The sweltering heat of the summer sounds welcoming after the harsh winter winds but the unforgiving UV rays that come with it are the painful truth that we all need to deal with in summers.

Also, the skin and hair woes in the summer are different from that of winters and a modified skin care routine and fortifying your skin and hair with the homemade packs for skin and hair keep problems like dull itchy oily skin, rashes, sun tan, frizzy unmanageable hair and acne at bay.

Dr. Rinky Kapoor, Consultant Dermatologist, Cosmetic Dermatologist & Dermato-Surgeon, The Esthetic Clinics, lists down some all-time favourite skin and hair masks that are easy to make, do no cost an arm and leg and keep you skin nourished, glowing, rested and hydrated:

·   Coriander leaves and turmeric face pack: One of the biggest problems in summers is the appearance of blackheads, especially around the nasal area.

How to use

Blend two teaspoon of turmeric powder with ¼ cup of fresh coriander leaves and make a fine paste. Apply this paste on the face and neck area and leave it overnight. Wash with cold water in the morning. Do this for a week to get rid of the blackheads.

How it work?

The pack helps shrink the large pores. Coriander is caustic in nature and it cleans the dirt and pore blockages and turmeric controls infection and prevents the oiliness of the skin.

·   Cucumber and Sugar Face pack: The skin becomes dull and lifeless during summers and this pack will bring it to life.

How to use

Mash some cucumber slices (enough to cover your face, neck and upper chest area) and add a dash of sugar to it. Put the pick in the refrigerator for about an hour. Apply the cool paste on your face and leave it on for about 15-20 minutes. Wash with tap water.

How it works

Cucumber is anti-inflammatory and rich in vitamin C and folic acids and therefore hydrates the skin, prevents acne, protects the skin from sun damage, and keeps the skin glowing. Sugar is a natural humectant and therefore keeps the moisture within the skin and also it is rich in glycolic acid making it an excellent treatment for sun damaged skin.

·  Curd and gram flour face pack: This mask is an excellent cure for the dry skin during summers. These masks work for de- tanning too. You can use this mask on your hands and feet too.

How to use:

Mix two tablespoon of gram flour with one tablespoon of curd, one teaspoon of honey and a pinch of turmeric and make a smooth paste. Apply and face or hands and feet and leave for five minutes. Gently scrub the mixture before washing with cold water.

How it works:

Curd nourishes dry skin and acts as a daily moisturizer, honey is antioxidant and anti inflammatory, gram flour removes the dead skin cells and turmeric balances the skin’s pH and encourages healing. Both curd and gram flour will help get rid of tan acquired during the beach holiday and whiten then sun damaged skin.

·  Milk face pack: Milk face packs are a boon for the summer-damaged skin. You can use these face packs on your hands, legs, and back too.

How to use

There are two ways to use milk in the face pack

·  Mix three tablespoon of raw milk with five drops of lemon juice. Apply this mix on the tanned areas. Leave it for 2-3 minutes and lightly scrub the mask off. Wash with tap water.

· Mix honey into half a bowl of chilled milk and apply on the face. Let it dry and wash your face with cool water.

How it works:

Milk has lactic acid among other major ingredients therefore; it acts as an exfoliator, hydrator, skin lightener, cleanser, and moisturizer. Honey and leave boost the skin cells and keep the sun damage at bay.

· Banana facemask: Oily skin is a big complaint during summer months and this simple face pack will take care of the oily skin or the dry patches on the skin.

How to use:

Mix one tablespoon of honey with a half a banana (mashed) and add one and a half tablespoon of sour cream. Mix well and apply on the skin. Leave it to dry for about 10-15 minutes and wash with lukewarm water.

How it works:

This mask will make your skin smoother and hydrated. Banana pack acts as an exfoliator and removes excess sebum from the skin. Banana also helps in keeping the fine lines and wrinkles away from the skin in fact, it prevents them from forming.

· Amla for hair : Amla is the tried and tested hair revitalizer and gives an instant does of health to the hair.

How to use:

Boil some dried amla in water. Grind to a fine paste and add some boiled methi seeds (or you can use methi powder) along with some yogurt to make a thick paste. Apply on the scalp and leave for 20-30 minutes. Apply this three days a week to reduce hair fall.

How it works:

Amla is rich in vitamin C and methi is known for its cooling, antiseptic, and antibiotic properties. Together they help prevent hair loss, dandruff, and dryness of the hair and scalp.

· Potato pack for hair: This mask will help prevent hair loss.

How to use:

Peel and grate one large potato and squeeze the juice out of it. Add 2 tbsp. of honey and 2 tablespoon of fresh aloe vera gel to it. Mix well and massage on hair roots for a few minutes. Leave it on for two hours before washing with warm water. Use this mask twice weekly.

How it works:

The hair friendly potato contains compounds that bind with oxygen and strengthen hair strands and prevents hair thinning. Aloe vera which is rich in amino acids, vitamin A, B, C, F and essential enzymes and honey act as protectors and moisturizers for the hair strands.

·  Cool coconut cream hair pack: This pack will add life to the dull hair.

How to use:

Take all the pulp from a tender green coconut and mash it well. Add some coconut water to it and microwave the mix at high power for about 30 seconds. Apply on your scalp and hair and let it sit for 0 minutes. Wash it off with shampoo.

How it works:

Coconut acts as a conditioner for dry and damaged hair and can restore moisture to scalp and hair.

These simple masks act as super food for skin and hair and will give you lustrous hair and gorgeous looking skin at all times.