Curdilious beauty!

Curd is very popular in India and is easily found in most homes. It is a fermented food and is widely used in kitchens for cooking, desserts, soups, cuisines and adds flavour to a lot of dishes. It has probiotic bacteria that is good for your stomach and keeps infections and bacteria at bay.

Curd is the powerhouse of protein that helps in building and improving your core muscle strength. It is extremely beneficial for people who want to shed extra kilos of weight. The daily consumption of yoghurt will boost your immunity, keep your heart healthy and can be easily digested by your system.

Over time, dirt, dust and pollution collect over the skin makes your skin look darker than it really is.

If you are fed up with expensive creams and lotions but still looking forward to flaunting a glowing, healthy, supple and clear skin, then curd with skin-friendly nutrients is extremely beneficial for both skin and the hair. It is rich in vitamins and minerals, like Vitamins A and B, calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorous which helps in tightening pores, reducing signs of ageing and fair complexion skin.

Being a milk product, it can meet protein requirements. For external beauty care. For dryness in the skin with acne, take 2 teaspoons yoghurt and add a pinch of turmeric. Apply daily on the face and wash off with plenty of water.

To remove tan on arms, mix yoghurt with 'besan' into a paste, adding a very little 'haldi'. Apply on the arms three times a week and wash it off after half an hour.

Make an ideal facial scrub by mixing 3 teaspoons grounded almonds with 2 to 3 teaspoons yoghurt and pinch of turmeric into a paste. Apply on the face and rub gently with small circular movements. Then leave on for 10 minutes and wash off with plenty of water.

In fact, curd can also be added to face masks. Take 3 teaspoons wheat bran with egg white and one teaspoon each of honey and yoghurt. Apply on the face, avoiding the lips and area around eyes. Wash it off after 20 minutes.

For an anti-tan pack, mix one teaspoon each cucumber, ripe papaya pulp and yoghurt, with three teaspoons oats. Apply on face and neck, three times a week. Wash it off after half an hour.

Take honey and curd – add a few tablespoons of red wine. Apply this on the face and leave it on for 20 minutes. Rinse with plain water. This removes tan and adds a glow.

Mix two teaspoons yoghurt and one teaspoon honey with, dried and powdered lemon peels into a paste. Apply two or three times a week on face and neck. Wash it off after 20 minutes.

Take one tablespoon wheat bran, one teaspoon each orange peel powder and curd and one tablespoon aloe vera gel. Mix and apply on the skin, washing it off after 30 minutes.

Even for hair care, yoghurt is very suitable. Apply on the hair 20 minutes before shampoo, to soften the hair and add body.

For damaged hair, mix 1 tbsp honey with curd for a smooth mixture. Apply this on your hair and let it stay for a while. Rinse off your hair with a mild shampoo.

While mixing henna for conditioning the hair, you can add yoghurt. Add 4 teaspoons each of lemon juice and coffee, 2 raw eggs and enough yoghurt to the henna powder, mixing it into a thick paste. Apply on the hair and wash off after an hour. If you do not wish to use egg, add more yoghurt.