Skincare Gems Hidden Around Millennials

Being a young adult is hard, isn't it? From stepping out of the home with pocket money in our hands to earning and paying our own bills, life seems to be running so fast, and all we do is chase it. Weekdays go around working and thinking about weekends, and weekdays pass partying with friends, binge-watching your favorite shows and movies, or just lazying around within a blink of the eye. And in this fast forward life, when there is little ME TIME  that we get, even little is the skincare time we devote to our skin. 

Our skin is the outermost layer of ourselves and suffers a lot under the hands of pollution, screens, makeup, and whatnot. Just like we need a good night's sleep to wake up fresh and healthy, our skin needs its feed to feel and be rejuvenated.

We will tell you some very simple and basic DIY hacks to pamper your skin. Considering you all have a very hectic schedule and precious time, we will take you on a sail to skincare with resources that you don't have to go far or not even go anywhere to get.

Ohhhhhh, and the products you are just going to love them.

Welcome Onboard with The Beauty Sailor!

1. Beer

Well, Well, Well, Don't be surprised; you are not at some wrong place reading about your favorite drink. Beer, the precious golden drink which is part of almost every gathering we have with our friends and cousins, is not just limited to making us feel joyful from the inside. Beer made through fermentation has all the natural ingredients, including malted barley, yeast, water, starch, etc. These ingredients seldom have any side effects, of course, when consumed in a genuine amount. Beer has paved its way from being a drink to skin and haircare all by itself. Beer helps in dissolving the dead skin cells and hence reducing the chance of acne breakouts. It also improves the elasticity of the skin. Beer also helps in lightening the brown spots and restoring the skin's natural glow. It is a natural hair conditioner, and washing hair with Beer helps in making them look healthy, bouncy, and thick. Yeast and Vitamin B in Beer is useful for treating dandruff.

Here are some ways you can use Beer differently for hair and skin

• Strawberry and Beer Face Mask- Add 1 teaspoon of Beer in 2-3 crushed strawberries. Gently massage this mixture for some time in circular motions on your face, then leave it until dry. This mask will not only exfoliate and remove dead skin cells from your skin but also prompt cell generation.

• Milk and Beer for hair- Make a mixture of Beer and milk in the same ratio(3 tablespoons each approximately). Apply this mixture thoroughly to your scalp by massaging. Wash it off after 20 minutes.

• Skin Brightening Beer Mask- For a lightened and brightened skin combine egg whites and Beer with lime. Make sure it is not too thin. Apply this gel-based mask to your face and leave it for 10 min. Rinse it with water.

• Coffee- Sipping on a hot and good cup of coffee is a routine exercise for most of us. While known to refresh and energize us from within, coffee is now a part of skincare. Coffee helps remove dead skin cells, and polyphenols present as a sun-protecting agent saves the fresh skin from harmful UV radiations. Various acids present in coffee like Caffeic and Chlorogenic Acids make it antioxidant and antimicrobial. Caffeic acid is a huge source of antioxidants, leading to a rise in collagen levels; now, this reduction further prevents the skin from premature aging. Chlorogenic Acids in the coffee helps to lessen inflammation around the eyes. Coffee also helps in cellulite reduction. Cellulite, although harmless, is the unwanted fragmented surfacing of the skin that happens when long connective cords are pulled down. When we scrub the face with wet coffee grounds, the exfoliation helps smoothen the skin and stimulate blood flow. One of the most crucial functions of coffee is its effects on acne-prone skin. The stimulations, CGA's, and antioxidants make coffee an effective medicine for treating acne. Acne occurs when the dirt, dead skin, oils, etc., in our skin combines and starts to clog the pores. Since coffee removes the dead skin cells, it works amazingly in acne treatment. It's astounding how just one thing has so many features, Indeed a wonder!!!!! 

2. DIY Coffee Masks and Scrubs

• Whitening Coffee Scrub- Mix 2 tablespoons of ground coffee with an equal amount of coconut oil/ olive oil. Use this mixture as a scrub. Your instant whitening scrub is ready. Rinse with warm water.

• Coffee Scrub for dry skin- To make a nourishing scrub for dry skin, take one tablespoon of coffee and add malai/milk to it. This scrub exfoliates and moisturizes your skin at the same time. 

• Coffee Mask for skin tightening- Besides coffee, you will need honey and yogurt for making a skin tightening mask. Mix three of them consistently(1 tablespoon each). Apply this face mask and leave it until dry. Use it twice or thrice a week.

• Green Tea- Green tea, or as we call it "Liquid Emerald," is derived from Camellia Sinensis Plant, majorly found in the Asian Continent. Drinking Green Tea has many benefits, it is doubtless to say since it is the least processed tea and hence the healthiest one. But don't worry, we are not asking you to drink it, there is more and something better. Green Tea is enriched with polyphenols. Out of these polyphenols, flavonoids are present in abundance, the most active of which are Catechins and Epigallocatechin gallate. Polyphenols protect the skin from damage caused by the sun and cancer. They are also known to reverse the signs of aging by working on wrinkles, fine lines, etc. Green Tea is widely used as a chief ingredient in various skin care products like lightening and brightening creams, facewashes, toners, serums and concentrates, etc. It calms the irritating skin soothes redness and swelling. Products with Green tea keep the skin hydrated and moisturized for a longer period. They improve the overall complexion by toning the skin evenly, diminishing dark spots, and strengthening the texture of the skin. Its antimicrobial, astringent, and exfoliating in nature, therefore leads to balanced skin's oils, reduced appearance of large pores, and scraped pff dead skin. Green Tea also helps in lessening dark circles and puffiness around the eyes. Additionally, it treats acne-prone skin and retains a balanced level of hydration. All in all, Green Tea offers skin a gift of detoxification, hydration, moisturization, and protection. Green alternative uses for skin at home.

• Green Tea Face Scrub- Take two tea bags of green tea and put them in half a cup of boiling water. Once it boils, completely separate the green tea bags and Green Tea Concentrate(boiled water). Let this concentrate cool from half to one hour. When it's cold, mix one tablespoon of the concentrate with sugar in the same amount. Remember to make the consistency thick. Your scrub is ready.
  Don't think the boiled green tea leaves are wasted; take them out of the teabag and use them as an under-eye mask.

• Green Tea Face Mask- Get 1 tablespoon of baking soda and honey ready, also, of course, green tea. Let green tea bag soak in water after brewing it. When cold, cut the bag and take out green tea leaves in a mixing bowl( You can also use the ones that after left after preparing green tea concentrate for scrub). To these leaves, add baking soda and honey to form a paste. Make the paste consistent, not too thick; if you think it's thick, add a few drops of water. Cleanse your face before applying the mask. Massage it gently on the face and leave until dry. Rinse it off with lukewarm water. 

• Chocolate- No craving in this world can be compared to greater to the craving for chocolate; even the thought of it makes us drool. We don't think anyone can resist the charm of chocolate, be it a child or an adult. There is something about it that attracts everyone. Just like it satisfies the inside cravings, do you know it is capable of treating and feeding your outside as well? Cocoa seeds, the raw materials used in making chocolate, are high in antioxidants. They prevent the premature breakdown of skin cells. Covering several skin-related issues, Cocoa powder helps safeguard the skin against free radicals present in the environment. It averts skin health because of the flavanols present in the composition. Flavanols defend the skin against harmful exposure to UV radiation; in addition, they enhance the skin elasticity and hydrate it. This enhanced elasticity, in turn, reduces various signs of aging such as fine lines, wrinkles, and the appearance of scars. The soothing aroma of cocoa calms you and has a positive effect on your mood. It is claimed that the fragrance also reduces stress. Cocoa powder detoxifies, softens, and clears your skin. So, when you feel like eating chocolates next time, maybe give a thought and feed them to your skin as well.

3. DIY CHOCOLATE MASKS

• Mask for oily and acne-prone skin- Mix a pinch of cinnamon with 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder, add honey to it. Check the uniformity of the paste; if it is too thick, dilute using more honey. Apply it on your face. Leave for 20-30 minutes to dry and then wash off with water.
   
• Nourishing Mask for skin hydration- Take 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder and 1 of heavy cream. Make a paste mixing both of them. On a thoroughly cleansed face, apply the mask and leave for 15-30 minutes. Rinse with water.

• Mask for skin toning- Blend 1 banana with a cup of strawberries and watermelon each. To this paste, add melted chocolate. Make a uniform paste. Apply it on the face and neck. Leave for 15-20 minutes. Wash it off with lukewarm water. 

• Oatmeal- All the fitness enthusiasts reading this, what can we tell you about oatmeal benefits? You already know more than enough. But what we can do is to expand the horizons of your knowledge by telling you the additional benefits of Oatmeal. Considered to be one of the most nourishing meals at any time of the day, a bowl full of Oatmeal is enough to fulfill your body's needs. After covering the body, Oatmeal has also secured its place in skincare and beauty. It is antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Because of the saponin compound present, Oatmeal helps in removing the dead skin and exfoliating your skin naturally. It is capable of soaking the excessive oil on your skin hence preventing acne breakouts. Oatmeal helps in preventing acne breakout because of the presence of zinc in it. Zinc is known to have anti-inflammatory properties and reduce bacterial acne. Oatmeal is also effective in treating blackheads. It calms the itching skin. Next time when you enjoy a bowl of healthy and tasty oatmeal, spare some for your skin and wait for it to do the magic. Here is how you can use oatmeal in skincare.

• Oatmeal Mask for Acne- Boil half a cup of oatmeal in water with a 50-50 ratio(same amounts). When it is boiled, cool it. After cooling, stir this mixture until a paste is made. Apply this paste on your face and leave until dry. Remove the pack with water. 

• Blackhead Mask- Mix 2 tablespoons of oatmeal in 3 tablespoons of plain yogurt and half a tablespoon of lemon juice. Make a consistent paste. Apply it to your nose and the most affected area. Leave for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

• Oatmeal Scrub- To make a simple oatmeal scrub, mix oatmeal, sugar, coconut oil in lukewarm water. Scrub this mixture for 5 minutes, then let it settle on the skin. Remove it using wet wipes.

How amazing it is that all these things have been so close to us while we have been looking for the perfect skincare products outside. We hope you are surely going to add these to your skincare regime.

Stay tuned for more :)