it once a fortnight. I would rather drink plenty of water daily, instead of relying only on moisturizing creams and lotions.
Taking care of the skin from the outside is necessary, but one needs to bear in mind that it is a secondary form of care. Primary care is from inside in terms of providing the right nutrition, rest and hydration to the skin. If one needs a lasting, real change in the skin, one needs to work from the inside more, and outside care can (and should) be supplementary.
In my personal experience of last two-three decades, I have discovered that the more artificial the product is, the more long term harm it will cause to the skin. For example, I would always advise applying raw organic cucumber slice directly on the skin, rather than putting a face mask containing cucumber extract.
Following are my indispensable skin care tips:
H2O
Drinking water, at least 1.5 ltr daily. Best time is in the morning. Try to drink at least a glass of water as soon as you wake up. if it is warm/lukewarm, even better!
Keep a water bottle handy around you at all times, like keep it on your office desk or kitchen slab, or study table. You will naturally drink more water if you see the bottle somewhere near you.
Zzzz...
Adequate sleep. This is one of the most crucial (and most neglected) aspects of skin heath care routine. In the age of smart phones, nobody wants to miss out a single update on social media. Numerous studies have been conducted on the role of social media addiction and its detrimental effects on the sleep. Hence if you want glowing skin even in your old age, kindly stay away from your smartphone at least two hours before your bedtime! Doesn't sound easy, does it?
But then nothing worthwhile comes easy! :)
Seasonal fruits
Eat lots and lots of seasonal, organic fruits. Eat at least two-three portions a day. This can mean an apple in the morning and banana in the afternoon, or an orange/guava in winter sun, or watermelon and papaya salad in the summer and so on. Make munching on fruit a habit instead of munching on harmful snacks like biscuits, namkeen, chips etc. Fruits have loads of anti-oxidants, and beauty vitamins and minerals which will keep your skin glowing and firm.
Do not over-moisturize
Some people think that moisturizing from outside is an imperative skin care routine. This is a myth. Human skin does not need outside moisturizer everyday, unless it looks dry. If you are drinking enough water, or did not go outside for long duration, or you simply do not have a skin type which gets dry, you do not need to smother and stifle your skin (especially face) with any lotion/cream at night. Simply wash with clean, cool water and dab off with a soft, clean face towel and you are done!
Avoid junk and stale food
Oily foods, canned food stuff with preservatives and added sugar/salt are poison for your skin. Eat them only on occasions. Junk food causes break outs and does not nourish your precious skin in anyway!
Meditation
Though this might feel to some as not their cup of tea, but trust me it is as simple as lying down to relax. Deep breathing to count of four, and/or guided meditation audios (there are plenty on youtube) are two easiest methods of getting started. Meditation helps you relax and takes the stress away. Mental and emotions stress is highly detrimental to your skin health.
Yes I know it sounds almost impossible at times, but sometimes awareness is the key. Avoid going out between 11 am to 4 pm in direct sunlight, esp. in the summer. Carry hats, umbrellas or other protective sun gear when you do have to go out in these peak hours. Try to wash off face with cool water after you come home from a dusty, polluted outdoor activity. Just for the record I do not use sun-screens unless I go on a holiday at the beach. I am wary of the countless researches which link daily sun-screen usage to skin cancers.
Avoid make up
I use foundation and other cosmetics only when there is a very special occasion or family function. I feel it stifles my skin pores and is harmful esp when used on a daily or weekly basis. I firmly believe that the chemicals in the cosmetics harm the delicate facial skin and no matter how expensive they are, frequent use will only cause unnecessary harm.
Applying face-packs/scrubs
I do not apply face packs or scrubs very regularly. But once a month I do apply raw cucumber slices or ripe papaya on my face. Sometimes when the sun exposure has been too much, I scrub my face with besan and cold milk (with a pinch of haldi in it). I also apply rose water (Dabur) occasionally when I feel I have had to be out in the winter polluted air for more than a couple of hours.
So these are what my skin care ideas are, and these are the things I do to take care of my skin. Hope you liked reading through it!
Would love to hear your ideas of skin care tips in the comments below.
All the best for a glowing, youthful skin!
