HOW CAN AROMATHERAPY HELP IN DEALING WITH COVID RELATED STRESS?

Aromatherapy can be used in calming and peping oneself during these times. Essential oils can also be used as sanitisers to clean hands, table tops, door knobs, while mopping the floor or you can just put a few drops of your favourite essential oil in a bucket of water and have a calming bath with it. Oils like Basil, eucalyptus, thyme, peppermint can be used as they have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties which will keep all the virus at bay.

WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST FOR A BEAUTY ROUTINE?

Always follow cleansing, toning and mositurising twice a day no matter what your skin type is.

DRY SKIN

Follow double cleansing in this weather, first clean your face with a cleansing cream and then follow it up with a dry skin face wash. Use a good toner and then moisturise with a cream or you can make your own moisturiser by using almond oil, 1 drop of jasmine or rose oil to it. Massage your face with this for 20 minutes, let the oil go deep in your skin. Remember to scrub your skin once a week with a papaya and yoghurt scrub to take away dead skin.

OILY SKIN

Double cleanse your skin. First use a cleansing milk or gel to deep clean skin, follow it up with an oily skin face wash to take away the remaining dirt particles. Use juniper berry toner and nourish your skin with a pack made of aloe vera gel mixed with 1 drop of tea tree or lemon essential oil. It is important to exfoliate your skin twice a week and declog your pores.

SKIN THERAPIES FOR THE BRIDE TO BE?

Every bride wishes to have a glowing and bright skin and this can easily be achieved by using a brightening face pack regularly. Since they can’t go to salons for facials and massage right now, I suggest the use of the following pack once a week to get the glow, at home: Wash and grind a handful of rose petals into a paste with a little milk. Add a teaspoon of honey to the mixture and apply this on a clean face for 15 – 20 minutes. In case you are allergic to honey use more milk or add vegetable glycerine to the pack. A pack is necessary for any bride as it acts like an iron for your skin, and leaves the skin nourished and radiating.

WHAT BEAUTY ROUTINE TO FOLLOW AT HOLIDAYS/STAYCATIONS/WEEKEND BREAKS?

I suggest do some pre-trip skin prep. Hands and feet will be on show. So, scrub the dead skin away by applying a pack made of 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon honey, milk powder and a little water. Massage your hands with it for 20 minutes. Also, it’s not just your face skin that you need to prep but also your body, so make a pack with papaya mixed with half a lemon squeeze and 1 tablespoon of rice powder. Scrub your body and feet with this and your skin will be vacation ready.
While you are on a vacation, that doesn’t give you an excuse to skip your cleaning, toning and mositurising. Remember to do this in the morning and at night religiously, this will take care of your skin and deal with all the weather changes that your skin will have to bear. Use sunscreen with SPF 30 before stepping out in the sun and keep on re-applying it every 2 hours. Another must have in your vacation bag is a good hand cream, keep your hands nourished at all times.

ANY INSTANT PERK-UP HOME REMEDIES TO ADD GLOW TO SKIN?

I always say to have a glowing skin you need to have a proper and balanced diet which includes loads of green vegetables and drink at least 6-8 glasses of water.
At home glowing pack that you can definitely try is:
Squash watermelon in a bowl, add a teaspoon of each of these: lemon juice, milk powder, honey and 2-3 drops of jasmine essential oil. Apply it on a clean face for 15-20 minutes and wash it with water. Use it once a week to see quick results.