4 Natural Remedies for Peeling Skin

Very dry skin can start peeling with time and that is definitely a sign that something is not right. Maybe your regular moisturizer is not helping anymore and you want to try something new, or you are switching to all-natural remedies and want to check out what the methods against peeling skin are. Here are a few pure items that might help you out with very dry peeling skin:

• Bananas: make a banana cream using a ripe banana and yougurt. Apply the mixture to the affected area. The skin will get softer and smoother after you wash it out, but it’s better to repeat the procedure in a few consecutive days for better results.
• Almond Oil: the “skin” oil will definitely help you with dry patches of skin by simply applying it to the affected area.
• Lemon Juice: not only it is refreshing and can be used in cooking, but lemon juice will help to reduce the peeling of skin. It can be turned into a scrub if you combine it with sugar or in a pure form to serve as a moisturizer
• Aloe Vera: it is one of the best components of beauty products for sensitive skin. You can use it in a gel form or the Aloe Vera pulp to enhance moisturizing and help easing the blood flow.

Summer skin SOS

You will no longer hate the warm weather for the setbacks it can bring.We give you a list of the most common seasonal skin woes - and the solutions to prevent or fix them, to stay gorgeous all season

1. Sunburns

Reason: Exposure to UV rays during

Prevent it: For the face, use skincare products that contain SPF 30 or more. For the body, use garments such as scarves to guard against UV rays.

Solution: When skin is sun burnt, it is inflamed. So, burnt, it is inflamed. So, you first need to cool it; a cold shower is quite effective for this purpose. You can also soak a towel in cold water and place it on affected areas. Go for whitening/brightening skincare products and moisturise well.

2. Summer rash

Reason: Sweat makes the skin moist. Skin that is moist collects dust and impurities that block the sebaceous glands and cause summer rash and acne.

Prevent it: Never scratch your skin. Sweat contains salt that can irritate the skin, creating an itching sensation.

When you itch, your skin develops rashes.

Solution: Use a good-quality powder to prevent the skin from becoming too moist.
Make cleansing a part of your daily beauty regimen. Gently cleanse the skin with a cleanser, around two to three times a day. When outdoors or in office, apply moisturising lotion to a cotton pad and gently wipe the sweat off the skin instead of using a dry tow el. Moisturisof ing lotions to are mildly s acidic and do not irri tate the skin. ill 3 pm tate the skin.

3. Acne

Reason: Acne is the direct result of the direct result of dehydration due to sweating and excessive reproduc tion of bacteria. For adults, stress and lifestyle factors can disrupt the pH balance making the skin acne prone.

Prevent it: Change the way you cleanse. The key is to lather up the foam and cleanse gently, so that excess sebum is removed, but essential moisture is retained in the skin.

Solution: Gently wash the face with a cleanser, then apply a toner and a moisturiser (cream or emulsion) with a light texture. Sleep well, eat healthy, and avoid foods that are high in fats. Since your skin is very sensitive, apply products that can increase the `barrier function' of the skin.

4. Dry skin

Reason: Scrubbing can cause dry ness as it damages the stratum corneum (uppermost layer of the skin). Dif K t t ferences in humidity between indoors and outdoors and exposure to air conditioning are among other causes.

Prevent it: Maintaining an optimal moisture balance for your skin (balance between water, oil and moisturising elements in the skin) is important for healthy, beautiful skin. Most people with dry skin only use a cream. However, in order to restore the optimal moisture balance, apply a toner and an emulsion before applying a cream. This will create protective layers on your skin, thus increasing its barrier function.

Solution: Religiously moisturise your skin every morning and before you go to bed. The right way to apply the cream is to use the palm of your hand and apply it in a slow motion.

5. Uneven skin tone

Reason: The reason is different for different areas. Decrease in blood circulation and d haemoglobin in the blood affects the area around the eyes, making them appear darker. Exposure to UV rays causes melanin to build up which changes the colour of your cheeks. And if you notice uneven skin tone on your entire face, it may be due to lack of translucence because of ageing.

Prevent it: Moisturisation, sun protection, and facial massage are keys to avoiding uneven skin tone.

Solution: When massaging the face, pay attention to using the correct amount of cream. For the 
area around the eyes, take a towel, soak it in warm water, squeeze it and place on your eyes for a few minutes. This will increase the blood circulation and refresh your eyes.

Beauty tips to keep in mind

• Lather the cleansing foam until it is thick and creamy, and then use it to gently cleanse the face. Do not scrub, as it will damage the skin. The foam will act as a cushion and collect dust and impurities from the skin.
• Do not apply heavy moisturisers on oily skin as the pores can get clogged with oil and lead to blackheads and pimples.
• Be beautiful from the "inside" by paying special attention to food. Opt for healthy, natural and light options like salads and take vitamin and mineral supplements.

• After cleansing, use a toner. This will replenish the moisture in your skin and make it supple and soft. A smart way of using the toner is to take several cotton pads and soak them in the toner. Place the cotton pads on dry areas like a mask for 10 minutes.
• Apply sandalwood paste on pimples, acne, rash and heat boils. If there is a rash, mix sandalwood paste with a little rose water and apply on the affected area. Wash it off with plain water after 20 minutes. You can also use talcum powder containing sandalwood for conditions like prickly heat or body rash.

(Inputs by Hiroko Watanabe, skin expert, Shiseido and beauty expert Shahnaz Husain)

Moisturisers from the kitchen for all skin types

Beauty in it's most natural of forms is not only the easiest to achieve but also the most accessible.

All-natural beauty treatments revitalize your skin and body, and are both effective and affordable. We suggest a few all-natural beauty treatments for all skin types that you can find inside your very own kitchen cupboards and refrigerators!

Oily skin: 

If your skin tends to get oily, let these all-natural, readily available products be your new best friends:

Avocado: 

Many beauty and health experts recommend the avocado juice for soft, glowing skin. Avocado is rich in Vitamin A that essentially offers clear, beautiful skin. Apart from this it is loaded with several other minerals like potassium, iron and copper that can collectively work wonders in giving your skin the right kind of moisture. "You can simply mash up an avocado or two and apply it on your skin and rinse it off after 15-20 minutes. Avocado juice is also a complete energizer and can boost you up completely," says Seema Rai, skin expert.

Bananas: 

They are rich in Vitamin A as a result of which, bananas help immensely in restoring dull and damaged skin. To give your skin some natural moisturizer, mash a banana and apply it gently all over your face, keep it on your face for around twenty minutes and wash it off with some lukewarm water.

Additionally the Vitamin C present in bananas can help in giving your skin that natural glow.

Normal skin: 

For those who're blessed with normal skin that is between dry and oil and habituates well with any climate, try these:

Grapes: 

The Vitamin E present in grapes retains the moisture in the skin and also helps in the rejuvenation of deal skin cells. Mash a handful of grapes and use cotton to apply it across your face. Wash after a while. For best results, apply it a few times a week. Also, due to the presence of antioxidants, grapes can act as a natural sunscreen.

Cucumber: 

Cucumbers restore moisture and maintain supple, healthy skin apart from several other benefits. "Cucumbers act as a good moisturizer for the body and skin. Antioxidants delay ageing of the skin and thus keep the skin rejuvenated. Simply by keeping cucumber slices on the eyes at night can relieve the puffiness better than any medication as it contains vitamin C," says Dr Shefali Trasi-Nerukar, dermatologist.

Dry skin: 

If you have skin that generally lacks moisture, here are a few natural treatments that won't only retain moisture but also keep it there:

Coconut oil: 

Not only is it a natural moisturizer, it also acts as a make up remover, and a body scrubber. It sinks deep inside the pores, softens and moisturizes the skin completely, and also cleans away dirt and grime. Additionally, a coconut oil massage is recommended for strong and healthy hair.

Papaya: 

These are best known for retaining water and removing dead skin cells thus giving way to supple, glowing skin. If you have dry skin, mash a papaya with some honey for instant skin moisturizing and hydration. "Papaya is very helpful in combating dry skin problems. Raw papaya pulp is rich in antioxidants especially vitamin C which helps in moisturizing and brightening the complexion," says dermatologist Dr Apratim Goel.