Indian women are renowned for their extraordinary beauty
I’ve recently gotten in to researching the natural home-made beauty secrets of women around the world after becoming both concerned and frustrated with the huge amount of unnecessary, and often toxic chemicals added to store bought cosmetics, as well as the wild claims the manufacturers make about products that typically fail to live up to these boasts.
In the course of my research, one corner of the globe has stood out head and shoulders as having kept most of its natural beauty traditions and secrets to this day, secrets that its women still use to beautify their hair, faces, and bodies daily.
That place is India, and it is a country steeped in rich history, cultural tradition, and ancient beauty rituals. Indian women’s beauty is renowned, and yet, most Indian women still rely on traditional cures such as amla oil to condition their hair and make it strong and shiny, and Neem powder to purify and soften their skin and make it glow.
Let’s not forget too, the ancient practise of Yoga, which many Indian women swear by, and its incredible power to keep the body supple and youthful, and probably at least one of the reasons so many Indian women keep a gorgeously slim yet womanly figure well into their old age.
After doing my research, I decided to try out a few of the beauty secrets that wise Indian ladies have been using for centuries to make themselves look lush and lovely. After buying a few of the ingredients that I didn’t have, such as Neem, Multani Mitti powder, and rosewater, and using them in conjunction with the ones that I already had in my kitchen cupboard, as per the instructions in the Indian beauty recipes I had managed to unearth, such as eggs, honey, yoghurt, etc…well I can say I’ve been thoroughly seduced by natures power to prettify.
My skin and hair have never looked so healthy and shiny since I’ve been following the very same beauty secrets that millions of Indian women, including top models and Bollywood actresses such as the famous beauty Aishwarya Rai use.
And because I’m the generous type, I decided to blog about these wonder ingredients and share their benefits with you, so that we can all enjoy glowing skin and shiny and strong locks that are worthy of a Bollywood screen siren.
There are so many ingredients that Indian women use to beautify themselves, far too many than I can blog about in one post, but below are some of the most commonly used ingredients and their uses in home-made beauty treatments.
Amla
Amla comes from the Indian Gooseberry fruit and this little potent powerhouse plant is the reason why so many Indian women sport shiny, silky locks to die for. Amla, when massaged into the scalp and lengths of hair is fantastically nourishing, being the richest source of naturally occurring Vitamin C on earth. Amla preparations can be used to slow down hair loss, thicken, strengthen, and add shine. You can purchase the pre-mixed oil preparations from most ethnic grocery stores that sell Indian products, or buy the powder which you can mix with olive or coconut oil and apply to your hair as a nourishing pre-wash treatment.
Besan (Gram Flour)
Besan, otherwise known as gram flour, is made from chickpeas and has been used for centuries by Indian women to achieve a soft and bright complexion. Besan’s consistency makes it the perfect natural and gentle exfoliant, softening skin and gently lifting off dead cells and other debris, as well as imparting a brightness and clarity to the complexion. For a simple yet effective skin treatment, mix some besan with rosewater to make a paste, applying in circular motions to your skin and leaving till almost dry for 10 minutes. Then rinse off in warm water using circular motions to benefit from besan’s exfoliating properties.
Chandan (Sandalwood Powder)
Sandalwood powder is an essential part of most Indian women’s beauty regimens due to its fantastic ability to control oil, soften, and stimulate blood circulation. Sandalwood powder can be mixed with Neem and lemon juice to make a paste, then applied to skin, for a purifying and softening face pack that will leave your complexion looking absolutely gorgeous.
For a more nourishing mask that will give your skin with a fantastic glow , mix one tablespoon of sandalwood powder and a teaspoon of turmeric with some honey, besan (gram flour), and a few drops of rose essential oil, for a moisturizing and purifying mask that makes skin wonderfully radiant.
Haldi (Turmeric powder)
Turmeric is a quintessential part of Indian culture, and the Haldi ceremony, where the bride and groom are both anointed with turmeric paste, is conducted before the happy couple wed, and is a sacred part of Hindu tradition! The benefits of using turmeric are vast; from glowing skin, to a reduction in pimples and breakouts, and the fading of stubborn scars. You can make a nourishing face pack using honey, turmeric, and the juice of half a fresh lemon to freshen and brighten up skin and make it really glow.
Be careful not to use too much turmeric powder though, as it can leave some complexions looking slightly yellow afterward, although this yellow tint is harmless and can be easily removed with a damp warm washcloth or by wiping your face with a cotton ball soaked in some raw milk. To err on the safe side though, a teaspoon should be more than enough in most concoctions that you will ever make, and if you’re very pale you might want to use just a pinch.
Methi (Fenugreek)
Methi seeds, otherwise known as Fenugreek seeds, are widely used by Indian women to treat problem or blemished skin, beat dandruff, lighten or fade burn marks or acne scars, and prevent pesky pimples. You can make a simple and effective paste that can be used to treat breakouts by soaking Fenugreek seeds in water overnight, then grinding them into a coarse paste in the morning and applying to your complexion, leaving to dry completely before rinsing off in warm water.
Multani Mitti (Fullers Earth)
This simple yet effective clay, uses the purifying and detoxifying properties of Sodium Bentonite to draw oils and impurities from your skin, leaving your complexion looking and feeling mattified and fresher. For a super simple face pack, blend some Multani Mitti with some rosewater to make a paste, then apply to your face, and leave for up to15 minutes before washing off.
Neem
Dubbed Nature’s Pharmacy by many Indians, Neem really is Queen when it comes to sorting out skin, body, and overall health and well-being. Neem powder can be mixed with honey and rosewater or lemon juice to make a soothing antibacterial face pack that softens and purifies, and leaves your skin feeling glowing and fresh afterward. Many Indian women even drink Neem, mixed in a concoction of honey and water, to purify their bodies from the inside.
Tulsi
This wonder herb is grown in many Indian households due in no small part to its excellent anti-ageing and astringent qualities that help to tone tired skin and prevent pimples. You can make a simple paste of crushed Tulsi leaves and milk and apply to your skin to nourish, purify, and strengthen it.
Age Like A Supermodel 