Here are a few home remedies that will help you get rid of that tan.

1. Multani mitti and lemon

Fuller’s Earth or multani mitti is a potent ingredient for every skin problem and lemon is rich in vitamin C and has natural bleaching properties. When these two ingredients come together, they make an excellent face mask for oily acne-prone skin. It will help in lightening the skin, deep cleanse pores and tighten the skin.

How to make

Take 1tbsp of multani mitti and add lemon juice to it to form the consistency of a cream. Apply all over the face and neck and keep it on for 30 mins. Once completely dry, wash it off with cold water and pat dry the skin. Apply aloe vera gel to moisturise and soothe the skin.

2. Yoghurt and honey

Yoghurt is loaded with zinc which is the best medicine for sun-scorched skin. It has natural bleaching properties that help lighten skin tan. Honey has moisturising properties. With regular usage, it adds a glow to the skin by restoring its deepest layers. It is loaded with anti-oxidants that slow down the signs of aging like wrinkles and fine lines. Both honey and yoghurt together help to repair skin damage by sun. This face mask is the best option for those with normal to dry skin types.

How to make

Take 2tbsp of thick yoghurt and add 2tsp of honey to it. Stir the mixture well to form a creamy consistency. Apply the face mask and keep it on for 30 mins. Wash off with cold water and pat dry.

3. Milk cream and kesar [Saffron]

This face mask is the best choice for those with dry and sensitive skin. Milk cream helps in lightening the skin with its phenomenal brightening properties. Milk also soothes sunburn as it has cooling and skin-repairing properties. Saffron gives a healthy glow to the skin and helps in preventing acne and blemishes. Both together can lighten skin tan and pigmentation.

How to make

Take 5 – 6 strands of saffron and submerge it in 2tbsp of cold milk. In a clean bowl, add 1½ tbsp milk cream and add the saffron and milk. Stir the solution thoroughly to mix the goodness of saffron with the milk cream. With the help of a face pack brush, apply all over the face and neck. Keep it on for 30 min and rinse with water, then pat dry.

4. Potato, aloe vera and besan

Potato has certain elements that act as natural bleaching agents and hence is known for removing pigmentation from skin. An effective anti-ageing substance, potato also helps remove dead skin cells from the face.

Besan [gram flour] is a popular ingredient for its cleansing, lightening and moisturising properties. It is also a mild exfoliating agent, suitable for all skin types.

Aloe vera helps in soothing the sunburn. Together, these three ingredients can improve your complexion. This face pack is one of my favourites to remove sun tan.

How to make

Grate 1 potato and squeeze out the juice from it. Add 2tbsp of besan and 1 tbsp of aloe vera to it. Mix these thoroughly to form a cream like thick consistency; apply on the face. Keep it for around 30 mins and wash off with cold water.

5. Sandalwood powder and rose water

Sandalwood is a magical ingredient for skin lightening. The natural oils present in it effectively remove every layer of pigmentation, provided you use it regularly. It has several anti-ageing benefits for the skin as well. A face pack of sandalwood powder and rose water face is the epitome of goodness and makes the skin soft and supple.

How to make

In a clean bowl, add 2tbsp of sandalwood powder and rose water to form a thick paste. Apply all over the face and neck and keep it for around 40 mins. Once completely dry, wash it off with cold water and pat the skin dry. Apply aloe vera gel.

6. Tomato and honey

Tomato is super-rich in vitamin A, C and E, all of which are essential for healthy skin. Most of the skin damage is due to oxidation. Tomatoes and honey contain anti-oxidants, which help counter this effect. Apply this mask thrice a week and you’ll see the results within a month.

How to make

Take a juicy red tomato and cut it into half. Add 1tbsp of honey to the juicy flat surface and apply it on the face in circular motion. Keep doing it for around 5 – 10 mins. Once done, leave it like that for 15 – 20 mins and wash off with chilled water.

Tanning is a defence mechanism of our skin. When the skin is exposed to the UVB rays, it increases the production of melanin which, in turn, darkens our complexion in an uneven way, leading to various skin problems.

Skin glow juice

Here’s a recipe for a juice that will bring back that lost glow to your face. Have this juice daily, first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and you will notice the difference within a month.

Ingredients

• 1 medium size carrot
• 1 medium size beet
• 1 tomato
• 2tbsp lemon juice
• 1tbsp honey
• 5 – 6 mint leaves
• 10 – 12 cilantro
• Salt [as per requirement]

Method

Put all the ingredients into a blender; blend thoroughly to form a pulpy juice. You can strain this if you want or have it as it is.

A few healthy diet choices and easy-to-make face masks is all it takes to keep your skin glowing this [and every!] summer.

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1. Wearing the wrong foundation shade

This is the commonest mistake. The shade of foundation is judged from two things—the undertone and the shade itself. Unless these two are correctly merged, you will not get the right shade of foundation for your skin. Firstly, identify your undertone by looking at the veins of your wrist. Green indicates warm while blue indicates cool undertones. Select a foundation that matches your undertone and is one shade lighter than your skin-tone. In general, it is advisable to apply the foundation on the face and test it under natural light to see whether it matches your skin or not. Otherwise, a shortcut method is to take three closest shades and apply on the jaw line and simply dab them to blend into your skin. The colour that merges onto the skin quickest is the shade for you. Remember, foundation is the base and if your base isn’t matching your skin tone, the whole makeup will look wrong.

2. Not blending your foundation onto your neck

When you don’t blend the foundation onto your neck, it looks like you have a mask on. This gives a “made up” look. The purpose of applying foundation is that it should provide an even tone to your skin, especially to areas that are not easily covered by makeup. Take your time to apply the foundation on to the neck and blend it evenly.

3. Wearing the wrong blush shade

Once again, the formula for choosing the correct shade of blush lies in the identification of the undertones. Blush is the natural flush of colour that you want to add. Start working with very little colour and blend it thoroughly in an outward motion. Then, keep in mind the shade of your lipstick and apply the blush once you have applied the lip colour. For bold lips, choose a colour with same undertone as your skin and lip and apply very softly. For muted lips, apply the blush with an undertone of your own skin tone.

4. Applying too much concealer

Concealers are great for covering and concealing the flaws to make you look impeccable. Then again, too much concealer will not only highlight the flaws [read fine lines and wrinkles] but will also crease up and ruin the whole look. Hence, the whole purpose is defeated. So, choose a concealer that is lightweight and blends easily into your skin. For under eyes, use a lightweight brightening concealer, while for acne and scars use a slightly thicker one that matches your skin tone. Remember, blending is the key here. All you have to do is dab the colour until it looks just like your normal skin. Don’t load up too many products at a time; if you are looking for high coverage just build up the layers gently.

5. Forgetting to prep your skin before applying makeup

A lot of women skip prepping and priming their skin before applying makeup and that’s why their makeup doesn’t last long. Prepping the skin involves cleansing, toning and moisturising your skin, which gives you a clean canvas to start off on. Make sure you select a good moisturiser for your skin type and give it 3 – 4 minutes to be absorbed. Apply a good primer that will even out the skin, fill in the pores and hold the makeup throughout the day.

6. Applying too much powder

Applying too much powder won’t save your face from looking oily; on the contrary, over-powdering your face will simply clog the pores, stimulate excess oil secretion and ultimately lead to acne and blemishes. Firstly, do not apply powder where it isn’t required [For example, if you have an oily T-zone, you don’t need any powder on cheeks or jawline]. Secondly, always apply powder with a brush, using carefree and light strokes. Also, make sure to dust off the excess powder from the brush before applying it.

A lot of women skip prepping and priming their skin before applying makeup and that’s why their makeup doesn’t last long

7. Applying too much blush and bronzer

This makeup blunder is known to make women look clownish and fake. The purpose of a blush and bronzer is to add colour to your face or just to contour and add dimensions. Use both, blush and bronzer very sparingly so that there is a minimal chance of it going wrong. Also, while application, make sure the lighting is perfect or use a natural light as a source so that you know how much to apply. Again, always tap the brush for excess before slathering over the skin. Spend some time on blending! Here are some more tips on applying blush.

8. Over-applying liner on bottom lash line

If you don’t wish to look like a raccoon, do not over-apply liner to the bottom lash line. Simply, apply a stroke of kajal and use a precise pencil brush to smudge it. Too much kajal or kohl on the bottom lash line can add years to your face and ruin the whole look.

9. Doing bold eyes and lips, together

This is a mistake for which the makeup police will not forgive you. Our eyes and lips are both expressive features, hence both should not be highlighted at the same time. While going for a bold lip colour make sure the eye-makeup is minimal with a simple winged line. Similarly, for the bold eyes, choose a very neutral or natural lip colour.

10. Not blending your eyeshadows

Eyeshadows are wonderful if applied properly. Sometimes even single colour on the lids can make you look glamorous provided you blend the colour properly. Make sure you have at least one transition shade. A good matte transition shade is a must if you are using 3 or 4 eye shadows together. Use a medium size fluffy brush to blend the colours. Keep blending the colours in a wide swipe motion until the harsh lines completely disappear. Do not layer too much at a time; slowly build up the intensity you desire.

Applying makeup is something you get better at with practice. Just follow the above tips, get your basics right and you’ll never go wrong with makeup.

This was first published in the April 2016 issue of Complete Wellbeing.

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