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Ask Shahnaz

Beautician Shahnaz Hussain offers tips and answers queries. You can send your queries to shahnaz_press@yahoo.co.in

I was fair-complexioned, but my skin now looks dark. It is oily and acne-prone. — Priya

Mix one tsp each of rose water and lemon juice and apply it daily on your face, at any time. Wash it off after20 minutes. Or, add lemon juice to cucumber pulp and apply it daily like a mask. Three times a week, mix multani mitti with rose water and lemon juice into a paste and apply it on your face. Wash it off when it dries. It reduces oiliness too. Mix cinnamon powder with a little lemon juice and a few drops of honey into a paste. Apply it only on the pimples daily, leaving it on for at least an hour.

I have dark circles. Suggest a home remedy to get rid of it. — Saranya

Dark circles can be due to hereditary factors, nutritional deficiencies, stress, inadequate sleep, sun-sensitivity, etc. So, along with external care, check these aspects. As a home remedy, apply pure almond oil sparingly around your eyes daily and massage it lightly on your skin, using only your ring finger for one minute under each eye. Leave it on for 15 minutes; then wipe it off gently with moist cotton wool. You can also mix cucumber juice and potato juice in equal quantities. Apply it under your eyes daily for 20 minutes. Wash it off with water.

I have a dark complexion, though I use sunscreen lotion. — Monisha

Avoid the sun during the afternoon. Sunscreen lotions actually protect the skin from damage caused by UV rays. Mix one tsp each of honey and lemon juice and apply it daily on your face, at any time. Wash it off after20 minutes. Twice a week, mix together one tsp of curd, one tsp of honey, 4 tsp of oatmeal and egg white. Apply it on your face, avoiding the lips and area around the eyes and wash it off after 20 to 30 minutes. Mix the liquid ingredients gradually to get the right consistency. It should be a thick paste, which does not drip.

How can I make my eyebrows thick and dark naturally? — Aarthi

Castor oil is said to thicken and darken the eyelashes. However, it may take time to take effect. Apply a little castor oil daily on your eyebrows. Meanwhile, an eyebrow pencil can be used to make them appear thicker. Use light, feathery strokes and avoid harsh lines. For thin eyebrows, try a grey or brown eyebrow pencil

I have normal skin and pigmentation marks on my face. — Huma

Apply a sunscreen with high SPF before going out in the sun. Mix rice powder with curd and use it as a facial scrub once or twice a week. Apply it only on the dark patches and rub it gently on the skin with tiny, circular movements. Leave it on for a few minutes and then wash it off with water. A mixture of honey and lemon juice can be applied daily only on the dark patches for 15 minutes. Twice a week, apply a face mask. Mix 3 tsp of oatmeal with one tsp each of honey, curd and lemon juice, or egg white. Apply it on the entire face, avoiding the lips and the area around your eyes. Wash it off after half an hour.

Suggest a use-at-home natural astringent. — Divya

Oily skin needs an astringent toner. It should be used after cleansing your skin. Among home remedies, cucumber has an astringent effect. Apply grated cucumber or cucumber juice on your face. Other natural astringents are tomato juice, green tea, grated apple and mashed banana.

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