Well-being Q&A: Skin queries

I am a 30-year-old woman with a pale complexion. I have the following queries:

I don't know my skin type. Is there a method to determine it?

I used to have glowing skin when I was in my 20s, but now it is quite dull.

I also had pimples during my teens that left behind marks. How do I brighten my complexion?

And lastly, I want to apply henna to my hair. How should this be prepared?

Priya, Abu Dhabi

To answer your first query, you can determine your skin type according to the degree of oiliness or dryness.

Take a cotton ball and moisten it with rubbing alcohol. Rub the moistened cotton along the sides of your nose. Wait for ten minutes and repeat this process with another cotton ball. Examine the second one. If it is oily, your skin is oily.

In order to give your face a glow, you can apply the following mixture: a teaspoon each of turmeric, red sandalwood powder* and Bengal gram flour with enough milk cream to form a thick paste. Use once a day and wash off after 30 minutes. To get rid of pimples and scars caused by pimples, regularly apply tomato pulp on your face. Leave it on for an hour and wash off with warm water.

To prepare henna in a traditional manner, mix one-and-a-half cups of henna powder, two teaspoons of Indian gooseberry powder, half to one cup of tea decoction, two teaspoons of lemon juice, five leaves of white hibiscus and two red hibiscus flowers.

Make a paste of these ingredients and allow it to stand overnight in an iron vessel. The following morning, add an egg white to the mixture. Now, apply this mixture to your hair evenly. Put a shower cap on to ensure that the mixture does not drip over your clothes as henna tends to stain. Leave the mixture on for three to four hours and then rinse well with cold water.

Overall, in order to help nourish the skin and remove impurities, I suggest that you include fresh vegetables and fruit in your diet. The intake of spices like turmeric, cumin, coriander and black pepper will also help.

*Available at shops selling herbal products