Desi Nuskhe: 14 Beauty DIYs, Because Your Favourite Brands Aren’t Delivering

We know the angst of reaching the end of your favorite beauty products without the next bottle to dip into. And while it may feel like the routine you’ve worked so hard to perfect is going out the window, fear not. DIY beauty can save the day—and it’s super easy and effective!

From skin and hair care masks to acne and oily skin solutions, we’ve got them all.

Must-Try DIY Beauty Hair Masks

Summer can be rough on your hair. The heat and sweat can harm your lustrous locks. These DIY hair masks will make your hair healthier and scalp oil-free.

1. Aloe Vera & Lemon Juice

Other than being great for your skin, aloe vera is an excellent remedy for healthy and lustrous hair. While aloe vera will keep your hair conditioned and nourished, lemon juice will get rid of oily scalp. 

Things You Will Need:

• ¼ cup of fresh aloe vera gel
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice 
• A pot of hot boiled water
• A towel

Method:

1. Mix the aloe vera gel and lemon juice in a bowl.
2. Use the pot of hot boiled water to steam your hair. Do this for 10 minutes.
3. After steaming your hair, apply the aloe vera gel and lemon juice mixture onto your hair.
4. Let it sit for 20 minutes.
5. Wash your hair using a mild shampoo.
6. To make the most out of hair spa benefits, use this remedy once a week.

2. Banana

Rich in natural oils, potassium, and vitamins, bananas help improve hair texture and health. They also strengthen hair elasticity and prevent breakage and split ends. Want to know how to use banana for hair growth? Read this article to know more.

Things You Will Need:

• 1 ripe banana 
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• A pot of hot boiled water
• A towel

Method:

1. Put the banana in a blender to make a lump-free paste.
2. Add olive oil to the banana pulp and set aside the mixture.
3. Use the pot of boiling water to steam your hair. Do this for 10 minutes.
4. Remove the pot lid. Let the steam settle in the hair. Continue for 10 minutes.
5. Next, apply the banana and olive oil mixture on your hair.
6. Let it sit for 30 minutes.
7. Wash it off using a mild shampoo.

Since monsoon is around the corner, you can follow these monsoon hair care tips and routine to maintain healthy hair.

Rejuvenating DIY Beauty Face Masks

Homemade face masks are easy to make and deliver visible results. Packed with the goodness of potent ingredients, they make the skin look vibrant and healthier.

3. Papaya & Honey

This papaya mask is ideal for people who feel like their skin looks dull and lifeless. This mask is sure to give a nice dewy shine to the face. 

Things You Will Need:

• 2 small pieces of papaya (ripe) 
• 1 tablespoon honey
• A pinch of turmeric (haldi) (optional)

Method:

1. Remove the seeds from the papaya. Mash it in a bowl with the back of a spoon or your fingers.
2. Add a tablespoon of honey to the papaya mash.
3. Apply the honey face mask to the entire face, leave it on till dry.
4. Wash off with cool water.

4. Ghee

If you’re looking for a summer glow, look no further than a moisturising ghee face mask.

Things You Will Need:

• 2 tablespoons gram flour (besan)
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons ghee

Method:

1. Mix gram flour (besan) with water and ghee.
2. Make a paste and apply this evenly on the face as well as neck.
3. Leave this DIY face mask on for 15 minutes and rinse with cold water.

DIY Beauty Using Superfoods

Though the use of superfoods in skincare is fairly new, the benefits are endless. These DIYs are rich in nutrients that ensure you get the desired results.

5. Honey & Coffee Face Mask

Honey in green tea makes it sweeter and honey in a coffee face mask makes it better. Honey is a natural humectant (moisturiser) and it tightens the skin along. Coffee on the other hand is packed with antioxidants that will give you a healthy glow. Combine the two for a pure, organic and herbal face mask.

Things You Will Need:

• 1 tablespoon coffee powder
• 1 tablespoon honey

Method:

1. Mix the coffee powder and honey together until it turns into a smooth paste.
2. Apply this on your face in a downward motion.
3. Let it dry for 20 minutes.
4. Wash off with lukewarm water.

6. Coconut Cream Hair Spa

The nutrients present in coconut cream make it the perfect ingredient to condition and nourish your dehydrated hair and split-ends. The coconut cream hair mask will keep your locks looking strong, healthy and lustrous. This particular DIY hair spa is perfect for dry, frizzy hair. 

Things You Will Need: 

• ½ cup of coconut cream
• A pot of hot boiled water
• A towel

Method:

1. Set aside half a cup of coconut cream in a bowl.
2. Use the pot of boiled water to steam your hair. Do this for 10 minutes.
3. Remove the lid from the pot and let the steam from the hot water settle in your hair. Do this for 10 minutes.
4. Apply the coconut cream on the hair.
5. Let the mask sit for about 1 hour.
6. Use a mild shampoo to wash your hair.

DIY Beauty Sun Tan Removal Remedies

7. Turmeric (Haldi) & Gram Flour (Besan)

Here’s a simple yet effective solution to remove tan. A blend of two powerful ingredients, this face pack is one of the best home remedies to remove tan. Gram flour (besan) is an effective exfoliating agent. Turmeric (haldi) is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and helps reduce skin pigmentation. 

Things You Will Need: 

• 1 teaspoon turmeric (haldi)
• 1 cup of gram flour (besan)
• Warm milk or water

Method:

1. Take turmeric (haldi) and gram flour (besan) in a bowl.
2. Add in some water/milk and mix well to form a thin paste.
3. Apply the paste on your face and let it dry.
4. Scrub it away with lukewarm water.

Alternatively, you can also use this mango face pack to remove tan marks and blemishes.

8. Sandalwood (Chandan) & Rose Water (Gulabjal)

Sandalwood (chandan) is a miracle ingredient that comes handy in dealing with several skin woes. It can be used to remove tanning, brighten the skin and improve its texture. Being cooling ingredients, both sandalwood (chandan) and rosewater (gulabjal) are a perfect fit for summer.

Things You Will Need: 

• 2 tablespoons sandalwood (chandan) powder 
• Rosewater (gulabjal)

Method: 

1. Take sandalwood (chandan) powder and add in some rosewater (gulabjal) to make a thin paste.
2. Apply this mixture on your face and let it dry.
3. Wash your face with cold water.

DIY Beauty Acne Solutions

Acne and pimples are common in Summer due to the trapping of excessive heat, dust and humidity. Home remedies help reduce acne by treating oily skin, killing bacteria, and delivery of nourishing antioxidants.

9. Green Tea 

The application of green tea has been an easy and effective way to practice pimple treatment at home. It contains antioxidants and polyphenols that reduce inflammation and the production of IGF-1, making its application a much-valued tip to remove pimples. 

Things You Will Need: 

• 1 green tea bag
• 1 cup of honey/apple cider vinegar/aloe vera

Method:

1. Soak a bag of green tea in warm water for 2-3 minutes. 
2. After you let the bag cool, cut it open and take out the leaves. 
3. Mix the leaves honey, apple cider vinegar, or aloe vera.
4. Apply this on your face and relax.
5. Make sure your face is washed and clean before you apply it.

10. Potato Juice & Cinnamon (Dalchini) Powder

Since you are exposing your skin to the treatment for a few hours at a time, natural ingredients are highly recommended. The enzymes in potatoes are not only great for battling pimples but are particularly effective in dealing with scarring and dark spots. 

Things You Will Need: 

• ½ potato
• A pinch of cinnamon (dalchini) powder

Method:

1. Take ½ potato, grate it, and strain the juice. 
2. Add a pinch of cinnamon (dalchini) to the juice. 
3. Apply it over the infected area and leave overnight.

DIY Beauty Homemade Lip Scrubs

Here’s a product you never knew you needed. If you’re in the habit of licking your lips, live in drier parts of the country, or are even a smoker, a lip scrub is just what you need to treat discolouration and make your pout soft and plump.

11. Coffee

Coffee grounds have the perfect consistency of a good scrub. Though they appear to be rough, when mixed correctly, they form a deep cleansing scrub that’s soft on the skin. It will get rid of cellulite, inflammation and uneven skin. It works great as a lip scrub to get rid of chapped lips.

Things You Will Need: 

• 2 tablespoons coffee grounds
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil

Method:

1. Mix coffee grounds with coconut oil.
2. Stir well until it comes together.
3. Take a little of this scrub and apply it all over the body.
4. Gently scrub in a circular motion.
5. Wash it off with warm water.

12. Sugar & Olive Oil 

Scrubs play an important role in exfoliating your skin by removing dead skin cells. Your kitchen has several products; one of them being sugar, which can be used as a scrub. It gently exfoliates your lips and makes them softer.

Things You Will Need: 

• ½ cup of sugar
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• Essential oil (optional)

Method:

1. Mix the sugar with olive oil.
2. Add an essential oil like lavender to add natural fragrance.
3. Gently rub your face with the scrub and wash it off.
4. Use a mild moisturiser to seal the benefits of a freshly exfoliated face.

DIY Beauty Foot Scrubs

It’s time to pamper your feet with homemade foot scrubs. They can take care of your calluses while giving you softer feet with an even-toned complexion.

13. Oatmeal 

Oatmeal is a great exfoliator because of its coarse texture. It also makes your feet smooth and soothes minor rashes. Including it with bath salt and baking soda increase its exfoliating effect.

Things You Will Need: 

• 2 tablespoons bath salt 
• 2 teaspoons oatmeal
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• 2-3 tablespoons water 

Method:

1. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.
2. Make it into a paste.
3. Apply the paste to your feet.
4. Scrub it well.
5. Wash and follow it up with a moisturiser.

14. Tea Tree & Peppermint

This foot scrub is very exfoliating which makes it really energising and refreshing. Tea tree oil is known for all its great properties. Tea tree and peppermint are great for tired and aching feet. Tea tree oil is known for its various properties such as antibacterial, antiseptic, balsamic and fungicide. Peppermint oil when applied to the skin causes surface warmth which helps to soothe the pain.

Things You Will Need: 

• 1 handful of sea salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil 
• 2-3 drops of tea tree oil
• 2-3 drops of peppermint oil

Method:

1. Put the sea salt in a glass bowl.
2. Add the olive oil, tea tree oil and peppermint oil. Stir it well.
3. Scrub the mixture on your feet.
4. Leave the scrub on your feet for 10 minutes.
5. Rinse and pat dry your feet.
6. Apply moisturiser to avoid cracking. In case of extreme cracking, you can try these home remedies for cracked heels.

Don’t let the harsh summers make your skin dull and your hair oily. Make the most of this season with mangoes, Netflix and a pamper session at home! Try these quick and easy DIY summer beauty recipes and feel refreshed and rejuvenated.