Turmeric is the Indian beauty secret! In Europe, this spice is often used in cooking to enhance the taste of certain dishes. On the other hand, its many cosmetic virtues are a little less popular in Europe and yet, turmeric can turn into a beauty elixir. We tell you more.
In Asia, turmeric is used in all sauces: food, traditional medicine, skin care … Mainly known for its powerful anti-inflammatory power, turmeric also has antioxidant and antibacterial properties. No wonder some Asian women swear by him on a daily basis.
In India, where women trust the treasures entrusted to them by nature, its beauty is maintained with turmeric. We take advantage of its yellow pigment to keep its pretty tanned complexion, we smooth its skin texture by preparing it as a mask, we protect ourselves from skin aging by applying it as a poultice and we prevent the arrival of imperfections by the using daily as a homemade cream or balm. This, on the body and the face! In short, this rhizomatous herbaceous plant cultivated in Southeast Asia is seen by some as a miracle spice. And it is true that when used as one of the main ingredients of face masks, turmeric will cleanse your epidermis and brighten your skin.But be careful, turmeric can do wonders on your face, provided you take some precautions and you use it sparingly in all your preparations.
What are the benefits of turmeric for the face?
Turmeric helps treat several ailments and imperfections of the epidermis. First of all, it is recommended in the treatment of acne, eczema, psoriasis and other skin infections. It is therefore very useful in the care of problem skin.
Its virtues anti-inflammatory will reduce the irritation of acne pimples but also make the appearance of red patches disappear. Its antibacterial principle also helps fight against the proliferation of germs responsible for the appearance of pimples. Acne-prone skin will therefore be thoroughly purified.
In addition, its antioxidant action accelerates the healing of the skin. The traces of imperfection of the epidermis, left by repeated pimples for example, will therefore be reduced if turmeric is used, regularly, as a treatment balm or in masks. At the same time, the itching sensations will be soothed.
Small not insignificant extras: turmeric helps fight against wrinkles. Its antioxidant principle slows down the aging of the skin. Moreover, it is also a very good sun preparation because prolonged exposure to UV rays accelerates the destruction of skin cells. As a bonus, applied several times a week, turmeric will give you a healthy glow because this spice boosts the melanin of the skin to brighten the complexion. At the same time, turmeric also fights dark circles by activating the blood microcirculation and maintains the elasticity of the skin thanks to the vitamin C it contains. What good arguments to add this spice to your homemade masks.
So, we offer you some natural face mask recipes to revive the radiance and health of your skin. All the products that we are going to offer you to combine in the different recipes are certainly already in your kitchen … A significant economic advantage.
Before you embark on the preparation of these masks, be careful with the handling of turmeric. Its strong yellow pigment stains clothes. Put on gloves when handling the powder. Above all, never forget to part your hair. Especially if you are a bleached blonde! You might end up with a few orange strands. Also be careful with the exposure time. For those with fair skin, you can reduce it by five minutes in each recipe.
The healthy glow mask
As said above, turmeric boosts melanin in the skin and its powerful yellow pigment slightly colors the epidermis. This is why it is very effective in so-called "good-looking" masks. The site dedicated to organic beauty treatments Jolie Coquille offers, to keep your summer tan, a turmeric mask made from honey, very easy to make. However, Jolie Coquille does not give a dosage in its recipe, so we suggest that you make your mixture as indicated below.
Recipe :
- Mix half a teaspoon of turmeric with a teaspoon of honey. Prefer a very liquid honey which will be easier to dilute in the preparation.
- Add a tablespoon of coconut oil. It nourishes the skin, soothes irritation and will make your mask much more liquid. Honey is viscous and tends to form a very sticky paste.
- Leave on for about fifteen minutes then rinse with cold water.
Our advice: Do not add too much turmeric to your mixture, otherwise you will end up with an orangey Donald Trump-like complexion after your UV session. Fear not, if you ever overdo it, that unsightly tint will wear off after an hour. Above all, do not rub your face with soap for hours, as this can severely irritate your skin.
The concealer mask
Do you mark easily and your rather pronounced dark circles obscure your eyes? No need to spend your money on expensive treatments. With a few ingredients that are at the back of your cupboard, you will concoct an effective mask to make the black halos disappear under your eyes.
Blogger Mademoiselle Birdy shares one of her flagship DIY recipes with us.
Recipe :
- Mix a tablespoon of turmeric powder with a tablespoon of flour. We recommend corn flour known for its antifungal properties. This flour is perfect for drying out pimples and absorbing excess sebum.
- Add 1/2 cup of milk.
- Then, stir in a teaspoon of honey and a teaspoon of a moisturizing vegetable oil for the eye area, such as sweet almond oil or avocado oil.
- Apply to the eye area and leave on for 15 minutes.
- Remove excess product with a cloth or cotton ball, then massage to allow the rest to penetrate well.
- Apply your usual cream if you have one specially dedicated to dark circles.
Our advice: If you have dark circles on your eyes every day, do not hesitate to apply several concealer masks during the week to increase the effects of turmeric tenfold.
Mask against acne pimples
Skin with acne problems finally have their beauty ally. The anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of turmeric will help your skin to get rid of blackheads, pimples and other blemishes. If the mask that we offer below is applied regularly, your skin will quickly regain good health.
The recipe gave us by the BeautyfullGreen site. Its realization is ultra-simple and will only take you 5 minutes flat.
Recipe :
- Mix in a bowl 15ml of milk with a tablespoon of turmeric.
- Beat until a smooth paste is obtained.
- Apply to a cleansed face and leave on for about 15 minutes.
- Rinse off with lukewarm water.
Our advice: Do not leave turmeric face masks on for more than 15 minutes, especially if you have fair skin (we remind you) because the yellow pigment could strongly rub off on your skin. Put your hair back well and protect it with a headband if possible so that it does not absorb the color.
The traditional Indian mask to cleanse the skin
In the Indian tradition, this treatment is used before weddings to illuminate the complexion of the couple. In Ayurvedic medicine, it is also very popular. The recipe for this ancestral skin cleansing mask was given to us by ileauxepices.com. This mask helps to fight, among other things, against blackheads if applied once a week. The anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric are mixed with the anti-fungal benefits of flour and the hydrating benefits of argan oil.
Recipe :
- Mix a teaspoon of turmeric and a teaspoon of flour.
- Then add a teaspoon of argan oil and three teaspoons of animal or vegetable milk, such as almond milk.
- Mix everything until you get a smooth mask. If it is too thick add a little milk and oil, if it is too runny add a little turmeric and flour.
- The little trick is to clean your face and rinse it with warm water before applying the turmeric mask to open the pores of the skin.
- Leave on for about 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly to remove the yellow dye from your skin.
Our advice: For problem skin, we recommend the daily use of turmeric soap to wash the face, as well as the application of a lotion in addition to weekly home care. We also recommend two facial oils to illuminate your complexion in our shopping list below.
Good shopping:
Organic Turmeric Hydrosol, Terraïa, 200ml, 7.50 euros on onatera.com
Turmeric calm soothing mist, Neutrogena, 125ml, 6.50 euros on amazon.fr
Fbio amilial surgras soap with turmeric, Gaiia, 5.90 euros on gaiia-shop.com
Vitamin C + Curcuma Facial Oil C.E.O Glow, Sunday Riley, 15 ml, 42 euros on sephora.fr
Beauty oil, RMS Beauté, 30ml, 85 euros on birchbox.fr
Also read: How do I use coconut oil on my face?