Natural care

Ambreen Noon Kazi turns to homemade products for healthy skincare.

The weather is showing signs of summer and let's be honest, the pores are opening up again and that oily sheen is back on our faces. The occasional zit and pimple is beginning to show and no matter how much water you drink your skin is still not sparkling. If you are sick of all those products on the shelves, we list some alternatives that are natural, skin friendly and have multiple benefits.

Home turf

Natural ingredients contain vitamins, minerals, enzymes and oils that are beneficial to the body. They are easily available and can be combined with other ingredients to make masks and creams that are inexpensive and highly useful.

We list the benefits of a few natural ingredients:

- Strawberries are a great, gentle astringent. They gently refresh and exfoliate the skin, remove impurities and reduce swelling and redness. Suitable for oily skin.

- Avocados are rich in essential oils, vitamins and antioxidants. Suitable for dry and dehydrated skins.

- Bananas are rich in potassium and are suitable for normal and dry skin types.

- Potatoes work well for puffy and swollen eyes as well as for problems arising from oily skin.

- Honey is considered one of the oldest natural moisturisers. It stimulates circulation and softens the skin. Great for disinfecting and healing minor skin blemishes, honey works on all skin types.

- Cucumber is great for the eye area as it cools, soothes and reduces puffiness.

- Rose water is also considered an effective moisturiser as is soothes and calms skin. It is particularly suited for sensitive skin.

- Almond oil is considered one of the most nourishing treatments for dry skin.

- Glycerine is soothing and moisturising for dry, dehydrated skin. Combined with rose water it makes a very effective moisturiser.

- Egg whites work to temporarily tighten wrinkled skin. Rich in protein, whites as a mask or a paste are suitable for mature skins.

- Eggyolks are nourishing and hydrating. Rich in minerals and vitamins they work well on normal and dry skin.

- Oatmeal is rich in vitamins, particularly vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects the skin from toxins and ageing. It is hydrating and reduces vascularity and redness. Works well with all skin types.

- Yeast contains all the essential amino acids, 14 minerals and 17 vitamins. It is one of the best natural sources of the B complex and selenium — an antioxidant. Suitable for all skin types.

- Yoghurt is considered an effective cleaner that cleans the skin thoroughly.

- The writer is a freelancing food fan.