Beauty fix: Facemasks from your kitchen cupboards

A nice facial is the best answer for tired, weather-beaten skin but considering the cash-strapped world we are living in, not all can afford costly beauty treatments and spas.

If those tiny frown lines are forming between your eyebrows; then fret not! Who says beauty has to break your bank? We bring you five facemasks for all kinds of skin from ingredients available in your kitchen. Get your notepad and pen and start jotting down these simple ingredients.

These homemade face packs are as easy to make as clicking your fingers but remember:
-Cleanse first and remove all make-up
-Exfoliate with a good scrubber
-Steaming your face after exfoliating will open the pores rather well, get a bowl of boiling water, drape a towel over your head and put your face over the bowl. The towel will keep steam from escaping, letting more steam get onto your face. Remember your neck is equally important and treat it like your face.

For oily skin:

We all know how power-packed a banana is, but now we know that it can also give you a natural glow, without making you look like a shiny tabletop. Mix one ripe banana and one tablespoon of honey. Add a few drops of a lemon or an orange. Apply it generously over your face and neck and let it stay for 15 minutes or till you feel your skin tightening. Rinse away with lukewarm water.

For acne-prone skin:

If there are tiny humps and bumps on your face reminding you of your puberty days, then worry not: adult acne is more common than you think. Try this quick strawberry mask to bid adieu to those nasty little things, forever.  Mash together ¼ cup fresh (no frozen ones please) strawberries and ¼ cup yogurt or sour cream. Spread on face and wash after 10-15 minutes. Strawberries are naturally rich in salicylic acid, found in all over-the-counter anti-acne solution.

For dry skin:

If dry and thirsty skin is your problem, bring out avocados and honey; both are known for their moisturizing properties. Make sure to use a fresh avocado and mash it into a creamy pulp. Mash ½ avocado in a bowl and stir in ¼ cup honey. Leave it on for about ten minutes. Your skin will thank you for the moisture intake. Also works fine for mature, wrinkle-prone skin.

For combination skin:

If you have a combination skin, try this blueberry mask: it will balance out the oily and dry areas of your skin. Lightly steam and crush three tablespoons of fresh blueberries. In a blender put this and ½ cup plain full fat yogurt. Apply to your face in circular motion and let it dry for 15 minutes, before washing it off with lukewarm or cold water.

Anti-ageing mask:

Mix together one cup of fresh cranberries, one cup seedless red grapes, two teaspoons of grapefruit juice and some unflavoured gelatin into a paste. Cover and leave it in the fridge for about 45 minutes to thicken the paste. Remove from the fridge and let it sit for five minutes. Apply on to the face and neck and remove after 15 -20 minutes.

There you go! These facemasks really are easy to make, and we guarantee you have all these ingredients in your kitchen cupboards, so take it easy over the next couple of days and pamper yourself in 5* luxury, in the comfort of your own home.

Dhanya Nair