Endless barsat days, coupled with expected Wapda fails, we have reached the depth of summer and there is no going back to your thick woollen shawls. Summer not only gifts us with sublime, lush greenery after unrelenting rain but also with dull, oily and unevenly tanned skin thanks to the scorching sun making its unwelcomed appearance (and no auntie, the tan isn’t because of the copious amount of chai I ingest on a daily basis, how would that even work?). The warm weather will undoubtedly take a toll on your skin, whether you just came back from a day of shopping or working. So, if you’ve got extra time on your hands on a spectacular lazy Sunday take this chance to give your skin the treat it deserves, a respite if you are the dramatic type. No, no, no need to grab that wallet of yours and spend your hard-earned money (or somebody else’s hard earned money) on a facial at a high-end salon. You can also put your oars to the gondola away, as you don’t not need to wade through the city-turned-Venice to get to a grocery store so that you can grab a lovely, chemically infused facemask. Just grab your ghar kee chappals and venture a journey to your kitchen (much like Ulysses) to not only make a mask that is so healthy that you can eat it but will also leave your skin radiant and glowing.

1) Hydrate your skin with honey and olive oil

Image credit: honey-benefits The sun has this rude way of sapping moisture from our skin leaving it looking dry and dull. A great way to battle this is with a simple hydrating mask of honey and olive oil. You will need:

• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil

Mix the two ingredients and lightly warm the mixture and apply to skin. Wait five minutes, until the honey cools down and then rinse off, to leave a moisturized and nourished skin. Both honey and olive oil provide a chock-full of vitamins and have the ability to retain moisture without clogging pores.

2) Glow with Yogurt

Image credit: Make up and Beauty Priyanka Chopra’s flawless skin is goals, and I have taken a leaf out of her skin care routine book to obtain an iridescent complexion.

• 1 tablespoon turmeric powder
• 1 tablespoon ground oats
• 1-2 tablespoons yogurt

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well forming a beautiful yellow colour. Apply on your face and massage for 5 minutes, then leave it on for 20 minutes before you rinse off. The lactic acid in yogurt helps slough away dead cells, while the oats help exfoliate and moisturize at the same time to reveal a youthful glow. The smidge of turmeric helps reduce redness and acne by unclogging pores. Image credit: Health News Field Take advantage of yogurts brightening effects and mix it with the copious amounts of besan that you have lying around. Hey, it’s barsat and I know it gives us all very strong pakora feels.

• 2 tablespoons of besan
• ½ teaspoon of lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon of yogurt

Mix all the ingredients and apply to face for 20 minutes before you rinse it off. Besan is an excellent exfoliator and coupled with the Vitamin C power of lemon juice, it helps to heal the skin and lighten a tan. There is a reason Body Shop has a Vitamin C skin care line.

3) Soothe with mint and cucumber

Image credit: Acnes Kin Site If you’re looking to cool down, believe me I know you are, and need help to calm your soul and your skin, while also looking for a chance to get away from your annoying sibling for a couple of minutes before reality comes crashing in asking you to order some food for them because they are just too good for dal chawal… Then this is the mask for you.

• 1 cucumber
• ½ cup of mint leaves

Blend them until almost smooth and strain the liquid from the mixture. Store the liquid in a fridge until cool and apply to skin for 15-20 minutes. Extra points if you slice some cucumbers and put them on your eyes, giving yourself the full spa treatment that you earned. Cucumber will help reduce puffiness and inflammation while adding that tissue strengthening silica to your skin as well as reducing oiliness. The mint helps clear out blackheads and acne. Now that you look like your true radiant beautiful self, spritz some rose water to control excess moisture and tone skin as the sweet, invigorating aroma gives you the strength face the sun again. Cover Image credit: homeremedy