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I Got It From My Mama: The Best Beauty Tips Our Mothers Gave Us

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Looking for top beauty tips? We turned to our mums to learn all about their beauty routines. Learn priceless beauty lessons and get top product recommendations with this guide.
I Got It From My Mama: The Best Beauty Tips Our Mothers Gave Us

All those starry-eyed years watching our mothers get dressed and waiting our turn to wield the lipstick, and we’re finally here – navigating the confusing, often contrived, world of beauty products. And as much as we’ve all hated our moms' incessant nagging, we made sure to keep one ear open to one of those mama’s tips – by tenure alone, the women know their stuff. Much like their miraculous potions for curing every ailment in the book, our mothers raised us on a strict regimen of beauty rituals because their love and care know no bounds.

Even though we just about tolerated the bitter spoons of karela juice, religious cleansing rituals, and bad-smelling hair masks, we can’t help but look back with a little bit of irony. By the time 'Farm to Face’ beauty hit the industry, we’d already had the contents of our refrigerators emptied onto our faces, kind courtesy of our mothers.

While clean ingredients and vegan, eco-friendly formulations are just starting to trend in beauty, we’re already experts in homemade haircare and skincare that have the benefits of all these natural products. In this editor-sourced piece, we’ve sifted superstition from science to bring you the best tried-and-tested beauty heirlooms, inherited from the wonderful women who raised us. From making your face glow to achieving waist-length hair, these beauty tips are priceless. And you know these beauty tips work because our mothers had the best guinea pigs out there – us!

Check Out These Amazing Beauty Tips From Moms:

1. Charcoal Mask

A homemade papaya pulp face mask for glow (it still makes me barf!) and a chickpea flour and milk mask for when I come home from school trips several shades darker. She also got me addicted to bamboo and charcoal face masks before they became mainstream – I've been using those for five years now with fantastic results.

- Akanksha Batra, AVP. Beauty Services

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2. Egg Shampoo

Possibly the worst-smelling concoction in history, eggs and yoghurt were religiously applied to my hair every weekend. Although I never that all the compliments my waist-length locks garner today is because of momma dearest and her not-so-dearest beauty tip.

- Mousree Paul, Senior Content Executive

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3. Sandal-Turmeric Ubtan Pack

Same as Aakanksha, my mom bullied me into her favourite ritual twice every month. Passed down over generations, it involved a thick paste of chickpea flour, sandalwood, and milk and massaged off with a loofah. I had this radiant, bronzed skin almost instantly, no beach time was required. Another regular from Mom’s beauty tips was a neem face mask for acne breakouts.

- Brionie Pereira, Associate Editor

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4. Castor Oil

Way before cold-pressed face and body oils came to the fore, my mom was a huge proponent of using oils in place of moisturizer. Another trick was expired yoghurt. Apparently, the more it ferments, the more you glow. It's also an anti-inflammatory. I over-bleached my upper lip a long time ago, and after she made me apply and re-apply it, my skin went back to normal.

- Karishma loynmoon, Assistant Manager

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5. Lemon Face Mask

I remember countless Sundays when Mama used to enter my room with what she liked to call the 'bowl of miracle slice' - sliced lemons basically, which she used as an exfoliant. Come to think of it, she did this just last weekend. " Keep using that lemon Lakshmi, or your elbows will look like Barbara Streisand's" I mean, it works, but I can't even.

- Lakshmi Nayar, Assistant Manager

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6. Aloe Vera Gel

My mom always went back to basics when it came to skincare. She often said, "If you can't find it in the fridge, forget it." So, Instead of getting a clean-up from a salon, she pushed me to find organic alternatives. My favourite is a cooling mask of fresh aloe vera – it soothes, nourishes and removes impurities - a great cure for anything from a rash to dull and tired skin.

- Divya Kalra, Senior Content Executive

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7. Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo

I have super curly hair which can be extremely hard to manage, given the humid weather in India. As a child, my mom used apple cider vinegar on it, and it worked wonders. She'd mix it in equal proportions with water, use it as a rinse, and voila - frizz gone, shine restored and curls defined! She also kept me away from sulfate-heavy shampoos - the arch-nemeses of curly-haired girls everywhere.

- Jinelle D'Lima, Senior Execultive, Content & Webcom

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8. Honey Mask

As a child I never understood why rubbing a sticky substance on my face was good for my skin, but I swear by this honey mask now because it’s so hydrating and soothing – especially after a long week. You can literally just use honey, or mix it with lemon for brightening, yoghurt to moisturise the skin, or even oatmeal for exfoliation.

- Dwiti Shah, Manager

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9. Ghee Moisturiser

Like a true Punjabi mother, my mom believes ghee can solve every problem. Especially during the drying Delhi winters, she would encourage me to use ghee as a moisturiser for my chapped lips and created this brightening mask with ghee and lemon for the face.

- Diya Verma, Senior Beauty Editor

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10. Green Tea

As someone with sensitive skin, green tea was my mom’s go-to for reducing skin inflammation and irritation, especially on the face. While I know all the allergens I need to avoid, I still find myself consuming green tea a lot and using it as a natural toner.

- Clara Vaddakan, Senior Writer

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11. Cucumber Slices

As a Gen-Z ‘iPad kid’, my mom was always worried about the strain on my eyes caused by these devices. Also, the weather was always dry in Indore and a quick boost of hydration was always a welcome thought. My mom’s go-to was cucumber slices as eye pads for a cooling effect. They were also always served with all meals.

- Gauravee Pathak, Marketing Executive

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12. Coconut Oil

As much as I love my mom, let me tell you she was mostly clueless about dealing with my 2C curls. Back then, there was no curly hair routine to gently hydrate and shape my curls. But the one thing she swore by to maintain my “unmanageable” hair was applying Parachute before hair wash. In my house, it is the end-all beauty secret. No makeup remover? Skin too dry? Scab on wounds or cuts causing an irritating sensation? Making a homemade mask? – this blue bottle of coconut oil that every Indian knows and loves was always the answer.

- Gizelle Dsouza, Senior Marketing Executive

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Conclusion

Beauty tips passed down through generations have helped our mothers garner a deep understanding of natural ingredients. From coconut oil and clarified butter to aloe vera and turmeric, there are several beauty secrets hiding in Indian kitchens that can help you achieve luscious hair and glowing skin. Many of us still follow these beauty rituals to date and should practice them with pride. After all, we’re the ones who now have the onus of ensuring the next generations know all about the benefits of natural routines for the hair and skin.

FAQs

1. How did primitive Indians take care of their skin?

Many herbs were used to make cosmetics in Ancient India, as per a study. This includes using salves as lip balms, poppy seed masks to cure dandruff, and honey for face masks.

2. What is the secret behind luscious Indian hair?

Hot oil massages are a fundamental haircare secret of Indian culture. It is said that massaging with these oils can help improve blood circulation in the scalp and promote hair growth. A study also says that hair oil massages make the hair thick.

3. How to make your skin glow naturally at home?

Turmeric is among the top Indian beauty tips to get a natural glow. So much so that there is a ‘haldi’ ceremony dedicated to applying turmeric to brides ahead of weddings

4. How to get clear skin as an Indian?

Using mild cleansers and exfoliation can help you achieve clear skin. You can also try switching up your diet and include in your diet some nutritious foods that will help you achieve a natural glow.

5. Can onion help grow hair?

Onion is packed with sulphur, which helps your hair grow stronger, thicker, and longer. (Read: Unveiling Onion Hair Oil Benefits: Tips For Hair Growth & Care)

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