Indian summers are the deadliest for the skin. The scorching heat sucks up all the moisture from the skin and leaves us looking like sandpaper. And, let’s not even talk about the pigmentation that happens because of sun-tan.

Vogue India has got four skincare gurus onboard who share home remedies to fight back the unhealthy skin. Check out:

Face pack for oily and normal skin:

Make a powder of masoor dal, add a pinch of baking soda and a spoon of honey. Apply this on the tanned skin every day and leave it on for about 10 minutes, then rinse. Best for oily and normal skin. Avoid baking soda if you are using a retinol or glycolic acid based cream on your face or if your skin is flaky. Masoor dal forms a natural scrub and exfoliates dead skin. Honey is a soothing and binding agent and also hydrates while baking soda is a natural bleaching agent.

Face pack for normal, dry and sensitive skin

Mix yogurt, turmeric and honey and apply on the skin for 10 minutes and wash. Yogurt is moisturizing and has lactic acid which is a skin lightener. Turmeric is antiseptic and has skin lightening properties, and honey hydrates and soothes the skin.

Face mask for dehydrated and dull skin

Make a puree of cucumber and ripe papaya. Add a spoon of honey. Refrigerate for an hour until it turns into a thick setting mask. Apply for 10 minutes and rinse. Cucumber is made up mostly of water, and also contains Vitamin C and caffeic acid that help to soothe irritations and reduce swelling. Cucumber juice is also a source of silica that works to improve the connective tissue in the skin and naturally hydrate it. Papaya has papain which is an antioxidant and helps in brightening the skin.

Homemade scrub

Apply a concoction of masoor dal (soaked overnight and ground), glycerin with yogurt or papaya and lime with honey, 2 to 3 times a week. Gently exfoliate and keep on for 20 minutes before washing off.

Tomato pulp

Not only rich in vitamin C and A, tomato also eliminates excess oils and possesses astringent properties, which contribute to brightening dull skin.  Apply the pulp of a tomato all over your face including the under eye area and leave it on for about 20 minutes. Wash off with warm water. Repeat daily.

Natural exfoliant pack

Mix a teaspoon of gram flour or besan, a pinch of turmeric powder, a few drops of lime juice and half a teaspoon of milk, and add water to get a smooth paste. Apply this all over your face, including the area under the eye, and leave on for thirty minutes. Wash off with water. The lactic acid in the milk as well as the lime juice mildly exfoliates and brightens the skin. Turmeric, being a fantastic antiseptic, helps with any acne, if needed. Besan is the exfoliating agent and the base of this scrub.

Orange peel

Sun-dry the orange peels and break them down into a powder form. Apply it with rose water or milk. Let it dry and rinse it with water.

Papaya

Rub papaya on your face and leave it for about 10 minutes. Wash it with water. This works wonders for pigmentation.

Lemon and sugar

A mixture of lemon and sugar can help you scrub off the tan. Gently rub till the sugar dissolves and rinse it.

Face pack for oily and normal skin 

Make a powder of masoor dal, add a pinch of baking soda and a spoon of honey. Apply this on the tanned skin every day and leave it on for about 10 minutes, then rinse. Best for oily and normal skin. Avoid baking soda if you are using a retinol or glycolic acid based cream on your face or if your skin is flaky. Masoor dal forms a natural scrub and exfoliates dead skin. Honey is a soothing and binding agent and also hydrates while baking soda is a natural bleaching agent.

This article was first published in Vogue India (May issue).