Glowing and lovely

Glowing and lovely

December 2023

Glowing AND LOVELY 

If you want to look wonderful for  your wedding (or someone else’s),  use all that Naini Setalvad has to  offer in her time-tested make-up kit  

rooted in nature Glowing skin and luscious hair. What  more does a bride want on D-Day? 

However, the most spectacular wedding attire,  opulent jewellery, and dewy make-up pale in  comparison to the bride’s inner glow. But let’s  get real. Prepping for a wedding can be very  exhausting. Numerous late nights, trials, and  commitments can take a toll on any bride’s appearance.  

Dear Bride, before you begin to panic after  reading my last statement, let me assure you  that there is a solution. My natural remedies,  tried and tested over the years, are the secret to  achieving gorgeous skin and hair. Check them  out!  

1. Natural facelift: There’s no  need for cosmetic procedures when  Nature has you sorted with its very  own facelift—aloe vera, a potent source  

of beautifying MSM (Methylsul fonylmethane) crystals.  

It heals burns, reduces  acne scars, and promotes collagen growth. Packed with vitamins, minerals, and natural sugars, this nutrient-dense food  

gives a natural glow. Applied outside or  consumed within, it is sure to do wonders  for you. 

2. The ultimate cleanse: One can apply am ple layers of make-up to cover up spots  and blemishes, but that won’t make them  go away. To be permanently spot-free, you  need to address the root of the problem. Pig mentation is often the result of poor detox ification, and for that, you need  t h e ultimate blood  purifier—tur 

meric. Cont a i n i n g  the powerful an tioxidant curcumin, it helps lighten une ven patches on the skin. To reap maximum  benefits, make sure you incorporate it into  your daily tempering. It can also be topical ly applied as a paste on the skin. 

3. Forever fresh: Look ing bright and radiant  like you have just returned from a  w e l l - r e s t e d  holiday is  s o m e t h i n g  we all wish  

for. Get this  fresh and youthful look  by making papaya a daily part of your  diet. Available all year  

long, this  fruit aids digestion,  th e r e b y  prev e n t i n g  bloating and puffiness. Rich in the antiox idants lycopene and Vitamin C, it natural ly brightens the skin. When you apply it  as a mask on the skin, the enzyme papain  breaks down dead skin, resulting in soft  and supple skin. 

4. Live in a fairytale: I am no Cinderella, but  I know for a fact that pumpkins are magical. These nutrient-dense vegetables are  a storehouse of the antioxidants beta-car otene and Vitamin C.  These two are  essential for  l u m i n o u s  skin and  l u s t r o u s  hair. Even  

the seeds are equally beneficial. Rich in zinc, pumpkins  repair worn-out skin, prevent hair fall, and  reduce wrinkles by increasing collagen. 

5. My grandmother’s favourite: “If you don’t  eat ghee, you will be left with skin that is  dry and wrinkly!” This is  what my grandmom would  tell us when we would fuss  over the ghee-dipped rotis,  but by God, was sheright! Not only did  she have fabulous ly glistening skin,  but so did all of us  who were given ghee daily.  

Ghee is an excellent absorber of  skin-enhancing Vitamin A and Vitamin E,  and must be a staple in your diet. 

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4. Superfood for super skin: The Indian  gooseberry (amla or avla) is my  go-to superfood when it  comes to improving skin  and hair. It has eight  times more Vitamin C than an  orange. This  increases collagen, the building block of skin  and hair. Sufficient levels of collagen give  stronger hair and wrinkle-free skin. This  fruit is available only in the winter, so  make the most of it.  

7. Leaf luminescence: Many a time, we are  told not to judge a book by its cover, but  this is not true when it comes to skin and  hair. Pale skin and brittle hair are an  immediate indication of low iron  or folate in the body. Lucky  for us, this season brings  along with it high  iron and folrich leafy  g r e e n s .  

Seasonal favourites methi, dill, and sar so leaves are not only delicious but have  these nutrients in plenty. Mix these into  your dals, saags, rotis, salads, or soups to et  your nutrient dose.  

Win over your woes: I know that you know, but I have  to make it clear—there is   simply no substitute for  water. A fresh dewy look  

can be achieved only if  you have plenty of water  throughout the day. There  is no stronger detoxifying  

agent than water. Hydrated skin makes you look  less tired and gives a happy  glow.  

9. Go tan-free: Running around under the  scorching sun to source all the last-min ute outfits and gifts can be daunting. Not  only does it drain you out, but  it also tans your  skin. My instant  cure to remove  tans: apply to mato pulp on the  

face, leave it on  for 30 minutes, and rinse it off with cold  

water. This season’s juicy  tomatoes are rich in the  brightening antioxidants lycopene, Vitamin C, and Vitamin A.  

So get set for this  wedding season by  making full use of  Nature’s bounty. 

AVLA HALDI CHUTNEY RECIPE 

Ingredients 

• 250 gm fresh haldi (turmeric) 

• 250 gm avla 

• Salt and lemon to taste 

Method 

1. Wash the haldi and avla. 

2. Grind the avla, haldi, salt, and lemon in a  grinder and make a paste. 

3. Serve as a condiment. 

BRIGHTENING FACE MASK 

Ingredients 

• 2 tbsp mashed papaya 

• 2 tbsp fresh aloe vera pulp  

• 1 pinch turmeric  

Method 

1. Mix the ingredients into a smooth paste. 2. Clean the face and apply the paste all over.  3. Let the mask dry for 30 minutes. 4. Wash off with cold water. 

Naini Setalvad is a nutritionist, specialising in lifestyle and immunity disorders.