You've heard it all before—how a little turmeric can work wonders on your skin or how coconut oil will bring your hair to life. But do these tricks really work? And what's the science behind them? We tried the beauty tips handed down by generations on the subcontinent to find out if they really deliver results, and we checked in with Dr. Peggy Liao, a dermatology resident at the University of Michigan, to figure out why. Not a fan of primping from the pantry? We even found the beauty products that correspond to these age-old home remedies.
| Face |
| Lemon and milk cleansers are commonly used to achieve soft, clean and bright skin. |
| Method: |
Boil 1/2 cup milk in a saucepan. When it starts rising, add 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Remove saucepan from heat. The milk will curdle. After it has cooled, apply the curds to your face. When the curds become stiff, rub them off. Rinse face with cool water. |
| | Results: | Our moms weren't kidding about this one. We had smooth, soft skin for days! | |
| Dr. Liao: | Both lemon and sour milk contain alpha-hydroxy acids which function as humectants (which draw water into the skin with their high-absorption properties), and they also both have exfoliating properties. Just be careful about going in the sun after trying this remedy—the lemon may cause a rash on skin that is exposed to the sun's rays. |  |
| Product Pick: | Sundari Lemon Cleanser, $22, Drugstore.com | |
| A natural antibiotic, turmeric is usually found in curries but can also be used as a skin cleanser in small quantities. |
| Method: | Mix 2 teaspoons gram flour, 1/4 teaspoon turmeric and 1-2 tablespoons milk into a paste. Apply to face for 20 minutes. Wash with warm water. | |
| Results: | Gleaming skin all around. | |
| Dr. Liao: | In scientific studies, curcumin, derived from turmeric, has been found to have anti-inflammatory properties if ingested. Topically, it may have the same effect, making it useful as a skin cleanser. |  |
| Product Pick: | Jurlique Face Wash Cream, $54, Amazon.com |
| Roses are known for their rich fragrance, but our mothers use them for cleansing and moisturizing. |
| Method: | Mix 1/2 cup rose water and 1/2 cup glycerin in a spray bottle. Spritz on face after cleansing and throughout the day for soft skin and a rosy glow. | |
| A natural glow and baby-soft skin. | |
| Dr. Liao: | Glycerin is also a humectant, and it definitely helps skin stay soft and moist for the day. The science behind the roses is still a mystery. |  |
| Product Pick: | Dr. Hauschka Skin Care Rose Day Cream, $35, Sephora.com | |
| Method: | Heat 2 cups water in the bottom part of a double boiler. When the water begins to bubble gently, fill the top part of the double boiler with 1 1/2 cups whole milk. Add 1/8 cup glycerin and 1 cup clean rose petals to the milk. Remove the mixture from heat and let it cool. Pour mixture into a blender and blend until mixed. Wash face with mixture and rinse with warm water. | |
| Results: | Our skin was unbelievably supple and smooth after this one. Rose petals might be pricey, but for a special occasion, the splurge is worth it. | |
| Dr. Liao: | The fat in whole milk is a good moisturizer, and combined with the humectant glycerin, this moisturizing face does double duty to lock moisture in. |  |
| Product Pick: | Fresh Rose Face Mask, $16, Sephora.com | |
| | Eggs and honey tighten and moisturize skin, creating a youthful glow. |
| Method: | Whisk 1 1/2 tablespoons honey, 1 egg white and 2 teaspoons glycerin together. Add 1/3 cup flour to make a thick paste. Apply paste to face and rinse with cool water after 15 minutes. | |
| Results: | Who needs Botox? This quick fix tightens skin for a night out. | |
| Dr. Liao: | Again, glycerin is a humectant. Eggs do make skin feel tighter as it dries, but there is no information on why this happens. |  |
| Product Pick: | JOEY New York Egg Cream Instant Face Lifting and Contouring Treatment, $45, Drugstore.com | |
| Body |
| Lemon and sugar make a wonderful scrub for evening out dark elbows and knees. |
| Method: | Cut a lemon in half. Pour 1 teaspoon sugar over each half and rub gently on elbows and knees till the granules have melted. Rinse with water. | |
| Results: | Our perpetually dark knees and elbows softened and lightened up considerably after this one. | |
| Dr. Liao: | This combination of sugar and lemon has alpha-hydroxy acids which act as humectants and exfoliate skin. |  |
| Product Pick: | Nyakio Lemon Rind & Sugar Body Scrub, $47, Drugstore.com and Osmotics Sugar Scrub Body Exfoliant, $32, SaksFifthAvenue.com | |
| Almond oil moisturizes for incredibly soft hands. |
| Method: | Mix 1 tablespoon almond oil and 1 cup butter. Before bed, massage mixture onto hands and put on gloves. Wear while sleeping. | |
| Results: | No more dry cuticles—this one worked all the way. | |
| Dr. Liao: | Oils and fats are great moisturizers, and moisturizers work even better when you use them under gloves because the gloves help to keep moisturizers on, allowing skin to absorb them more fully. |  |
| Product Pick: | Perlier White Almond Hand Cream, $15, Macys.com | |
| Turmeric is the key ingredient in the traditional body polish used by Indian and Pakistani brides before their wedding. |
| Method: | Mix 1/2 cup gram flour, 2 teaspoons turmeric, 2 teaspoons olive oil and water as needed to make a paste. Massage onto body and leave on for 10 minutes. Using pressure from your palms and fingers, rub off the paste. Shower. | |
| Results: | We can vouch for several brides who have used this religiously before the big day—skin was softer and brighter than never before. | |
| Dr. Liao: | Olive oil serves as a good moisturizer. Again, turmeric can act as an anti-inflammatory in this wash. | |
| Product Pick: | Asian Beauty Secrets Honey and Turmeric Shower Gel, $15, BanyanTreeGallery.com | |
| Sandalwood is an ancient ingredient used mainly in incense. We use it for soft skin. |
| Method: | Mix 2 tablespoons olive oil with 1 teaspoon sandalwood powder. Apply to body for 10 minutes. Rinse off in shower. | |
| Results: | Super soft skin, and we smelled good too! | |
| Dr. Liao: | Olive oil provides the moisture, while sandalwood powder has anti-inflammatory properties—just be careful, because it can also cause a rash with exposure to the sun. |  |
| Product Pick: | Ohm by Olay Sandalwood and Chamomile Body Wash, $4.49, Drugstore.com | |
| Not a fan of gingerbread? Don't worry, there are other uses for that brown sugar sitting in your cabinet—try this sweet yet amazing exfoliator. |
| Method: | Mix 1/4 cup olive oil with 1/2 cup brown sugar. Add 4 tablespoons lemon zest. Apply to body and rinse off in shower. | |
| Results: | Dead skin, be gone! And it was... | |
| Dr. Liao: | Olive oil moisturizes, while brown sugar works overtime both as a humectant and as an exfoliant. Since it doesn't dissolve in olive oil, the sugar becomes both a physical exfoliant as well as a chemical one. |  |
| Product Pick: | Treat Brown Sugar Smoothie Body Scrub, $28, MaidenAmericaStyle.com | |
| Face |
| Coconut oil is a favorite among Indian women for producing thick, shiny hair. |
| Method: | Massage 1 tablespoon coconut oil into your scalp half an hour before you wash your hair. | |
| Results: | Thicker? Maybe just a bit, but then again, we only tried it once. Shiny? For sure. | |
| Dr. Liao: | Oil, of course, is sure to leave hair conditioned. |  |
| Product Pick: | Blue Magic Coconut Oil Hair Conditioner, $1.99, Walgreens.com | |
| We all know that olive oil is good for us—but did you also know that it helps prevent split ends and uplifts dull hair? |
| Method: | Massage 1 tablespoon olive oil into your scalp half an hour before you wash your hair. | |
| Results: | Uplifting? Of course. And while we still probably need to trim those split ends, we're sure new ones aren't going to plague us after this remedy. | |
| Dr. Liao: | Olive oil, specifically, moisturizes very well. |  |
| Product Pick: | L'Occitane Olive Oil Extra Gentle Shampoo, $15, Sephora.com | |
| Lemons aren't just for lemonade—they also add sheen to your locks |
| Method: | After washing your hair, rinse it with 1 teaspoon lemon juice. | |
| Results: | We did notice some shine, but we had to be careful not to discolor our hair. | |
| Dr. Liao: | Again, alpha-hydroxy acids in lemon help hold in moisture, thus adding life to hair. |  |
| Product Pick: | Paul Penders Lemon Perfecting Rinse, $9.95, Beautybynature.com | |
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