“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day” an excerpt from Shakespeare’s poem is something we Indians can’t relate to. Summers, for us, are extreme heat and humidity that causes intense perspiration, excess sebum production leading to acne breakouts, and the ever dreading suntan and sunburns. With summers round the corner, it’s high time we modify our skincare routine to prepare and protect our skin from the ill effects of both extrinsic and intrinsic consequences of summer that may compromise our skin health. Apart from including an SPF 50 Sunscreen or an exfoliating face wash, there are simple home remedies and DIY skincare formulations that could further help you with managing optimal skin health throughout the summer season.
Let’s Decode What DIY Skincare Ingredients Would Actually Help With
Before jumping into the DIYs that may help, it is important to do a patch test first, in order to rule out any possible allergies and allergic reactions.
Oats
Oats have been classically used as a soothing ingredient in various civilizations. They are a rich source of beta-glucans that help in balancing the skin microbiome, which in turn supports the skin’s hydration. It soothes, calms, and repairs the dry, irritated and itchy skin.
How To Make Oat DIY
- Take a tablespoon full of oats/milled oats
- Mix it with lukewarm water
- Let it rest for 5-10 minutes till it looks like a homogenized mixture.
- Apply on the affected areas or use it as a face scrub
- Rinse it off and pat it dry
Fuller’s Earth
Fuller’s Earth or Multani Mitti, as we commonly know it, has been a classic ingredient in every Indian household. It provides a cooling and soothing effect to the skin when applied like a face mask along with regulating the excess sebum control. It also helps brighten and lighten the skin if used consistently over time.
How To Make Fuller’s Earth DIY
- In a bowl add 1 Tbsp of Fuller’s Earth.
- Add rose water to it.
- Make a paste of your desired consistency.
- Apply it on your face for 15-20 minutes.
- Wash it with lukewarm water.
- Finish it off with a non-comedogenic moisturizer.
Papaya
Papaya is used in skincare as it is loaded with antioxidants and papain enzyme that help with the skin lightening and brightening effect along with soothing the dull, dry, and dehydrated skin. Using a papaya face mask leaves the skin soft, supple, and brightened. Including a DIY papaya face mask in your weekly skincare routine during summers would help in mitigating the photo damage and suntan.
How To Make DIY Papaya Face Mask
- Take half a cup of mashed papaya.
- Add 1 teaspoon of aloe vera juice.
- Mix to make a homogenized mixture.
- Apply it all over your face.
- Let it sit for 10 minutes.
- Wash with lukewarm water while massaging in a circular motion.
- Pat dry and finish it off with a non-comedogenic moisturizer.
Sandalwood
Sandalwood is renowned for its skin-cooling effects. Applying a thick paste of sandalwood powder on the sunburnt or irritated skin helps in cooling, calming, and soothing the skin along with the added benefits of acne and sebum control. Sandalwood also helps brighten the skin, thereby the regular use of sandalwood may help in removing suntan.
How To Make DIY Sandalwood Face Mask
- Take 2 Tbsp of sandalwood powder.
- Add rose water to it (Rose water provides an astringent effect)
- Make a thick paste and apply it to the face and neck.
- Rinse it with water and pat dry.
- You can apply a non-comedogenic moisturizer to prevent any TEWL.
Yogurt
Yogurt is one of the most readily used DIY skincare ingredients as it is loaded with lactic acid and thereby helps in mild exfoliation of the skin. Yogurt also is loaded with good bacteria that aids in enhancing the skin’s microbiome and skin barrier function.
How To Make DIY Yogurt Face Mask
- Mix yogurt with a pinch of turmeric.
- Apply it on your face and neck.
- Let it dry and rinse it with lukewarm water.
- Pat dry and finish it off with a Non-Comedogenic Moisturizer.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a potent anti-microbial product. Using just a pinch of it in any of your DIY face masks would help you manage acne, comedones, and inflammation, and achieve enhanced complexion too.
Amba Haldi is the advised form of turmeric to be used as it usually does not leave behind the yellow stain and therefore is a better option to choose from.
How To Incorporate Turmeric In Your DIY Skincare Routine
- You can add a pinch of turmeric to any of your DIY face masks.
- Turmeric Ubtan - Mix a pinch of turmeric in 2 teaspoons full of Besan(gram flour) + 2 teaspoons of Rice Flour + Honey + Rosewater; make a homogenized mixture.
- Apply the above concoction on the tanned, photo damaged skin to help exfoliate skin and get rid of the dead skin layer.
What DIY Skincare Won’t Help
- Tomatoes: Tomato juice is thought to help with enlarged pores. Which is not the case. The active ingredient, lycopene, available in the raw, unprocessed form, cannot be absorbed by the skin.
- Lemon/Lime: Lime is rich in citric acid but it has a very low pH Low pH can irritate your skin’s natural pH and may further lead to phytophotodermatitis too.
- Baking soda is a big no on your skin as it leads to compromised skin barrier health.
- Apple Cider Vinegar is best to avoid given it has a pH of about 2-3, which is a way lower and acidic than our skin’s natural pH of 5.5. A balanced pH ensures the optimal barrier function and health.
Hopefully, this blog helped you get an insight into DIY skincare for the summer season, so now you can ace it while you face a hot, humid summer.