In India, skincare has always been a big part of our tradition and culture. Just like silk sarees and gold jewelry gets passed down from one generation to the next, so do skincare secrets. We’ve all been told to champi our hair before washing it, we been told to eat fruits and vegetables and drink loads of water so that the radiance comes from within.
To celebrate skincare awareness month, we asked the POPxo team to tell us secrets and nuskhe that their moms shared with them.
DIY Your Way Through Skincare
POPxo
For as long as I can remember, my mom has been making DIY face and hair packs for me. She rarely encouraged me to buy commercial products…and I happily obliged. I seriously used to have THE best hair till I was in school because I used a lot of homemade packs and I shall be forever grateful for it. I think the reason I delved into the magical world of beauty is my mom! I have always seen her experimenting with things and that always made me curious. Thankfully, we still make a lot of DIY hair packs as I get my hair dyed a lot.
– Aayushi Pareek, Beauty Writer
Never Be Seen Without Sunscreen
My mother had always encouraged me to take care of my skin from an early age. When I was little, I would watch my mum try a lot of DIY masks at home. Sometimes, for fun, she would let me use them too. This encouraged me to focus on skincare as early as my teenage years. Neither of us is a fan of elaborate routines, and we stick to minimal products. But if there’s one piece of advice by her that I am so grateful I listened to, it’s to always wear sunscreen. My mother has ALWAYS worn sunscreen every single day–she told me it’s the best anti-aging product. As I inch closer to 30, I’ve realised how true her advice has been. Bottom line: always wear sunscreen kids! Even if you’re lounging on the couch at home all day.
-Tanya Sharma, Junior Editor
Papaya All The Way
POPxo
My mom is a big fan of papaya pulp. She mixes no other ingredients with it and applies it on her face and hair. I’ve started following her footsteps and to tell you the truth, papaya pulp has changed the texture of my skin and hair for the better! My skin looks clearer, feels fresher and the glow is back. If you want to make a natural face mask using papaya, extract the pulp of one ripe papaya. With your fingers, squish the pulp and whatever puree that remains, apply that on your face. Allow the mask to sit for 10-15 minutes and wash it off with lukewarm water. I promise, your skin is going to glow ALL day long!
– Sharon Alphonso, Senior Writer
Less Is More
My mom has never been into extensive skincare routines or treatments. In fact, she believes using too many products will only damage the skin further. And after years of experimentation and expenditure, I’ve realised that she is right! My mom has always encouraged me to eat fresh fruits and consume enough water for fresh and glowing skin. Apart from that, she swears by the besan + curd face pack which I try to do as often as I can.
– Manasvi Jaitly, Assistant Editor
Drink As Much Water As You Can
POPxo
My mother has never been one for beauty treatments or expensive skincare products. She looks at my makeup stash and the time I spend on my beauty regime and is shocked every day. Still, at 57 years of age, she has lovely skin. Not just her, even my dad has amazing skin- his cheeks are pink, his skin is even-toned and there are no wrinkles even as he nears 62. The one thing they tell me every day without fail is to drink water. I hardly drink two glasses of water a day so my body is constantly dehydrated so they remind me to drink more water to keep my skin radiant.
– Anandita Malhotra, Senior Writer
What are the skincare secrets your mom passed down to you? We’d love to know!