Besan, an integral part of Indian cuisine is a popular beauty remedy used in homes across India. It is used for hair and skin care to remove tan and pigmentation . The inexpensive Besan has long been used as natural face cleanser in India to treat various skin problems while maintaining Skin PH balance. It helps removing tan, dead skin and zits and brighten the skin complexion .It provides remedy from acne, pimples and dark skin . Besan has been traditionally used in beauty care, mainly to deep cleanse and exfoliate the skin. In fact, it used to be one of the main ingredients of “ubtan” a body scrub that was a traditional beauty treatment for brides. The ubtan consisted of Besan, rice flour, ground almonds, yogurt and turmeric. First, the body was massaged with sesame seed (til) oil. Then the “ubtan” was applied and washed off after half an hour, while bathing. The washing off and scrubbing away the ingredients helped to clear the skin of dead cells, leaving the skin smooth and bright, with a translucent quality.
Besan can also be added to face packs for removing tan, cleansing and tightening the skin. Mix besan with yogurt, lemon juice and a pinch of turmeric. Apply on the skin and wash it off after half an hour. Mix ground almonds with gram flour, milk and lemon juice. Apply it on the face and wash off after 20 to 30 minutes. It helps to remove tan and lighten skin colour. A besan pack helps to reduce oiliness. It can be mixed with milk or yogurt and applied, washing it off after 20 minutes. For pimple prone skin, mix besan with sandalwood paste, turmeric and milk into a paste. Apply on the face and wash it off after 20 minutes. For dark arms and neck: Apply til oil daily and massage it on the skin. Mix besan, curd, lemon juice and a little turmeric and apply at least three times a week. Wash it off after half an hour. Then apply til oil and massage it into the skin, as recommended. Mix a cup of curd, two teaspoons of besan, an egg white and the juice of half a lemon. If you have very dry hair, substitute the egg white with a teaspoon of olive oil. For smooth and fairer skin, mix gram flour with dried and ground orange peels and cream of milk. Apply on the face and neck. After 15 minutes, rub gently on the skin with circular motions. Wash off with water.
( The author is a beauty expert of Int’l repute. Views are exclusively her own)
