Try this acne face mask from Kerala, demonstrated by singer Maalavika Manoj
Pro-tip, don’t leave it on for too long unless you want to look like The Simpsons
When it comes to skincare, sometimes Nani’s homemade concoctions featuring pantry ingredients are as effective as the branded jars we throw money at. Singer Maalavika Manoj dipped into her family’s Kerala roots for this thrifty and effective DIY acne face mask.
This recipe has been passed down from her great-grandmother to her grandmother. Manoj had a bad spell of hormonal breakouts as a teenager, to the point of people sending her ‘get well soon’ messages for her ‘chickenpox’. In came grandma with a bowl of her acne face mask.
The recipe features only 3 things. Green gram (mung dal) flour which acts as a gentle physical exfoliant. Yoghurt, which contains exfoliating lactic acid and has a cooling effect, and turmeric.
It’s a very special kind called Kasturi Manjal or Amba Haldi which actually looks like ginger. Turmeric is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and a gift South Asia has given the world that goes into pretty much everything.
“Just don’t leave it on for too long, I’ve seen people walk around with yellow faces,” says Manoj about the acne face mask.
Beauty rituals from Kerala — haldi, green gram and yoghurt acne face mask
Ingredients
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 5 tsp yoghurt
- 2 tsp green gram
Application
- Combine both the ingredients in a bowl. Feel free to add a little water if the mixture is too dry.
- Take the mixture on your fingers and begin applying it on your face.
- Let it sit for 10 minutes and wash it off with lukewarm water and dab face dry with a towel.
- Top things off with your go-to moisturiser.