One of the best spices for skin care is turmeric. These DIY turmeric treatments claim to enhance the look of your skin, prevent wrinkles, and add moisture for dewy, smooth skin.
Turmeric Skin Polisher
This is traditionally used by women in India
as a natural cleanser and is used in place of soap, which may strip the
skin of much-needed moisture. The gram flour not only promises to
slough off dead skin, but it also prevents turmeric from staining the
skin. Milk is meant to firm the skin and delay the formation of
wrinkles.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon gram flour
- ¼ teaspoon of turmeric
- 2 teaspoons of milk
Directions: Mix ingredients
together and rub onto wet skin. Leave on for 10 minutes. Gently wipe
off the mask with fingertips, and then rinse the face with lukewarm
water.
Honey and Turmeric Moisturizing Mask
Honey has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties1 and
has been used to treat wounds and skin problems. It is also a natural
skin hydrator. Be sure to use raw, unprocessed honey. (You can also add
raw milk to the mix to try to help rid the skin of dead cells and
rejuvenate the complexion.)
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon organic honey
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
Directions: Mix honey and turmeric into a paste and apply to face. Leave on for 15 -20 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water.
Skin Brightener
The addition of lemon juice, which contains
vitamin C, helps fade age spots and hyperpigmentation. Jojoba oil is
similar to sebum (our skin’s natural oil)2 and
may help reduce wrinkles and signs of aging. Plus, jojoba oil has
antibacterial properties, making it useful for acne-prone skin.
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon gram flour
- 1 teaspoon jojoba oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Milk (enough to make a paste)
Directions: Mix
ingredients into a paste and apply to face. Leave on for 10 minutes and
then rinse with lukewarm water. This mask can be used one to two times a
week.
Skin Hydrator
Olive oil is great for helping skin retain moisture. It also helps repair damage from sun exposure3 to bring life to a dull and dehydrated complexion.
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt (any plain full-fat yogurt can be used)
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
Directions: Mix the ingredients together and apply to the face. Leave on for 10 minutes and then rinse.
How to Reduce Turmeric Stains
Curcuma aromatica is a non-staining, non-edible form of turmeric that can usually be found in Indian grocery markets or online.
Food grade turmeric is cheaper and more
convenient since you probably already have it in your spice rack, but it
will stain the skin, especially if you have a light complexion. To
resolve this:
- It’s best to use turmeric-based treatments at night since the stains should resolve after your morning cleanse.
- Gram flour, yogurt, and milk usually help reduce staining.
- If you still have problems with staining, reduce the amount of turmeric used or switch to the non-staining form.
- Use a foundation brush or other applicator to apply turmeric masks to prevent staining fingers.
- Also, note that turmeric can stain clothing and other items, so you
might want to wear an old t-shirt and use a glass or metal bowl to mix
ingredients.