Archana’s Morning Hair and Skin Routine… Exposed!
Meet Archana, a native of India who has been living in New Jersey for three years now. She says “I’ve seen my grand mom use only herbal and homemade products and she has great skin at 80!” Archana tries to incorporate a few of her grandmother’s routines into her busy schedule. Enjoy!
Name: Archana
Age: 28
Hair: black, thick and wavy with an oily scalp
Skin: Olive skin tone. Fighting a bout of adult acne. Sensitive combination skin (sigh, I know!). I have been a vegetarian all my life and recently turned a vegan. I make sure I always eat healthy and eat only gluten free, diary free food. I eat only plant-based supplements.
In the shower…
I incoporate dry brushing for about 3 mins. I use the Body Shop brush. Before I step into the shower I always massage a tiny bit of sesame oil on my face and neck. This helps my skin to stay balanced and does not flake out. I use the Pangea Organics Canadian Pine With White Sage Body Wash for my body. For the face, I use my own mixture of ground green gram (Ed.: also called mung bean), a tiny bit of turmeric with enough rose water to make a paste. Green Gram is a natural substitute for soap. It removes the excess oil and leaves your skin fresh and even. You can use a coffee blender to grind, and you can store them for over 4 months in an air-tight container. Turmeric is a natural antispectic and it bans acne from its roots.) I gently scrub my face and neck in upward strokes with this paste and wash off with water.
Every weekend, I massage my skin with a mixture of butter (organic unsalted butter) and a pinch of turmeric and a little bit of greek yogurt. I blend all of them in with a hand blender and apply the mixture all over my body. I wash it off after 30 mins with the green gram mixture. This leaves my skin supple and silky smooth.
I never forget to apply castor oil on my eyelashes and eyebrows and under my eyes before going to bed every night. It promotes lash and brow growth.
For my hair, I wash it every other day with Himalayas Rejunivating Shampoo. I do not use a conditoner as it weighs my hair down. I apply few drops of Josie Maran’s argan oil on my ends. I never blow dry my hair and always let it air dry.
Outside the shower…
I usually leave my skin a little moist and use my own home made oil moisturizer. It is coconut oil, few drops of argan oil and jojoba oil. I use this like another other body lotion. I love Soapwalla deodarant. On weekends (usually on Saturdays) I sometimes pour few drops of khus oil (also called vetiver essential oil) on my filled tub. This gives a unique aroma and leaves your skin pleasntly smelling. I never step out without a suncreen and use Biotique Carrot Face & Body Sun Cream, which has carrots and natural oils, as my sun protector.
Finishing touches…
I apply few drops of argan oil as a primer and use the Vapour Organic Beauty Atmosphere Luminous Foundation and wear a kohl from Physicians Formula, which is organic. I use Josie Maran’s Color Stick on my lips and cheeks as blush. I do not use any styling products for my hair and never blow dry or iron it.
So, who’s game to try some crushed up green gram? And how about that turmeric trick?! Intrigued? Thank you for sharing, Archana!
Image of Gayatri Devi via. Devi was the princess of Jaipur and a successful politician too. “A perfect blend of beauty, class and brains!”
I have actually heard that turmeric is great for the skin (especially acne prone). The problem is that it stains the skin yellow and the tint is very difficult to remove. I think using a tiny amount mixed with other ingredients could help, but I wonder whether it’s not super-suitable for the very pale as the yellow tint would still show up.
These *routine series* are getting better and better!
Thank you Archana for sharing your very unique routine:)
I’ve heard of tumeric only as a supplement(or spice) but your suggestion of making your own face wash with it…I’m all for DIY so I’m very curious about it… Green gam/garam is a first for me..Where do you get your supplies?
Your body mask is also very interesting.. and there you go, tumeric again..
On the castor oil…do you really see results? I’ve tried(although not diligently as I shoud) but would love bigger lashes and fuller brows!
thank you again!
Awesome! Why do you also put castor oil under the eyes – for dark circles? Also, does the kohl from Physician’s Formula last? Thanks!
Thank you for sharing this! I’ve been looking for ways to spruce up my beauty routine and my skin is just as problematic and acne-prone. This has been very helpful <3
I love the Exposed series to get a glimpse into what works for others and especially the DIY ideas – thanks for sharing!
I always love hearing about peoples’ old family recipes! Word of caution with the turmeric if you’re pale though. I made a yogurt, turmeric mask once and it stained my skin yellow. I had to scrub at it for quite a while to get the color off, which probably counteracted any beauty benefits! Maybe best to eat your turmeric for beauty benefits if you’re pale.
Thank you so much, Archana, for sharing. I enjoy reading this series and you are the first one that I share some DIY ingredients with: sesame, coconut, castor, jojoba oils, green gram, tumeric, rose water, and the yogurt. I make all my own concoctions (as my husband calls them) for my hair and skin care. Excellent routine!!!
P.S. Ladies…cinnamon is also excellent in a face wash if you’re skeptical of using tumeric and it doesn’t stain.
I used to use castor oil to remove my eye makeup and noticed it did wonders for my eyelashes! It really works, nearly as well as those “lash growth” products. I just applied a thin line with an eyeliner brush along my lashline before bed. I think applying oil to the undereye area also helps that delicate skin stay free of wrinkles. Try it!
I had heard castor oil was good for brows/lashes but I was afraid to try it (I have really sensitive eyes). Is it safe? Does anyone have any tips? I used to use rapidlash but it made my eyes itchy and I won’t touch the stuff now that I have gone natural-er.
What a unique routine thanks for sharing with us Archana.
Castor oil needs to applied in the direction opposite to the direction of hair growth to see the benefits. I personally found aloe vera juice more beneficial.
Also I use the green gram powder for a body scrub. But I mix it into a thick paste using almond milk or full fat milk as I have normal-dry skin. It leaves the skin well moisturized. I use it on my face too.
Do a patch test while using turmeric on skin. Rather than applying on my entire face I apply it only on acne. My skin doesnt seem to react very well to turmeric and also good quality turmeric leaves a yellowish tinge which i dont like much.