Summer makes you sweat. The heat opens up the pores making it easy for dust and dirt to settle on the skin. This leads to breakouts. Seema Nanda, cosmetologist and founder of Estetico The Facial Bar, shares some DIYs to help control oiliness yet not completely dry out the face.

“During summer, dehydration is a big problem. Therefore, quenching the thirst of your skin early morning can do wonders. Wash your face, pat it dry, take a little bit of aloe vera (processed gel available at chemists) and apply it all over your face,” she says adding that sometimes, the very small pots turn their roots poisonous, hence, people often complain about rashes after applying the fresh gel.  

Do not get sticky
“People, who feel the need to apply thicker moisturiser, can add a little bit of honey to the gel and apply it to the face. Keep it for 20 minutes allowing your skin to reap all its benefits. Within a few days, you’ll feel that your skin is not dry anymore,” says Nanda.

Face masks are really helpful for your skin in summer. However, too much of anything is not good. “Even if one has oily skin, one should not apply masks often. It confuses your skin whether it should produce the necessary amount of oil or not,” says Nanda, suggesting that applying face masks twice a week is okay.  Apply products that are cool in nature, like aloe vera gel, which suit every skin type and fight most skin-related issues.

OILY SKIN
Ingredients

• Oatmeal, boiled and cooled...1/2 cup
• Egg...1
• Lemon juice...1 tbsp

Method

• Boil half a cup oatmeal. Keep aside until it cools down.
• Add one egg and one tablespoon lemon juice to it.
• Mix well and apply for 15 minutes.
• Wash it off with warm water. 

Benefits

• The acid in the lemon juice (AHA) removes excess oil and dead skin cells. Meanwhile, the oatmeal soothes the skin and calms any patches of redness.

DRY SKIN
Ingredients

• Avocado...1
• Yoghurt...2 tbsp
• Olive oil...1 tbsp
• Honey...1 tbsp

Method

• Mash 1 avocado in a bowl.
• Add 2 tablespoon yoghurt to it.
• Add one tablespoon (each) olive oil and honey.
• Mix well and apply to your face.
• Once dry, wash it off with warm water.

Benefits

• This moisturising mask hydrates your rough and dry skin. Honey and yoghurt make your skin feel incredibly soft and plump. Omega 3 present in avocado and olive oil nourishes the skin.

TIRED SKIN
Ingredients

• Lemon...1
• Sugar...2 tbsp
• Olive oil...1 tbsp

Method

• Squeeze one lemon in a bowl.
• Add two tablespoons sugar to it.
• Add one tablespoon olive oil.
• Mix well. Start with scrubbing for 2 minutes and leave for 5 more minutes on the face.
• Wash it off with regular water.

Benefits

• While the sugar and lemon exfoliate dead skin cells, olive oil hydrates and helps you restore healthy skin. 
• One should never store the homemade mask as it changes its character with passing time. So she suggests applying the remaining paste on the hands and legs.