Dull, Splotchy and Pigmented: Is that Your Skin(2020)? 10 Home Remedies for Clear Skin and 6 Skincare Steps You Dare not Miss!

We human beings have different skin types. There is normal skin, oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin and combination skin. Normal skin is characterized by few imperfections, barely visible pores and neither too oily nor too dry. The combination skin type is the most common and it includes skin that is dry in some areas but oily in the other parts. Oily, dry and sensitive skin is self-explanatory, with sensitive skin being the most unkind of all skin types. It is important to find out what skin type you possess so as to make a better choice when deciding skincare routines. Each type of skin has its own specific requirement and skincare routine. Switching skincare routines or adopting a skincare routine that doesn’t suit your skin type can lead to adverse consequences.

Skincare products and remedies are not magic that you will get flawless skin overnight after applying them. Such products and remedies need support from you in the form of being under the habit of following a skincare routine. A skincare routine involves some basic steps that you need to follow to keep your skin clean and healthy. Only if your skin is clean and healthy, can beauty products and home remedies be effective. These steps include basic cleansing, toning, exfoliating and moisturising that you need to follow on a daily basis. Following are the 6 steps that your skincare routine must-have.

The first step for flawless skin is cleansing. It is important that you keep your skin squeaky clean for skincare products to have any effect. If there is a layer of dirt, dust and dead skin cells on the skin then skincare product cannot provide the nourishment it requires. Also, accumulation of dust and dead skin cells can cause acne which is not only a blemish on your facial skin but is also painful. The most basic way to cleanse your skin is washing daily with a face wash and having a facial scrub once a week. Additionally, you can apply a cleansing lotion after washing your face with facewash.

Toning is a part of skin cleansing. While cleansing means to remove dust, dirt and dead skin cells, toning involves removing excess oil from the skin to give it a youthful and rejuvenating look. Toners balance the pH level of your skin as well and increase blood supply. The result is supple, wrinkle-free youthful skin that would give a boost to your confidence.

Moisturising is an essential part of your skincare routine. Just cleaning your skin is not enough. You need to provide adequate nourishment and hydration to it. Lack of skin moisturising can lead your skin to become overly dry which in turn will cause breakage, cracks and fissures. Such skin is an open invitation to infection and inflation. Besides, it will be a source of constant irritation to you as dry skin is itchy. Thus, after cleansing, massaging your face with a moisturiser is a must. Moisturisers not only hydrate the skin but also traps water so that your skin remains smooth and bright. Besides, almost all moisturiser formulas contain skin-nourishing ingredients that provide your skin with an extra health boost.

Sometimes cleansing your skin does not remove all of the dead skin cells. For that you need exfoliating. It is a process where you remove the dead skin cells from the surface of your skin using either a granular substance or a chemical substance or a physical exfoliation tool. Exfoliation has a lot of benefits. To begin with, it completely removes all the dead skin cells from the surface of your skin which prevents clogging of the pores. Then comes that fact that it allows topical face creams and lotions to have a better effect due to proper absorption of them into the skin. It also gives the skin a bright and rejuvenating appearance. If you exfoliate regularly and for a long period of time then collagen production increases. Collagen in your skin is responsible for its vibrancy and glow.

Pollution, lifestyle and ageing result in our skins developing certain undesirable characteristics. Lack of sleep, overworking and stress causes dark circles under the eyes. Ageing brings forth wrinkles and pollution is responsible for a myriad of skin ailments. It is important that you adopt necessary treatment for them or your skincare routine will go in vain. Apply anti-wrinkle creams, eye creams and undergo medical treatment in case of acne. Vibrant, soft and youthful skin can be achieved only when your skin is healthy. So do not ignore the battle scars of ageing, pollution and a hectic lifestyle and undergo adequate treatment for them.

We have often heard that beauty lies within us. This phrase is perceived as a philosophical one but it appears that it has a biological relevance as well. It is correct that true beauty lies in your personality and attitude but it also lies in the health of your stomach. A healthy stomach means healthy skin and the only way to have a healthy stomach is to drink loads of water. Water flushes out the toxins from the body and allows organs to function at the optimum level. When it comes to skin, the largest organ in the body, water works wonders. Besides providing much-needed hydration, the benefits of water include reduced wrinkles, itchiness and puffiness, well-balanced pH level, no acne and tighter skin.

Skin creams and lotions are effective but they are made from chemicals that have unsavoury side effects. They are also harmful to your health in the long run. But there is an alternative to this. You can get clear skin by using completely natural and organic products. Our nature is bountiful and every fruit, vegetable and dairy product has some benefits for our skin. Another advantage of these natural ingredients is that skin concoctions can be made anytime at home. Follow this BP Guide to know about the 10 best home remedies for clear skin.

Turmeric is the most versatile natural ingredient when it comes to skincare. Used since ancient times, this Indian herb is known to treat a myriad of skin problems. It has antiseptic properties and mixed with other natural ingredients, create concoctions that heal your skin. Turmeric paste(turmeric powder mixed with water) alone lightens blemishes and pigmentation. Turmeric mixed with pineapple juice removes dark circles. Wrinkles can be treated with a paste made of turmeric and sugarcane juice while dry and parched skin can be moisturised by applying turmeric and sandalwood paste. Use it as a toner to give your skin an overall healthy look. The versatility of turmeric makes it a must-have in a herbal skincare routine.

No matter how good your skin is, wrinkles tend to make it look bad. Hence, it is important to remove wrinkles to allow your skin to bloom and glow. A rice flour mask is the best remedy for this. Rice flour has been in use for centuries to treat pigmentation, wrinkles and blemishes. Make a face pack by mixing rice flour and milk in equal parts. Add 1 tablespoon of honey to the concoction and apply the paste on your face, neck and shoulders. Keep it on for 20 minutes and then rinse. The result after regular application will be reduced wrinkles and flawless, clear skin.

Neem is the leader in treating skin problems. It is both anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties and is the best detoxifying agent for your skin. Neem has by far the best results in treating acne. Not only does it reduce pimples and acne but also prevents their future breakouts. Applying neem regularly is the most wholesome skincare routine for all skin types. A simple neem pack can be made by mixing neem powder with yogurt. Apply this paste gently on your cleansed face and keep for 15 minutes. Rinse it off with a sponge and cold water. Following this routine twice a week will unclog pores and prevent acne.

Scars are accidental and not in our control but we still do not like them to be a blemish on our skin. The best natural remedy to scars is honey. Honey is rich in bleaching properties that fade both scars and pigmentation. The result is glowing skin with a flawless complexion. What more, honey has anti-bacterial properties too and hence is effective against pimples and zits.

Gram flour is the best natural ingredient to get glowing skin. It is a good exfoliating product, thus, it removes dead skin cells and enables a new layer of skin cells to be brought to the surface that looks fresh and glowing. It is easy to apply too. Add a little bit of water to powdered gram flour and make a paste. Apply it on your face and keep for 15 minutes. Then rinse the face with water. Do this every day before taking a bath for best results.

The world’s favourite vegetable will become more endearing after knowing this. The vegetable that gives you the best snacks also gives you spotless skin. The juice of raw potato is rich in vitamin C and also has bleaching properties. The starch in potatoes removes dark spots that we get due to ageing and exposure to the sun. Cut slices of potatoes and place them on your skin. Keep it on for 30 minutes. Follow this routine every day for best results.

Coconut oil is the best natural moisturiser. There is one catch though. Avoid using it on the face unless you have severely dry skin. It’s that, coconut oil can cause clogged pores and result in acne. However, you can apply to the rest of body unconditionally as there are fewer pores than there are on the face. Besides moisturizing the skin, coconut oil treats irritated skin caused due to dryness, and eczema. Moisturising with coconut oil gives your skin a hydrated, lustrous and healthy look.

Exfoliation is an important step of the cleansing process. Any skincare routine will be ineffective if your skin is not cleansed of dead skin cells. In terms of natural exfoliator, a concoction of rose water and lemon juice works the best. Add a few drops of lemon juice to rose water and apply the mixture with a cotton pad. Keep it for 30 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water. Follow this up by applying your favourite moisturizing lotion. This routine should be done before going to bed to get the best results.

Milk not only gives us the best beverages and desserts but also provides nourishment to our skin. When applied externally, it removes tan and makes the skin soft and supple. Tanning is common in working women who have to spend most part of the day outdoors. While chemical formulas of de-tanning creams and lotions are effective, they also tend to be harmful in the long run as they have chemicals. Those who are exposed to the sun regularly would do well with natural de-tanning. In this way, they get the results without having to bear the side effects. Massage your face twice a day with full-fat milk or splash a bowl of milk on your face before pat drying it off. Additionally, milk moisturizes the skin.

Banana is a natural moisturiser. Take a ripe banana and mash it. Then apply the pulp liberally on your face. Even the driest of skins are benefitted from this. This is an effective remedy for those who have excessively dry skin. Store-bought moisturisers have a time period in a day within which they are effective but applying this ripe banana mash once a day regularly will keep your skin moisturised all the time. Moreover, you get use for those overly ripe bananas that you were planning to throw away.