For A Refreshing Summer

Your skin needs to be treated with a lot of care during the summer. Photo: Md Ata Islam Khan Mojlish

Different ingredients straight from the refrigerator can be used for skin and hair care. Photo; Md Ata Islam Khan Mojlish

Summer is almost here in full throttle with the beginning of a new semester, forcing us to get out of the lethargic vacation we spent, back to our old hectic, rushed lives. During times like these, there is hardly any time for us to look after ourselves amidst all the running around from class to class, then to work and then finally back home when we are too tired to do anything else but fall asleep. Going to the parlour or salon to get refreshed seems like a far-fetched thought, not mention expensive, as we plan on spending our weekend in bed or catching up on due assignments. But at the end of the day, you are left looking pale, with three layers of all kinds of dirt and dust that you have had to hurdle through, on your face and hair- and believe me, just a shower and using face wash is never enough when you are living in Dhaka city. You definitely need to do a little something more about it.

Summer and skin care tips are words that can't be spoken in isolation. Summer skin care tips need not burn a hole in your pocket. Home remedies can be just as good for summer skin care as any expensive product. You simply need to know your skin type, experiment in moderation and finally find the skin care ingredients that suit you most.

Different ingredients straight from the refrigerator can be used for skin and hair care. Photo: Md Ata Islam Khan Mojlish

Here are some easy-to-follow remedies for you. All you need to do is pick ingredients right from your refrigerator for a healthy, glowing skin--

Tomato: This humble everyday vegetable is one of the most effective skin care home remedies. Being from the citrus family, it lightens tan, blemishes, dark spots and helps achieve an even skin tone. And the best part about tomato is that, unlike lemon, it doesn't irritate or dry out certain skin types, especially the sensitive ones. The bottom line – use tomato for glowing skin.

Cucumber: It reigns as THE home remedy when talking of summer skin care tips. It hydrates the body when eaten and works wonders when applied to the skin. One can easily make a Cucumber Toner at home by mixing cucumber juice and lemon juice in equal parts and storing this in a refrigerator. Cucumber hydrates and soothes and also balances out the effect that lemon can sometimes have on sensitive skin.

Turmeric: The good old turmeric is no less in our list of summer skin care tips. Make a home made scrub using all purpose flour, a pinch of turmeric and milk. Scrub away in circular motion when dry. This scrub not only scrubs away the dead skin cells but with regular use, may also be able to eliminate a few fine facial hair. No wonder this pack is still a popular wedding ritual for brides as well as grooms!

Your hair is also something that may become a bit of a bother during this weather. Not just the fact that by the time you come back home, your head looks like it's been dipped in a bucket of oil (from all that sweat), but you will find yourself facing problems with dandruff and also occasionally find dirt clamped up on your scalp in the form of boils.

Hydrate yourself: Drink lots of water and healthy fluids like coconut water and fruit juices. Include water-rich foods like cucumber to stay hydrated. This will hydrate your body and keep it cool, which in turn supplies the right amount of nutrients and strength to your hair to prevent hair loss.

Hot-oil massage: This is one of the most popular home remedies to get rid of hair loss. In summers, a warm and comforting hot-oil (not too hot, just lukewarm) massage once or twice a week will not only strengthen the roots, but also acts as a natural conditioner to keep the scalp hydrated. This prevents hair loss and allows new hair growth. Follow it up by washing your hair with a mild shampoo.

Cucumber and yogurt pack: Blend half a cucumber, 3 tablespoons of yogurt and 1 teaspoon of lime juice. Apply it on your scalp and wash it after 15-20 minutes. This not only cleanses your scalp but also keeps dandruff away and reduces hair loss.

These are just a few of the many home-remedies that can make your life a lot easier and spare you the trouble of spending hours at the parlour/salon. These tips are great for both boys and girls and can get your out of heaps of trouble you can face with your skin and hair in this weather. With these simple tips and tricks, even Dhaka city won't be able to rain on your parade!