How to achieve a clear skin

Rima Soni recommends some home remedies

I am a 14-year-old girl. I used to have thick, soft and wavy hair but now, I'm experiencing rapid hair fall and thin, oily hair, despite trying many hair fall shampoos. As for my face, my skin is quite oily and I have a lot of pimples on my cheeks and forehead and many marks are left behind too. I do drink a lot of water and I've tried applying aloe vera on my face and hair but it hasn't been effective. Kindly suggest a remedy that won't take too much time as I'm a student.
- Name withheld
Fenugreek promotes protein and fights fungal issues. Soak 2 tablespoons of fenugreek seeds overnight. Finely grind them the next day and mix with yoghurt before applying to the scalp and face. Rinse both face and scale after an hour. Do this every alternate day. Both your issues of hair fall and skin blemishes/pimples will gradually clear. Keep up a good water consumption and healthy diet for best results.
My hair is so greasy all the time, no matter how much I shampoo it, and I hate it. Please help me.
- Soumya
Make a mask of gram flour and water and apply it between the hair partings. Allow to dry, then rinse and follow with a shampoo. Avoid hot water while rinsing, as this will activate the oil glands and make the scalp greasier. Rinse with room temperature water; you may also add a dash of lemon juice to help reduce the oiliness.

Can stress be the cause of pimples? I've been having so many on my face of late (it's never been there before) and the only thing I can think of is how stressed I've been the last few months. Please give me a good remedy to make the pimples disappear without leaving spots.
- Michael
Stress is, of course, damaging to both skin and hair. Add yoga and meditation to your everyday routine to help calm your mind. Mix 1 tablespoon of aloe vera with 4 drops of lemon juice and 4 drops of tea tree oil. Massage your face with this every four hours and leave on overnight. Keep up the treatment to remove all trace of pimples. Drink 10 to 12 glasses of water daily. Eat a healthy diet of green leafy veggies, fresh fruits and lean meats. Avoid hot, spicy and greasy foods, as these will aggravate your problem.
I read your article every week and find your solutions very effective. I have a one-year-old baby; she has a hairy face, especially near the ears, forehead and upper lips. It's a heredity issue. Also, how can I take care of my oily skin and hair? I have a hair fall issue too. Please suggest remedies.
- Meenakshi
Thank you for reading my column. You need to be gentle with your baby's skin while trying the following treatment. Add 1 teaspoon yoghurt to a little gram flour and a few drops of warm full cream milk. Mix well together and apply the mask to her face. When the mask gets slightly dry, gently massage against the direction of the hair growth. Do this every day. It is very important that you be gentle. As for yourself, make a mask of 1 teaspoon yoghurt, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and enough corn flour; mix well and apply on your face as well as between your hair partings. Allow this to dry, then rinse off with cold water. Every alternate night, massage aloe vera gel mixed with a few drops of tea tree oil or lemon juice on your face; leave on skin overnight.
(Got a beauty-related query? Write to Rima Soni at wknd@khaleejtimes.com)

• Beauty Basics