Who doesn't want a soft, supple and radiant skin? A lot of us strive to get a flawless skin and in order to achieve the same, we often end up trying various cosmetic and beauty products and treatment that are easily available in the market. What we fail to realise is the fact that these store-bought products could possible do more harm than good to our skin. It is always better to use natural ingredients on face, as they steer clear of any side-effects. A dry, patchy and dull skin can undoubtedly give you a hard time. However, there is one humble kitchen ingredient that can help in bringing back that lost glow - lemon. Yes, you read that right! Lemon comes packed with a host of health-benefiting properties, including skin, hair, and overall health. When it comes to skin care, lemon can come to great help. Lemon can be used in your face packs and face scrubs for almost all skin types; be it dry, oily or normal.

A 100-gram serving of lemon contains about 53 grams of vitamin C, which is again a very skin-friendly nutrient. You may also add other kitchen ingredients as well to complement lemon. For instance, honey and sugar are two ingredients that are perfect to be used in lemon scrubs. Here are three lemon scrubs for all skin types.

For Normal Skin - Sugar And Lemon Scrub

This scrub is made using the superb combination of sugar and lemon. Both sugar and lemon are replete with healthful properties. Lemon is an excellent source of vitamin C, which is known to even skin tone and can also tighten open pores. On the other hand, sugar acts as a natural exfoliator, which helps in removing dead and dull skin cells from the face.

Ingredient:

6 tablespoons Lemon Juice
2 tablespoons Sugar

Method:

To begin with, take a bowl and add both sugar and lemon juice to it.

Mix both the ingredients and massage the mixture with your fingertips on your face in a circular motion.

The sugar granules should be massaged well on the face till they get evenly dissolved.

Once this is done, wash off your face with warm water.

Note: This particular face scrub would also help keep dark spots and tanned skin at bay.

For Dry Skin - Coconut Oil, Sugar and Lemon Scrub

Do you happen to have a dry skin type? If yes, then this face scrub is for you. Look no further and bring this three-ingredient face scrub to your rescue and say bye-bye to dry and flaky skin. Lemon helps in softening the skin; whereas, coconut will act as a tonic and bring back the moisture to the dull skin.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup coconut Oil
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Method:

Start by adding all the three ingredients in a bowl and mix them well.

Now, take this oil scrub and massage onto your face for around 8-10 minutes.

Once the scrubbing part is done, wash off your face with warm water.

For Oily Skin - Honey, Baking Soda and Lemon Scrub

Pimples can turn out to be quite annoying. People with oily skin type usually tend to suffer more from pimple problems. If you also happen to be a prey of those frequent acne breakouts, then this lemon scrub is sure to come quite handy. Made using baking soda, lemon and honey, this scrub will deep cleanse your oily skin. Lemon acts as a natural astringent, baking soda acts as a natural cleanser and honey's anti-bacterial properties may help reduce sebum production.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 tablespoon baking soda

Method:

Take a bowl and add all the three ingredients to it.

After mixing them well, apply this paste-like scrub on your face using your fingers and gently massage for about 3-4 minutes.

Once this is done, wash off your face using cold water.

So, what are you waiting for? Bring these three lemon scrubs to your rescue and bring back that lost glow and shine on your face. If you know of more such lemon-based scrubs, do share about them with us in the comments section below.

If your child gets sunburned, make sure she drinks plenty of fluids since sunburns are dehydrating, and keep her out of the sun until she's healed. Contact your pediatrician immediately if your child is under age 1 or if she has blisters, severe pain, lethargy, or a fever higher than 101 degrees. For mild sunburns, try these all-natural skin soothers.

Ice
Wrap an ice pack or a bag of frozen veggies in a soft towel and apply to the burn. Never place ice directly on skin as it can cause frostbite and more damage.

Cool Water
A cool (but not too cold) bath, shower, or moist compress takes away heat and pain. Don't scrub skin or use products like bath oils, soap, or bubble bath.

Aloe Vera
The gel from inside this cactus plant eases discomfort, speeds healing, and moisturizes skin. Either split a plant leaf and apply the sap directly to skin, or buy pure aloe vera gel at your local drugstore.

Honey
The sticky stuff's been used as a topical burn salve since Egyptian days. "Studies suggest it may work better than some antibiotic creams at speeding up healing, reducing infection, and minimizing pain," says Kathi Kemper, M.D., author of The Holistic Pediatrician. Note: Skip this remedy for babies younger than 12 months, as accidental ingestion of the honey could put them at risk for developing infant botulism.

Oatmeal
Finely ground oatmeal (sold as colloidal oatmeal in drug stores) works as an anti-inflammatory when mixed with bath water. Make your own by pulverizing a cup of instant or slow-cooking oatmeal in a blender or food processor until it has a smooth, fine consistency. Pour into tepid bath water and soak.

Witch Hazel
Wet a washcloth or cotton gauze with this anti-inflammatory astringent and apply to the skin three or four times a day for 20 minutes to minimize pain and itching.

Milk
Place a washcloth or cotton gauze soaked in cool milk on the reddened area to create a protein film that eases discomfort and reduces heat.

Baking Soda or Cornstarch
Soaking in bathwater mixed with baking soda or cornstarch can relieve inflammation and itching.

Cider Vinegar
Acetic acid in vinegar alleviates pain, itching, and inflammation. Pour one cup of white cider vinegar into tepid bath water and soak.

Coriander Oil
Studies suggest rubbing this essential oil onto sunburned skin may reduce inflammation.

All content on this Web site, including medical opinion and any other health-related information, is for informational purposes only and should not be considered to be a specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual situation. Use of this site and the information contained herein does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.

Dull skin may occur due to multiple reasons such as lifestyle factors and other environmental factors. It makes you look tired and older; this is due to the presence of dead cells on the skin which does not allow the light to reflect properly off your skin. Facials are very helpful in getting rid of dull skin by improving your complexion and circulation. It cleans the pores, removes dead cells, making you look your age, or even younger.

Here are some facial treatments for various skin types:

If oily skin is your woe: If you have oily skin, you can exfoliate your skin using an exfoliating jelly that contains vanilla and alginate (also known as alginic acid) that removes impurities, blackheads and whiteheads from your skin. You can also use a face mask that consists of clay and align (chemical extracted from brown seaweed) that helps in preserving the skin moisture and tightening the pores on your skin. The procedures help in getting rid of impurities and have a soothing effect on the skin as well.

Fight dry skin: Dry skin problems, such as wrinkles necessitate a hydrate and restore facial. This begins with an exfoliation to remove the dead cells from the topmost layer (epidermis) of the skin. Once the facial is complete, a massage cream is applied that helps in regenerating new skin cells. A vitamin C serum is then applied to make your skin supple and moisturized.

For combination skin: If you are a person who has the worst of both worlds; dry and oily, then you should opt for a procedure that treats both at one go. A balancing facial that exfoliates the skin using ‘micro-dermabrasion’ (a procedure that involves spraying crystals with exfoliative properties on the face in order to eliminate dead cells of the epidermis) and using a serum to add nourishment to your skin can prove to be very effective. This procedure results in a healthy and radiant complexion.

Skin that has been affected by the sun: For skin that has been affected by the sun, you can opt for a de-tan facial that will remove the dullness of your skin. Micro dermabrasion is used to exfoliate the skin and then a de-tan process is done. Aloe Vera is used to soothe and moisturize the skin followed by application of a Vitamin C serum. A face mask with applied to lighten the complexion of the skin. This is also applicable for skin that has been affected by pollution.

The skin is an organ and just like all the other organs in your body, it is made up of cells. Since the cells are made up of water, they need water to function properly. Lack of hydration can cause skin issues such as dry, tight skin which might lead to flaking. Because of constant perspiration, your body loses the vital minerals and salts and that is the reason why your body needs daily replenishing.

What happens to the skin, if you do not drink sufficient water in a day?

Dry skin also has lesser resilience as compared to hydrated or oily skin, which makes it more prone to wrinkling and fine lines. The skin is made up of three layers

The outermost layer, which is known as the ‘epidermis’

The layer beneath it is called the ‘dermis’

The subcutaneous tissue

Usually, water loss takes place from the epidermal layer of the skin due to sweating, however, if the cells in the underlying layers are not hydrated enough, the epidermis begins to start feeling rough and loses its elasticity which can lead to degradation of its texture.

Sufficient water intake and skin - the connect


Drinking water also flushes out the dangerous toxins from within your body and your skin, which allows your skin to breathe normally again. With the normal function restored in the skin, the cells do not feel trapped or inadequate, which means they can continue with their normal functions. This helps delay skin aging by adding shine to your skin.

You should be aiming to drink 8 -10 glasses of water each day because a lesser amount can cause dehydration. Dehydration may trick the oil glands in your body into believing that they need to produce more oil which leads to an excess production of oil, thus, increasing the chance of acne.

Also, when your skin is hydrated from inside, it looks plumper and more radiant and can hide signs of aging. However, when witnessed at a histopathological level [when examined under a microscope], the signs of aging are still present but because your skin is hydrated and looks younger, these signs are invisible to the naked eye.

We love to soak in the sun but don't realise that in the process we also make it susceptible to damage. The harsh sun rays work their way in many ways to harm our skin, the most common being skin tan, where the skin loses its moisture and glow to look pale and dull. Treating skin tan at the earliest is very important to prevent further damage. Sun screens and other agents do protect the skin from damage to some extent but since UV ray index is always on the higher side, it affects the skin irrespective of sun guards and sun screens.

One can find a variety of products that claim to treat tan and damage caused by exposure to the sun. However, I feel that the best way to get rid of tan is to use natural products or ingredients as the products available in the market could have somgheee chemical components that might affect the skin in an adverse way. The best way to get back your supple skin is to use ingredients that are natural and are easily available. How about ingredients straight from your kitchen or garden? Using ingredients from our kitchen or garden is a practice that we all have seen our parents and grandparents do. For example, ghee or honey was used to treat chapped lips and to smoothen the skin. Perhaps it's time to get back to basics.Here are some tips and ways to treat tan and get rid of it.

1. Tomato

I personally feel that tomato works extremely well as a tan removal agent. It not only removes tan and dead skin but also consists of properties that bring back the glow in the skin. Tomato also acts as a natural sunscreen, prevents sunburn, repairs skin damage and helps in reducing the ageing process. It has been an age old remedy to treat skin ailments especially when one has pale skin that lacks luster.

It is available easily in the market and the best way to use is to take out its pulp and apply it on the face like a mask. One could also use the skin of tomato and simply apply it on the skin and then wipe it off using a tissue, cotton or water.

Tomato has mineral complexes that reveal fresh and sparkling skin along with great complexion even after the skin has been damaged by sun and pollutants

2. Yoghurt

Another dead skin removal ingredient which is very effective and natural is yoghurt or curd. Curd mixed with wheat flour can be applied on the face, hands and feet and then rinsed off once it dries up. Curd and flour when combined act as a scrub and remove dead skin and tan easily. Regular use of this mixture will ensure clear, soft and supple skin.

3. Lemon

Lemon contains Vitamin C in abundance, which is a great tan removal agent. One can simply slice a lemon, rub it on the skin and wipe it off once it settles on the skin.

The citric acid present in lemon helps not only in the removal of tan but also in the removal of acne and lightening of the marks. One can also apply a mixture of lemon and curd for severe tan.

4. Turmeric

Turmeric is an integral part of Indian cuisine. It contains more than 300 antioxidants that are beneficial for overall health of an individual. It also helps fight acne, skin tanning, pigmentation, etc.
One could simply mix turmeric in water and apply it gently on the skin and then rinse. Regular use of this mixture will make the skin healthier and bring back the glow.

5. Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera, these days has emerged as an elixir for every ailment. However, it has been available all this while in our gardens, parks and
neighbourhoods.

Aloe vera is a one stop remedy for almost all skin and hair ailments. It is a great cooling agent. One can take aloe vera pulp and apply it raw on the skin to get rid of tan, sun burn, etc. It helps in not only reducing the effect of tan but also soothes burns and acne.

6. Gram Flour

Gram flour is very useful in treating tan. It removes dead cells leaving behind a healthy and glowing skin. Mix gram flour with water and apply the paste on the skin. Wait for it to dry and rinse your face. Try using rose water instead of regular water, which will add to the glow.