Detox your skin to make it fresh and healthy once again

Diwali's after-effects can include a number of skin problems due to late-night parties, heavy makeup and the copious amounts of mithai consumed. Not to mention the excessive air pollution harming one's skin. The adverse effects of this festival routine are many, and entrepreneur and producer, Deepshikha Deshmukh, who is also the founder of Love Organically, which produces completely natural and chemical-free skincare products, helps us out with some simple post-Diwali detox hacks!

Fight Air Pollution
As happy a festival as Diwali is, we do end up being exposed to a lot of pollution because of the firecrackers. So it's very important to do both - be prepared for it as well as know the right beauty solutions to help the skin breathe easy after Diwali. A couple of scrubs that I personally swear by are the Walnut scrub and the honey-lemon scrub. They are easy to make from ingredients that are generally available at home. Just mix some coarsely ground walnuts, sugar and a few drops of olive oil to make a scrub, and gently apply it for around 10 – 15 seconds. If you combine sugar, honey, and lemon, the scrub works like magic to exfoliate the skin. If time is a constraint, a slice of raw green papaya scrubbed on the skin also helps in cleansing thoroughly.

Say No To Breakouts and Oily Skin
Oily food and excessive sweet consumption is not the best idea but we all know Diwali is an exception! So right after Diwali, most of us end up going on crash diets and rigorous workouts expecting our skin also to bounce back immediately but skincare is a different ball game that requires patience and care. There are some quick-fix solutions that I believe are natural and can be your go-to, if you have to run for an event or party., which will make your skin look refreshed immediately. Combine two tablespoons of wheat bran and a tablespoon each of ground almonds, curd, honey, and rose water. Blend the ingredients into a paste and apply it carefully, avoiding the lips and under-eye areas. Wash off in 20 minutes. It's surprising what this can do!

Deepshikha Deshmukh

Hydrate Your Skin
When we apply heavy makeup, we are almost closing our skin pores with different products. It's very important to choose the right kind of makeup for your skin so that it can breathe even with it on. It's also equally necessary that we remove the makeup before going to bed and cleanse the skin well. Personally, I have a very easy 15 min regime that I follow after I have returned from a party. It rehydrates my skin making it soft and smooth. I mix one tablespoon of cold milk and two drops of olive or sunflower oil, blend well using a cotton pad and then apply the mixture on the facial and neck areas. With another cotton pad dipped in rose water or lavender water, I clean up the mixture after 15 minutes and I'm done!

Clean Up Inside and Out
Switching from milk-based drinks to clear green tea daily is a great detox option. Green tea keeps the skin hydrated and also has no calories so you can have as much as you like. Starting the morning with the juice of one lemon in a glass of warm water helps in flushing the system of impurities. This is an age-old mummy ka nuskha that has been working for years. Several actresses also swear by it. I believe in eating everything but in moderation. If we are aware of what we are putting into our mouths, we will be careful. Typical things that are good for skin are green leafy vegetables, fruits high in fiber, fresh salads, yogurt, and healthy nuts.

Freshen Up!
We tend to turn to chemical products easily as solutions but natural, organic products have unique benefits that are great for the skin. There are many easily available ingredients in our homes which can become beauty solutions. I'm pretty sure honey, aloe vera, cucumber, and rose water are available in most homes. They are gentle toners and moisturize the skin as well. Use any one, leave on for 20 minutes, wash it with plain water after and you need no cream!

Get Rid of Undereye Dark Circles
Late nights are also becoming normal every year during Diwali, making dark circles and under-eye bags common. A simple solution is grate potatoes or apply some potato juice around the eyes. It instantly helps to reduce puffiness, as do used tea bags steeped in hot water, cooled and used as eye pads. These are of course temporary solutions to make you ready for another late night but there is no replacement for sleep! Eventually, we must catch up on it.