Dussehra falls on October 25 this year, marking the tenth day in the month of Ashvin, as per the Hindu lunisolar calendar. It is the grand culmination of the nine-day long spectacular Navarathri celebrations, signifying the victory of good over evil. Also known as Vijayadashami and Dasara, this important devotional event is observed for diverse factors across the numerous states in India. While it symbolizes Goddess Durga’s success over the demon Mahishasura in the eastern and northeastern states of West Bengal, Orissa and Assam, the northern parts of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh revel in the triumph of Lord Rama over the evil force Ravana. The southern Indian vicinities of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana and Tamil Nadu revere Goddess Saraswathi, who represents wisdom, offering prayers for knowledge, good sense, with children embarking on new learning pursuits i.e. “Vidyarambham”.
Yet, no matter the differences in holy proceedings and distinct regional festive customs, one common thread uniting all Indian womenfolk on the auspicious occasion of Dussehra, is beautifying their skin, hair and dressing up in new, colourful, traditional clothes.
Also Read: Glow At Festive Gatherings With These Amazing Face Packs
However, this year, owing to the still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many women are rather hesitant to visit beauty parlours, despite all the safety rules and social distancing norms in place. Fret not ladies, for we bring you just what you’re looking for – the ultimate guide to achieving salon-style looks right at home, with some simple, refreshing DIY at-home spa techniques, that you can complete in a jiffy.
Entailing a toning skin facial, reviving hair massage, softening hand and foot mask, cleansing body scrub and relaxing aromatherapy bath, this is the perfect beauty regime to pamper yourself amidst the lockdown, that too in the comfort of your own abode. So go ahead and flaunt gorgeous looks from head to toe this festival season and let the gloomy skies and coronavirus fears not dampen your cheerful spirits on the prosperous occurrence of Dasara/Dussehra/Vijayadashami.
5 Fabulous DIY At-Home Spa Therapies For Glowing Skin And Healthy Hair:
Purifying Steam Facial
Boil some water and pour it into a deep dish. Allow it to cool down slightly so it becomes lukewarm. Add 2 – 3 drops of tea tree essential oil and stir well with a ladle. Wrap a towel around your face and bend over the dish, so that the medicinal oil vapours engulf the entire region of the skin. Remain for 20 seconds and repeat the same procedure for three rounds.
This simple steam facial opens the pores on skin’s surface, immensely cleansing it of all impurities, dust, dirt, grime and controlling excessive oil/sebum secretions. The richness of antioxidants in tea tree oil help reduce acne, including the presently rampant maskne, besides infections and scars, to reveal flawless, radiant skin.
Also Read: Maskne: Simple Tips To Prevent Pimple Outbursts Triggered Due To Wearing Face Masks
Deep Conditioning Hair Massage
In a bowl, mix one avocado with 1 tbsp olive oil. On a dry scalp, dab on an even layer of this thick spread to hair, from root to tip. Let it stay for 15 minutes, then rinse off with a nourishing shampoo, towel dry and put on some nurturing hair serum.
Avocado is blessed with biotin, magnesium and potassium, which fortify hair, strengthen the hair roots i.e. follicles, cuticles and improve its thickness, texture. Comprising profuse amounts of emollients, olive oil supplies intense hydration to the mane, leaving behind soft, silky locks.
Moisturising Hand And Foot Mask
Mix 3 tbsp of almond oil with granulated sugar in a bowl. Smear it all over dry hands and feet. Keep it on for 10 minutes and then wash it off with warm water. Apply a bit of calamine lotion or aloe vera gel to retain moisture, smoothness.
Containing generous amounts of vitamin E, almond oil works wonders in healing all cracks, injuries on the skin of hands, feet, thus significantly replenishing skin texture. The coarse nature of sugar crystals helps remove all lingering dirt particles, old tissue layers, visibly making the skin on hands, feet smooth, soft and supple.
Clarifying Body Scrub
Prepare a paste with 5 tbsp honey, ½ cup of rock salt crystals and a bit of lemon juice. Rub this stimulating body scrub in circular motions all over the face, neck and body. Rinse off with lukewarm water and dry with a clean towel.
Honey is renowned for its antioxidant, antibacterial properties, effectively remedying common skin conditions of bacne, as well as other chronic ailments of eczema, psoriasis and rosacea. Packed with cleansing, toning characteristics, the slightly rough quality of rock salt is beneficial for exfoliating the body, removing all dead cells and renewing skin tissue. Lemon juice is imbued with vitamin C, a brilliant skin-fortifying component, for lush, smooth skin sans blemishes.
Soothing Aromatherapy Shower
For a laidback bath experience, create an oasis within the confines of your own house, by mixing 5 drops of lavender essential oil and 2 drops of geranium essential oil to a bucket or tub filled with lukewarm water. Immerse yourself in this at-home spa bathing environment and thoroughly smother some foaming body wash all over the body, for a completely tranquil and pampering skin-cleansing ritual.
The floral infusions of lavender essential oil and geranium essential oil confer pleasant fragrances as well as protective antioxidants, for uplifting skin wellness, relieving stress in the mind, the tension in the body muscles and promoting physical and mental health. Moreover, they purify the skin of dirt and clear clogged pores, to vastly improve skin texture.
