Rice water, coffee and other skincare advice from celebrities who've tried it all

We’re manifesting happy, healthy skin

Sometimes life gives you lemons, other times life gives you dark circles, breakouts, and other bumps. Sure, you could invest in an indulgent skincare routine, but where’s the time? Between the nine-to-five routine and late-night binges, how does one accommodate regular exercise, healthy diets and deep rest, all of which are essential for healthy skin?

In quintessential filmy style, some of our favourite celebrities have swooped in to rescue us from this distress with handy solutions. From haldi (turmeric) face masks to ice face rollers, here are five celebrity-approved beauty hacks from Tweak India’s Morning Chai series, where celebrities share their morning routines and reveal skincare secrets. Guaranteed to leave you with a luminous glow that can rival that of Edward’s in the Twilight series. Okay, maybe not exactly, but you get the drift.

5 beauty hacks we’re adopting from celebrities

Mrunal Thakur’s face mask nuskhas

Dadi and nani would agree, ghar ke nuskhe (home remedies) are surefire ways to rejuvenate your skin, without overloading on products or emptying your wallet. In an episode of Morning Chai, actor Mrunal Thakur gave us plenty of options to choose from. A simple turmeric face mask will take care of skin brightening and soothe panda eyes. All you have to do is mix turmeric with dahi (curd) or milk, add some honey if you like, and apply it evenly on your face and neck.

Alternatively, you can also opt for a coffee and sugar scrub. Ground coffee and brown sugar, mixed with olive oil or coconut oil, is a great exfoliating scrub that’ll rid your face of dead skin, and make it soft and supple.

Thakur also shared a quick Korean trick for ‘glass skin’. Rinse and soak uncooked rice grains in about two cups of water for around 15 minutes (30 if you have more time). Once the water starts looking cloudy, strain it and freeze it in an ice tray. Later, rub the ice cubes on your face to get that dewy look.

Masaba Gupta’s all-purpose aloe vera

There’s one reason why aloe vera is the maa of all things beauty — it’s an expert multitasker. It’s also the one beauty ingredient designer and entrepreneur Masaba Gupta swears by. She likes to begin her morning skincare practice by applying some aloe vera before getting into her cleanser-moisturiser-sunscreen routine.

Aloe vera is a medicinal plant with cooling properties. This all-purpose elixir also does wonders for the skin and hair. It moisturises skin cells, tackles inflammation and reduces wrinkles by increasing skin elasticity. You can also replace your daily moisturiser with an aloe vera gel in summer. Time to buy a bottle?

Kubbra Sait’s back-to-basics secret

There’s a thumb rule for writing that I learnt from my journalism professor in college — when in doubt, kiss. Err, more accurately, ‘Keep It Simple, Stupid’. I’ve since realised that this adage applies to most things in life. Even skincare. And it doesn’t get any simpler than plain ol’ water. Every morning, after you wake up, splash some water on your face to get the blood circulation going.

Actor Kubbra Sait also likes using an ice roller on her face for instant hydration. You can go one step ahead and freeze ice cubes with different ingredients (like cucumber and aloe vera) and just reach for one whenever your skin needs a pick-me-up. This will reduce any puffiness and tighten your skin.

Bhumi Pednekar’s gut health hack

Beauty is on the inside. No, I’m not trying to be philosophical, I’m being literal. If you want truly radiant skin, you need to shift focus to your internal health, more specifically, your gut health. Actor Bhumi Pednekar, agrees, saying, “I realised [beauty] is actually connected to what you eat, how healthy your gut is. [This] switch really helped me calm my digestive system, which in turn helped me with my hair, nails and skin,” she says in her Morning Chai episode.

A healthy intake of foods containing antioxidants and vitamins like E and C, or foods with anti-inflammatory properties, keeps the gut healthy, which in turn keeps your skin glowing. It’s time to make healthier snack choices, and replace chips with nuts or berries.

Deepika Padukone’s ‘less is more’ trick

Moms know best. And actor Deepika Padukone swears by her amma’s skincare slogans — ‘less is more’ and ‘be consistent’. The world of skincare is vast and intimidating, with a constant stream of trends and products, and the only way to stay afloat in this deluge is to keep things light. Try to keep your skincare simply: Cleanse, hydrate, protect. The simpler your routine, the easier it will be for you to stay consistent.

For Padukone, cleansing is an important step in her routine, along with the use of sunscreen. You can choose a gentle cleanser that’ll hydrate and clear your skin, removing dust and debris without stripping it of essential natural oils.

Everyone’s all-season favourite

Each of these celebrities may rely on different beauty hacks, but the one non-negotiable they all swear by is sunscreen. It is an important part of skincare that not only protects your skin from harsh UV rays, but also prevents dark spots, pigmentation and sunburns.

So, come what may, never skip sunscreen. You also can experiment with hybrid products, such as a moisturising sunscreen, or a tinted one, to see what works best for you.

Note of caution: This story is for educational purposes. Please consult your healthcare provider to know what best suits your needs.