MAKE-UP "DO-IT-YOURSELF"

Make-up can be natural or dramatic, light or heavy, can enhance your natural features or act as a mask or a disguise. So, before you begin, you must decide which effect you want to get. However extreme you want the finished look to be, the trick is to use a light hand. Always start gently and build up the colour, shade and shape. It's much easier to add than take away and less timeconsuming, at least until you've become adept at handling the pencils, palettes, powders, creams and brushes that are a part of the modern cosmetic kit.

STEP-BY-STEP MAKE-UP

If it's done in hot climate, then wash your face with a facial foam and water. And if it's a cold climate, then cleanse, tone and moisturise before starting.

1. Apply the base foundation closest to the skin colour.Preferably apply with finger tips and then apply transculent powder to set the foundation.
2. Suck your cheeks and apply powdered blusher with a blusher brush to enhance the high cheek bones.
3. Apply eye shadow, first the lighter shade and then a dark shade on the crease of the eye and blend it well with your ring finger.
4. Apply eyeliner, a thin line from inner corner to the outer corner.
5. Then apply transparent mascara lashes and then a black or brown mascara.
6. Outline the lip with a lip pencil and fill the inside with lipstick to match your outfit and colour of your skin.
7. Your final look. It's not difficult. If you pracitice a few times, you will become an expert.

Skin Masks

Dry Skin Mask

Ingredients:

2 tbsp powdered oatmeal
2 tbsp thick cream
1 drop lavender essential oil
Mix all the ingredients well and apply on skin. Massage lightly in circular movements. This will help the skin secrete natural oils. Leave the mask on for 20 minutes and cleans it with warm water.

Oily Skin Mask

Ingredients:

1 tbsp gram flour
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp carrot juice
1 tbsp egg yolk (opt)

Mix all the ingredients well and apply on the skin. Leave it for 20 minutes and then wash off. This makes the skin feel good.

Open Pores

Method:

Mix 1 tbsp yeast grains with enough warm water and allow the mixture to rise. Add 1/4 tbsp lime juice and 1 tbsp honey.
Apply on open pores leave it for 20 minutes and wash it off. Repeat this twice a week for best results.

For Oily Skin

Method:

Make a mask with one teaspoon grated cucumber, 1/2 tbsp honey, juice of half an orange and some oatmeal powder.
Mix well and apply on skin. Leave it to dry for 20 minutes and rinse it with cold water. You will
feel your skin is noticeby tighter and firm.

Astringent

Ingredients:

1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup cucumber juice
1/2 cup watermelon juice
2 tbsp eau de cologne

Mix all the ingredients and store in the fridge for 7 to 10 days. This an excellent astringent for oily skins. You can also mix this with corn flour and use as a mask.

Skin care for humid weather

In humid climate especially during the monsoons when the heat rises but there are no rains to bring down your body temperatur,
the sebaceous glands, that is the oil glands, become overactive and start secreting oil. This oil forms a layer of film on the skin. Bacteria settle on the oily layer cause itching, rash and allergies. As a result the skin looks dull and lifeless.

To take care of your skin in humid weather always carry wet tissues with you and keep wiping the face. Some of the wet tissues come with non-alcoholic astringent with a pleasent fragrance.

Working women can use a water-based mosturiser.Avoid using creams in this weather. Also consider having facials more regularly to cleanse your skin. It is always advisable to take aroma cream facials which are available for all kinds of skin. They are recomended because they dont have any chemicals.

The action plan for overcoming effects of humid climate can be followed at home too with fruits or vegetables. The pulp of pupaya, banana, sweet lemon, plums and peaches can be used as face packs. Vegetables like cucumber, tomato juice, potato (raw) can be used as a cleanser and to shrink the pores. People with very oily skin can splash cold water with a few drops of lime added to it and then tone up the skin with aromatic skin toners which are alcohol free.

Housewives confined to the kitchen for a long time are exposed to oil fumes which settle on their skin leading to irritation, rash or itching. They should wash their face frequently with cold water with a few drops of eau de cologne added to it. Having cold juices and even cold soups would help your skin to a great extent.

(The writer runs the Sharon Beauty Parlour and Training Institute)

Face Packs For oily skin

Oatmeal and Apple Mask:

You need:
1 tblsp of oatmeal
1/2 grated apple
A little milk to mix
Apply all over the face and neck and leave it on for 15 minutes. Scrub it off, moving fingertips in a circular motion for a clean complexion.

Strawberry Surprise:

You need:
10 Strawberries, mashed
1 tblsp of fresh, crushed mint
2 tblsp of oatmeal
Apply on face and neck and leave it on for 20 minutes. Scrub it off with rose water.

LENTIL PACK - A WONDER CURE FOR BLEMISHED SKIN

2 tblsp of powdered lentils (masoor dal)
2 tblsp or rice flour
1 egg white
2 tblsp of oatmeal
Milk to make the paste
Mix all the ingredients and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Apply all over the face and leave it on for 20 minutes. Dab face with milk and wash off with cold water.

(Shere Banoo runs the Begum's Beauty parlour)