Roots to Radiance

by Nikita Upadhyay

  Soak your feet in the water that boiled sweet potatoes to treat cracked heels. It’ll be better if you can also add sea salt to it, though that is optional.

  4. Carrot

  Low blood pressure, dehydration, ageing, poor vision—you name it, this root has a solution to a number of problems. Carrot is also an anti-cancer root that makes for adequate fibre content when consumed in proper proportions. It is also packed with beta carotene and potassium, which people with oily skin can benefit from. Drinking a glass of carrot juice every morning can reduce chances of cancer remarkably and also prevent sun damage super effectively.

  Apply carrot juice on your face for 20 minutes to eliminate excess oil. Wash off and repeat thrice a week.

  Blend a couple of carrots, make a paste and apply to face to reduce blemishes. Rinse after 20 minutes. Repeat twice/thrice a week.

  Add curd and 1 tablespoon cucumber extract to boiled and mashed carrots, mix and apply to your hair to make them more manageable and to beat frizziness and unruly hair.

  5. Beetroot

  Not just skincare, this root can even replace some of your chemical-packed cosmetics like lip/cheek tint and hair colour . . . and so some of the recipes in the previous chapters of this book have taught you. Apart from being superficial substitutes, beetroots (chukandar) can help treat arthritis, kidney stones, low blood pressure, menopausal struggles, burns, anaemia and so on . . .

  Eating or drinking beetroot juice everyday can also stabilize your period cycle and ensure proper digestion.

  Mix henna powder, curd, and beetroot juice and make a paste. Apply to hair for one hour and wash off to chase away dandruff. Do this once a week.

  Drink a glass or two every day to keep ovarian cysts at bay.

  Apply beetroot juice to your lips daily to make them pinker.

  6. Radish

  This root is majorly detoxifying. And apart from clearing complexion and treating hairfall, this root can treat one of the most common problems in our generation—insomnia!

  Radish makes bones healthy and drinking its juice can help keep kidneys clean and treat urine infections.

  Prevent blackheads by applying radish juice on your face twice a week.

  Mix 2 tablespoons radish juice with onion soup or beetroot juice and drink daily to calm your nervous system and sleep better.

  Apply radish juice to scalp to remove dandruff and boost hair growth.

  7. Onion

  Time and again, we are reminded of the importance of this root in our lives. Just eating it raw can kill most germs in our mouth and stomach. But there’s more to onion than its germ-fighting capabilities.

  An antioxidant, anti-allergic, that has cholesterol-controlling abilities, and several things that I’m about to tell you will make you crying while chopping it not sound so bad.

  Apply onion juice on your face to reduce acne and blemishes.

  Apply onion juice to your scalp for half an hour before you rinse with shampoo to reverse balding drastically faster.

  Reverse damage done to your eyes by screen exposure of mobiles and computers by mixing two drops of onion juice, two drops of lemon juice, two drops of ginger juice with one teaspoon honey . . . mix well with one cup of water. Now you have a DIY eyedrop ready to reduce eye irritation and redness.

  8. Garlic

  Yes, it’s that ingredient which when added to toasted bread and cheese takes you to heaven. The way it zests food proves the power of how these ingredients can enhance a formula. Now whether it’s about enhancing a food recipe or using these ingredients to improve wellness and beauty concerns, these easily available roots clearly have the power to transform you. Topping it all off is the libido-boosting, fungal infection fighting and life-simplifying qualities of garlic.

  Place a garlic clove under your teeth to prevent toothache.

  Crush garlic and apply its juice to prevent acne, irritation and blemishes.

  Mash three garlic pods, mix them with water and drink the concoction. Garlic’s antibacterial, antifungal properties chase away infections of any kind.

  9. Turnip

  Turnip is a rich source of dietary fibres, Vitamin C and collagen-generating elements. It also helps to lose weight. It makes you feel full without consuming too many extra calories. It is rich in iron and, when juiced, it can provide UV protection against sun damage.

  Eating turnips, cucumbers, carrots, beetroots and sweet potatoes together as a salad can cure a number of health issues. This is something you should add to your diet immediately.

  Rub a sliced turnip in your underarms after bathing to block body odour.

  Add more turnips to your diet to boost your metabolism and feel fuller without having to eat too much, and hence end up consuming fewer calories.

  Boil turnips and use them in your diet somehow. There are plenty of recipes available for turnips. However, don’t throw away the water—apply it to your face and body to have a collagen-packed wash and boost cell renewal.

  10. Celery

  Celery root is the cutest addition to this list. This root looks like a white bulb that is totally Instagrammable. Posting healthy #InstaFood every once in a while is good for the health of your feed after all. Powdered celery is a big hit in the wellness market right now. People are having it first thing in the morning with their first glass of water to speed up metabolism and lose weight. But the benefits of celery roots aren’t limited to the weight loss territory. It’s much more crucial than that. Since this is a beauty book, here’s what you can do with celery:

  Boil celery in 1 cup water and drink the tea. Doing so cures peptic ulcers and stomach sores.

  Grind and drink its juice every day to kickstart your day with a blast of energy.

  Apply celery juice to your face to help restore youth without having to do too much.

  13

  Clays and Muds

  Roots grow beneath the soil, and while in the previous chapter I suggested that you derive radiance from the roots, it’s a given that I would like to talk about the importance of the land it grows under as well.

  My mother always says that if you have to judge the properties of a vegetable or a herb, look at the shape, nature and appearance of it to guess its benefits.

  A bottle gourd (Lauki) is one of the longest vegetables, so if it’s in its nature to grow long, it can help you increase your height if it’s fed to you as a kid. Beet is red in colour—so when it’s infused with water, tea or wax, it can be a cheek/lip tint or a hair colour, etc.

  Studying the nature of nature’s components is a beautiful activity. It’s a hobby as beautiful as birdwatching, wildlife photography, researching historical findings, and many other examples of fulfilling pleasures we like to invest in, in downtime.

  Now, I won’t make this seem like you’re in a science class, but there’s no denying that understanding the benefits of natural ingredients is science. Reading this book is understanding science, practising the methods in it is science, formulating your own recipes is science . . .

  You are a result of nature and science after all. Even though you hate having to memorize the periodic table in chemistry and laws of physics, you’re totally going to love the knowledge I’m about to share on using different kinds of clays and muds to your advantage.

  If these clays can grow medicinal plants in them, protect them from the dangers of the environment and mature them to the point that they qualify to be used for medicines that save lives and recipes to benefit humankind, they can fix your concerns.

  If soil can nurture and guard its plants like a mother, it can definitely take care of your skin, hair and health.

  Clays and muds are dominant ingredients in most of the face and hair masks available in the market today. Volcanic clay, Fuller’s earth, Kaolin clay, Bentonite clay, Volcanic mud—the list goes on . . . Fresh and damp or powdered for storage, clays hardly have an expiry date and never lose their efficiency. Even if you move it to another location, it’ll start doing what it does best from the new s
pot, i.e., producing!

  Across the book I have explained the importance of clays that you can use to treat skin and body concerns at home, but this chapter is mostly for you to understand how to incorporate and formulate your own recipes by understanding what’s best for your skin.

  So, feel free to collect these muds and clays whenever you spot them next. Every region and country has their own special kinds of rocks, clays and plants that are good for you in some way or the other. If you’re a real beauty enthusiast like me, you’ll do your due diligence in advance when taking a vacation and making the most out of it.

  The mere use of mud and clays is to sculpt them and make sculptures, so if you aren’t sculpting your face while you globetrot, are you even living the good life?

  Here are some commonly available and some never-heard-before masks that you should add to your bag the moment you spot them:

  1. French Green Clay (Pore-tightening face mask)

  Also known as Sea Clay, Marine Clay and Illite Clay

  Heading to Europe? Do try out French green clay that is found in huge parts of Europe. Or just try seeing if you can get genuine quality clay online. The reason it’s called French Green Clay is because the green colour comes from decomposed plant matter and iron oxide. This clay can absorb oils like you can finish a pizza!

  French Green Clay is best suited for people who struggle with open pores and oily skin.

  Mixing it with rose water can chase away all your oily skin struggles with its absorbent powers—if it’s truly green in colour, that is. Do not buy it if it isn’t green. The green pigment itself is a proof of plant matter absorption, so if it is grey, look for better quality.

  2. Rhassoul Clay (Detoxifying scrub, hair mask)

  Also known as Moroccan Lava Clay, Moroccan Red Clay and Ghassoul Clay

  Have a friend who’s coming back from Morocco? Ask them to help you eliminate blackheads by getting this humble clay for you. Or just buy it online from a reliable source.

  This clay goes by the name Ghassoul in Morocco, but is identified as ‘Rhassoul’ globally.

  Blackheads on follicles and open pores lead to excess sebum secretion, making your face look greasy and grey just a few hours after you do your make-up. While the night is still young, you want to run away like Cinderella because you feel like your face is giving up.

  Mix rhassoul clay with apple cider vinegar and red lentil powder and massage your face with that paste to clear your face weekly.

  If you have an oily scalp, make a very thin paste of rhassoul clay and water and massage your scalp with it before shampooing.

  3. Hungarian Moor Mud

  Also known as European Moor Mud, Balneo-Peat and Peat Moss

  Okay, so this peat moss can get you a glowing body like Kate Moss in no time, puns aside . . . this is a mud many celebrities have recommended getting spa treatments with.

  It contains almost no clay and is found mostly in the Czech Republic and Hungary. Its skin-replenishing abilities are a result of natural decomposition of plants and grasses. This healing mud is rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids and organic enzymes.

  Its benefits are so vast that luxury spas recommend going for an immersion bath treatment with it.

  This healing mask when applied to body can detoxify, improve blood circulation and help achieve smoother skin. And the best part is, it completely dissolves in water.

  4. Umbrian Clay

  Umbrian clay is an umbrella for your skin . . . meaning, it can shield you from having any more acne, blemishes and rosacea. Many skincare companies are making crazy bucks out of selling this clay for its purifying, mineral-rich properties. It is pistachio-green in colour and is found in Umbria, Italy.

  Just mixing water with this clay and applying it to your face regularly will erase blemishes fast.

  5. French Pink Clay

  Also known as Rose Clay

  Much like the French green clay, this is also found in Europe and is pink in colour. This clay has the power to smoothen and polish your skin without a fuss. This mask is rich in iron and can make the roots of your hair stronger and help delay greying.

  Just mixing green tea with this clay and adding a few drops of rosehip oil in it can brighten your face and fight wrinkles with minimal efforts.

  Applying the same mask to your hair (without the rosehip oil) can prevent scalp irritation and make your hair darker and stronger.

  6. Alpine Forest Mud

  Also known as Alpine Moor Mud

  As the name suggests, this mud is found in the Alpine forests. The miraculous combination of carbon compounds in this mud has a gentle effect on your body while cleaning it really thoroughly. So if you’re looking to switch your soaps with something that’ll cleanse your body without being too harsh, this is it! Just apply it directly to do a deep cleanse.

  7. Cambrian Blue Clay

  This clay is said to be the oldest blue clay known to mankind. A master in restoring youth and renewing skin cells, this clay is big in the medicine industry as well. Known for treating rosacea, arthritis and diabetes, this star clay is found by the salt lakes of Siberia.

  It can remove toxins and bacteria in a wash and repair the damages of make-up and harmful chemicals transferred into your skin by pollution and heat.

  Dip a chamomile tea bag in boiled water for a few minutes, then add the tea to this clay to make a paste out of it, and apply to face to slow down ageing.

  You can also make soaps out of this one by adding castile soap and beeswax (as explained in the lip balm, body washes section).

  8. Icelandic Silica Mud

  This clay, as the name suggests, is found in Iceland. It is actually found in one of the most popular destinations in that country—the Blue Lagoon—and is rich in silica.

  This mud is mostly used for its anti-ageing paste that boosts the skin to produce more collagen and new skin cells.

  Just applying a thin layer of this mud can help you fight ageing like a charm. All muds and clays are soothing and their functions are also quite similar.

  9. Yellow Kaolin Clay

  The benefits of white kaolin clay, aka cheeni mitti, have been explained in other chapters. Fuller’s earth, kaolin clay and black soil are a few ingredients we have talked about in the recipes of previous chapters, but what hasn’t been covered is these few types of kaolin clay that you can also buy if you think you have the following skin concerns—dry and sensitive skin, poor blood circulation levels and uneven face texture.

  This clay looks a lot like turmeric, and was found in China years ago. It is easily available in India now and can be bought online too.

  Crush neem leaves in a mortar and pestle and then boil them in a cup of water. Filter out the leaves and use this water to make a paste of yellow kaolin clay and apply to face. Wash once it has dried and follow it up with a face serum.

  10. Red Kaolin Clay

  Another product from China but available globally, red kaolin clay is ideal for people who have puffiness-prone skin. It also treats rashes and burns.

  Take around 20 basil leaves and crush them with a mortar and pestle. When you’re done, add those crushed leaves to boiled water and wait for a few minutes for the mixture to cool down.

  Then use that water and red kaolin clay to make a paste and apply to face. Wash when it dries and apply serum. You can also apply this (like all the other masks) to your body if you’re struggling with the same problem as your face anywhere on your body.

  11. Dead Sea Mud

  If floating on the dead sea without sinking is on your bucket list, make sure you fill that bucket with the sea’s mud on your way back. Why, you ask? That mud is a true multitasker.

  It can even your skin tone, treat acne, remove harmful toxins, dirt and impurities, improve texture and reduce redness. All this while maintaining the pH balance and more.

  This is an evergreen all-purpose mask for face and body. The greenish grey mud also makes the skin more elastic and doesn’t need a second ingredient if it�
��s fresh.

  If you’re buying a powdered version online, mix it with water to make a face and body mask you can apply for 20 minutes before bathing. Rinse and follow up with your favourite creams.

  14

  Infused Waters

  Moms can get persuasive about your hydration needs. And I did a terrible job at keeping my system hydrated until a few years ago. A funny thing happened a few months ago when my mum visited me in Delhi. Even though I thought I had become better at drinking enough water throughout the day, somehow it had to go wrong when someone was watching! Obviously!

  So I was at home on a Sunday finishing some work and on her watch I did not have water for about six hours straight, and she reminded me to drink water, also accusing me of lying about getting better at this. My skin had become all red because of dehydration and my mother couldn’t believe how I could do this to myself.

  Obviously, I didn’t have a very strong case to argue so I just went about following my general Monday schedule the next day, and I received a text from her every two hours saying, ‘Drink water’.

  Honestly, I would like to start a support group for busy, dehydrated women. I mean, it isn’t easy to keep up with your day-to-day work, social life, running errands, pursuing ambitions, excelling at tasks at hand and trying our best to drink water.

  It is tasteless, odourless, colourless and still runs our life!

  We need to pep up this activity for us to be able to stay hydrated. Because let’s admit it, we take water for granted. If we don’t end up drinking all of it from our bottles, we feed it to the plants, or just throw it and refill our bottle again, never having the intention to finish all of it.