Every day as you scroll through Instagram or TikTok, you see new skincare products being featured by influencers, only to realize that you either don’t have the funds to buy the product or the energy to convince your mom to spend that much money on a 30g bottle of cream.
With the emergence of aesthetics like the “clean girl aesthetic” and the “coquette aesthetic,” social media has begun to welcome, and in some ways embrace, femininity, girlishness, and self-improvement.
With the growing popularity of Asian entertainment and beauty culture, social media is buzzing with talk of the next best beauty/skincare products, with Korean skincare leading the way.
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Brands like Dot&Key, Aqualogica, Plum, Joseon Beauty, and Derma Co are effective and efficient but tend to be too hard on the wallet for some. If you are one of them, then this article is just for you. We will show you effective and simple routines and tricks that you can achieve with ingredients you can find at the drugstore or have at home.
Everything you need is in the kitchen
(Coffee powder + turmeric + cottage cheese)
It may sound unconventional, but the answer to glowing, clear skin could be right on your kitchen counter.
Simply mix coffee grounds (or ground coffee beans for a fresher option) with a bit of turmeric and yogurt. The coffee is a natural exfoliant that gently removes dead skin cells and impurities from the deepest layers of skin, while the turmeric brightens the skin and reduces the appearance of acne scars and skin pigmentation.
However, turmeric in high doses can cause your skin to turn yellow, so it is recommended that you apply this mask a day or two before any event you need to attend.
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From the women of Seoul
(Rice + Aloe Vera)
Surely, we’ve all noticed this – the clear, glowing skin of Korean women and idols has made skincare and beauty influencers fall for it, and no wonder – this little concoction works wonders.
All you have to do is rinse the rice once or twice, cook it until it’s almost mushy, and blend it in a blender with a little water until it becomes a paste. Add some aloe vera gel, apply it on your skin, and leave it for 15-20 minutes to see the magical effects of this Korean mask take place.
Another way is to mix rice flour, water and aloe vera gel. Another quick application method is to pour the water from rinsing rice into a spray bottle and spray it on your face every night before you go to sleep or use it as a toner under your skincare or makeup routine.
The starch in rice acts as an antioxidant and helps fade tan and acne scars. This method is extremely effective and the results you get with continued and regular practice definitely back up the hype.
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The traditional method never makes mistakes
(Frass Earth/Bentonite Clay + Rose Water)
Indians are known for their so-called “jugaad” hacks, like repurposing jam jars as spices or repurposing clay to cleanse and whiten the skin.
Seriously, bentonite clay or multani mitti mixed with rose water can be used as a face mask or body scrub to brighten and remove tan. Mix it into a paste, apply it, and gently scrub it off once it dries. The exfoliating and bleaching properties of bentonite clay work together to reduce tan lines, fade pigmentation, brighten skin, and tighten pores. Some people also add a few drops of aloe vera to help smooth skin texture.
It works perfectly well in reducing acne and breakouts when you have an event coming up and want clear, smooth skin, so 10/10 recommendation from me.
Bentonite clay can be purchased at your local drug or grocery store, or through internet shopping sites such as Amazon.
A little bittersweet
(Tomato + Sugar + Honey)
Tomatoes are a love-it-or-hate-it food for most people. Some people love to eat them in salads and pasta, while others vehemently dislike tomatoes in any dish (that’s me, the “other”). But what even tomato haters can’t deny is the fact that this fruit vegetable is a great anti-aging agent, whether it’s in tomato juice, salads, or soups.
So, of course, we couldn’t leave them out of this budget skincare list. Simply combine pureed tomatoes, sugar, and honey to create a scrub that’s more natural than any corporate lab could create. The sugar doubles as a great exfoliant, and the honey has sunscreen properties.
However, scrubbing too hard can irritate the skin, so rub or massage gently and then rinse with cold or lukewarm water.
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Indian Secrets for Healthy Skin
(Castor oil)
As time goes on, new types of products are constantly being released, including serums, toners, exfoliants, and specific acids targeted at specific skin concerns to improve acne-prone skin or hydrate dry skin.
But our grandmothers and great-grandmothers have been using natural, all-in-one products for years. Castor oil is a staple in the cupboards of almost every South Indian home. Castor oil is a thick, viscous vegetable oil with a variety of uses and benefits.
Massaging your face regularly with a moisturizer or oil/serum improves blood circulation and helps keep your skin healthy. Besides the added benefit of castor oil’s antibacterial and anti-ageing properties, it also hydrates the skin and helps reduce skin pigmentation and dark circles.
It can be used as a hair oil or body oil for massage, but you should rinse thoroughly 1-2 times to remove it completely.
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Remember that everyone has a different skin type – for example, normal skin, oily skin, dry skin, combination skin, etc. To find the right skin care routine for you, you may need to do some trial and error to see which products and hacks work best for you. The hacks above can be used on all skin types, but try them out on a small amount or on a small area first to see how your skin reacts.
We are all trying to achieve model-like clear skin on a budget and in the comfort of our own homes, but the trick that works best and produces the best results is consistency. Of course, most of the above suggestions will give you almost instant results. But for long-term healthy skin, continuous care, a nutritious diet, and a healthy lifestyle are the real game changers. Because drinking enough water, eating healthy foods, sleeping well, and washing your face 2-3 times a day will definitely give you great results.
Of course, all of this is no doubt about physical beauty, but it’s a positive attitude and good vibes that play a key role, because as someone from X once said, “This is my (or your) world and everyone else just lives in it.”
