Skin Care Hacks for People Living in Mountainous regions

While enjoying the sound of waves or enjoying a warm cup of tea while admiring the snow-clad mountains, skincare is the last thing on your mind. Seasonal changes and climatic conditions affect the skin in hills. Air is thinner, colder and drier in high hills and snow-covered areas where residents are exposed to extreme cold or snow, which can be torture for your skin. When the air is colder and dry in the hills, the atmosphere steals moisture from your skin, making it drier. That is why most people in the hills feel like their skin is almost chapped. Another issue is that there is a lot more sun in a mountain regions. So, it is necessary to adjust the skincare routine accordingly. Those, who live in hills stations need to be prepared for the weather too. Remember to wear a scarf for protection from over-exposure to the sun, as well as from wind and dust. It’s the most common misconception that sunscreen should only be used in the sunny summer days .In fact, as you live in the higher mountainous region, you will need more skin-care cosmetics. Due to the cold, the skin may be dry. In fact, a colder climate may mean that you spend more time in the sun. Just because there is no pinching sunlight does not mean that you don’t use a sunscreen. So you will need a sunscreen and moisturizer. An anti-tan sunscreen would be good. Apply it 20 minutes before sun exposure. If you are out in the sun for more than 30 minutes, re-apply the sunscreen. Remember, UVA rays cause pigmentation and ageing while UVB causes tanning and sunburn. So look for a sunblock that covers both. Exposure to the sun, wind, or cold can really dry out the skin and can even cause irritation and sensitivity. It may even result in physical flakes flaking off! . So, moisturizer, hand cream, lip balm and nourishing cream are important. The hands and lips can also suffer from dryness. Apply moisturizing cream or hand cream on the hands two or three times and massage it into the skin. A good deep moisturising winter cream is essential. You must consult your cosmetologist for the type of cream. Cleansing is important if you spend more time out of doors. If your skin is normal to dry, discontinue soap and water washing and use a cleansing gel containing aloe vera, morning and night, so that it cleanses the skin without disturbing the moisture balance. Apply it on the skin and wipe off with moist cotton wool. For oily and combination skins, use light cleansing milk. If there is excessive sun exposure or sunburn, just apply cold milk using cotton wool. It helps to soothe sun-damaged skin. Cleanse the skin at night and apply nourishing cream, massaging it on the face for a few minutes. Wipe off excess cream with moist cotton wool before bedtime. Moisturize your skin daily too, so that you replenish the moisture loss. In your home and right there on the kitchen shelf are many ingredients for skincare needs in hill stations. Honey, for instance, is one of the most powerful natural moisturizers. Mix half a teaspoon honey, one teaspoon rose water and one teaspoon dried milk powder. Mix into a paste and apply on the face. Wash off after 20 minutes.
For a moisturizing lotion for normal to oily skin, take 100 ml rose water, half teaspoon honey and one teaspoon lemon juice. Mix, shake well and keep in a jar in the fridge. Apply on the face and wash off with plain water after 15 minutes. Yoghurt also nourishes the skin. It contains lactic acid, which restores the pH balance of the skin. Applied on the skin, it relieves dryness and removes tan. It also has a healing effect on acne. Take 2 teaspoons Yogurt and add a pinch of turmeric. Mix and apply on the face. Wash off after 20 minutes. Boil carrots and turnip (shalgam) in water. Cool and mash them into a pulp. Apply on the face and wash off with plain water after half an hour. Carrots are rich in Vitamin A, while turnip is a powerful cleanser. They have a soothing effect on the skin, making it soft, smooth and supple. In fact, it can be applied to soothe dry, sensitive skin. Cream of milk (malai) is extremely nourishing for dry skin, especially in colder climates. It softens the skin and makes it smooth and radiant. It is suited to dry skin. It also helps to lighten skin colour over a period of time. It can be added to face masks and body scrubs. We also need to pay special attention to certain areas of the face, where the skin is different. The skin on the lips and under eyes is very thin and lacks oil glands. After washing the face, rub the lips gently with a soft towel to remove dead skin. Apply cream of milk (malai) daily and leave on for an hour. For the area around eyes, soak a few strands of saffron in milk for half an hour. Soak cotton wool pads and apply under eyes, or use as eye pads. This relieves dryness and dark circles. If there is excessive sun-exposure, or sun burn, just apply cold milk using cotton wool. It helps to soothe sun-damaged skin. You can also add a little cold milk to sugar and use as a scrub. From a quick fix to long term treatments, you need not look further than the kitchen for beauty needs!
(The author is a beauty expert of int’l repute. Views are her own)