Mint, also known as pudina is an Indian kitchen staple used extensively in various forms due to its distinct taste, soothing properties and umpteen health benefits. In recent times, mint leaves are widely used in several foods and beverages, including cocktails, mocktails, teas, sauces, salads, dips and desserts.
While eating mint leaves, positively affects your health by relieving from congestion, cough and cold symptoms, improving irritable bowel syndrome, boosting brain functions and masking bad breath, using it for skincare as a cleanser, toner or moisturiser is also beneficial for the skin. Also Read: Mint Leaves Have Soothing Benefits For Irritated Skin
Apart from the food, mint has also gained popularity in the beauty industry owing to its potent anti-microbial nature and cooling properties. The bioactive ingredient menthol helps in treating and preventing various skin infections like pimples, acne, eczema, sunburns and rashes and bestows a crystal clear radiant-looking skin.
Here are three easy ways you can incorporate mint into your daily beauty essentials and reap its goodness.
Mint Sugar Scrub
Ingredients:
A handful of mint leaves
1-2 tbsp coconut oil
3-4 tbsp sugar
1-2 tsp of peppermint essential oil
Method:
Squeeze out the mint leaves to get the fresh juice.
Mix all the ingredients together.
Apply it all over your face.
Gently scrub in a circular motion for 10 – 15 minutes.
How It Works:
This scrub works well for all skin types and is extremely beneficial for sensitive skin as well. The mint leaves in the scrub thwart bacteria and germs, whereas sugar granules effectively exfoliate dry dead skin cells and help clear pores. The addition of coconut oil moisturises and makes the skin soft and supple. Also Read: Wonder Benefits Of Coconut Oil
Mint and Banana Face Mask
Ingredients:
10-15 freshly plucked neem leaves
1-2 tbsp lemon juice
1 ripe banana
1 tbsp honey
Method:
Put all the ingredients in a blender and grind it into a smooth paste.
Apply it all over the face and keep it on for 30 minutes.
Wash off with cool water and apply some moisturiser
How It Works:
This face pack is extremely beneficial for dry acne-prone skin. Mint leaves having potent antibacterial property kills bacteria and prevents pimples. Lemon, on the other hand, lightens the skin and tightens the pores. Banana and honey moisturises the skin from within, protects the skin from free radicals and delays the aging process.
Mint Lotion
Ingredients:
2-3 tbsp dried mint leaves
1/3 cup almond oil
2-3 tbsp beeswax
1-2 tbsp shea butter
1-2 tbsp cocoa butter
1 tbsp lanolin
2 vitamin E capsules
1-2 drops peppermint essential oil
Method:
Place the dried mint leaves in a cup, then pour the boiling water in it. Cover and allow it to steep for 15 minutes, and strain into a separate cup.
Melt shea butter, cocoa butter, almond oil, beeswax and lanolin in a double boiler.
Once it comes to boil, switch it off and allow it to cool down.
Crack open the vitamin E capsules and add the vitamin E oil and peppermint oil to the melted lotion and mix it thoroughly in a blender.
Pour in a glass vessel and store in the refrigerator for future use.
How It Works:
Mint leaves and mint essential oil gives this moisturizing lotion a refreshing aroma. It helps in regulating sebum production, which prevents blockage of pores. Shea and cocoa butter moisturises dry skin, treats acne and reduces wrinkles and blemishes. The addition of vitamin E oil not only reduces oxidative damage of the skin but also slows down skin aging and imparts you a smooth glowing skin.
