Mother Knows Best: Skin Care In Lockdown 2:0

You can never underestimate the wisdom of mothers and grandmothers.

Admittedly when I was younger and was told of home remedies for anything from skincare to diet or medicinal advice I always used to poo poo it because how could stuff that you keep in your larder or store cupboard possibly be better than the products that are made in laboratories and cost the earth, obviously you get what you pay for right?  … err, not necessarily so I’ve learned.

During my teenage years like so many of us I had less than perfect skin. I was prone to flare ups of spots and either very dry or very oily skin and spent a small fortune on lotions and potions to give me that ‘perfect’ skin. I remember mum telling me to try besan (gram flour) and water to wash my face and me screwing up my face and saying ‘no way!’

I did eventually heed her advice and started to wash my face daily with a tablespoon of besan mixed with water to make a paste. When I got over the initial smell and the besan getting stuck in my hair I noticed the impact it had on my skin almost immediately. Not only did my face feel and look cleaner and fresher it also felt really smooth to the touch.

Needless to say like most things in life when my besan face wash had served it’s purpose I stopped using it but I was introduced to it again three years ago on a trip to India where I went for a series of Ayurvedic treatments. Following very oily massages you were asked to shower not with conventional soap but with besan and again it had the same cleansing and revitalizing effects on my skin.

During the first lockdown earlier this year my skin care regime literally went to pot! As we were told to avoid touching our faces you never quite knew what you could use and what you couldn’t, do I need to use a brush or a spatula, can I use my hands, how often do I need to clean my hands between applications? Quite honestly you could literally turn a very grounded person into a nervous wreck by over thinking things. 

This lockdown however is very different. We’ve learned a little more about COVID and have formed new habits but we’ve also gained a better understanding and appreciation for traditions and going back to basics and back to nature whether it’s diet, exercise or general wellbeing.

So this lockdown I’m going to stick to my regular skin care regime and as the weather is changing so is my skin so I’m going to re-introduce the besan face pack into my weekly regime. Not only does besan help remove toxins and dirt but it also absorbs excess oil without drying out the skin, helping regulate moisture and keep the skin supple. Just what you need in these cold winter months when you’re indoors with the central heating on full blast!