DIY beauty – skin care on a budget

Last week I gave you a few pointers about buying beauty products on a budget. This week I’m letting you in on a skincare routine that just uses ingredients you’re likely to have in your fridge or cupboard.

Cleansing

Please don’t be tempted to use soap on your face. Most of the ones you can buy on the highstreet are too harsh for your body, let alone your face. They can strip the natural oils away, leaving your skin dry and sensitive.

Instead, you can cleanse your face with ordinary milk. Full-fat works best. Semi-skimmed will do, but the more fat the milk has the better really. Dip some cotton wool into the milk and gently wipe it across your face. Wash with warm (not hot) water, followed by a splash of cold water. This helps to remove most dirt and tighten pores.

Exfoliate

Dab some olive or sunflower oil onto a soft muslin cloth and use it to gently exfoliate your skin. Rinse the cloth in warm water and lightly run it over your face to remove any traces of makeup. Don’t worry about removing all of the oil, as it will help to nourish your skin.

If you don’t have a muslin cloth, just cut a square from some old cotton clothing. Linen works even better, so it’s a great way to re-use a much loved old linen shirt that’s no longer wearable.

Moisturise

While your face is still wet, warm a few spots of oil in the palms of your hands. Using your fingertips, gently tap the oil all over your face. (Think of your fingers as raindrops!) Follow by patting your face dry with another cloth, or towel.

Once a week facial

Lightly rub the outside (rind side) of lemon or orange peel across your skin and leave it to dry. Mix half an avocado with a tablespoon of honey and a tablespoon of yoghurt and apply it your face. (If you don’t have one of the ingredients, just use the other two.) Sit back and relax for 15 minutes, before removing the mixture with a soft cloth. If you have oily skin, you can also make a face mask by blending a few pieces of orange peel and mixing it together with the same quantity of yoghurt.

Some of these tips are ones I learnt growing up in India. I’ll be sharing more Indian beauty skincare ideas next week. Do follow me on Twitter, or Facebook if you’d like to hear when the post is out.