We recently asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to share some beauty secrets passed down to them by their Indian mothers. Here’s what they said:
1. Get rid of annoying facial and body hair, permanently, with gram flour.
Make a paste of gram flour and water, and apply on the target area. Wait till it dries and then rub it off like in the GIF above. You have to do it at least twice a week for a few months to see permanent results. But it's waaaaaay less expensive than laser hair removal.
It's VERY IMPORTANT to test it out on your hand before putting it on your face.
– Submitted via amreend.
2. Say bye to dandruff with oil and lemon juice.
Mix 10 to 12 drops of lemon juice in coconut or olive oil and massage it into your scalp. Leave on for an hour and wash away your dandruff.
– Samya Singh via Facebook.
3. Remove your tan with honey and lemon.
For those who don't like tanned skin, mix the juice of one lemon with a teaspoon of honey and apply on your face. Leave it on for 10 minutes and rinse. The bleaching properties of lemon will remove the tan while the honey moisturises.
For a more intense mask that also uses gram flour and milk, look here.
– Afrah Najeeb via Facebook.
4. Or with some raw potato juice.
Cut a raw potato in half. Use a fork and scrape it till you see some liquid on its surface. Now rub the potato on your face for a minute and rinse with water.
– Afrah Najeeb via Facebook.
5. Use henna for a subtle burgundy glow to your hair.
Get yourself some clean, natural henna powder. The quantity varies according to hair length. Learn to mix it properly and apply it carefully. CAREFUL is key because you might end up looking like the Mad Hatter.
– Preeti Prakash via Facebook.
6. Change your hair parting to keep it from thinning.
7. Coconut oil can solve any problem.
Skin moisturising: ✓
Makeup removal: ✓
Deep-conditioning hair mask: ✓
Getting rid of sticky wax after a session: ✓
– Harshita Swaminathan via Facebook.
8. So can aloe vera.
Use aloe vera gel on your hair to make it soft and skin to make it smooth. It's perfect for basically any skin problem. Slather it on.
– Submitted by drprajpatil.
9. Put Fuller’s Earth on pimples to dry 'em right out.
Fuller's Earth aka multani mitti is like the foundation of Indian home remedies. It tightens pores, smoothens skin and has cleansing properties. Try not using it if you have very dry skin, though.
– Suktika Banerjee via Facebook.
10. Get a flawless glow using gram flour and yoghurt.
Mix two tablespoons of besan or gram flour, half a teaspoon of turmeric powder, and milk or curd until you get a paste. Apply on the face for thirty minutes and wash it off. Best. Glow. Ever.
– Shikha Haladker via Facebook.
11. Egg yolk is also a pore vanisher.
For those who can stand the smell, separate the yolk from the white and apply it on your face. Wait till it dries and wash it off with water. Your skin will be tight and your pores, almost invisible.
– Swapna Shansomething via Facebook.
12. Dried orange peels make a nourishing mask.
Dry some orange peels and crush them to make a powder. Mix it with water to make a paste. Apply this as a face pack & wash it off with cold water after 10 minutes.
– Rimmi Singh via Facebook.
13. Green bean flour is a great substitute for soap.
Mix green bean flour with water and use as soap. It helps brighten and moisturise your skin without the chemicals present in your soap.
– Razeen Sidik via Facebook.
14. Turmeric gets rid of dark spots and lightens underarms.
Shaving can make your underarms noticeably darker. Lighten then by making a paste of natural turmeric and water. Keep it on for ten minutes and then wash off.
– Submitted via klionam.
15. Most importantly, "Be confident, and your skin will glow. That's what she told me my whole life."
– Submitted by ViolentlyPink
