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Q1. Please recommend a mask for normal skin, using home ingredients. from Deepinder Kaur

A1. Mix 3 teaspoons wheat bran (choker) with one teaspoon almond meal. Add one teaspoon each of egg white, yogurt and honey. Mix together and apply on the face, avoiding the area around the eyes. Wash it off with water after 20 to 30 minutes.

Q2. Whenever I use an astringent, my skin burns. Please suggest a good natural astringent. I have an oily skin. from Anamika Trehan

A2. Alcohol based astringents are sometimes recommended for oily skins. Some of them can be harsh on the skin. If there is a burning sensation, discontinue use. You can try adding equal quantity of rose water to the astringent to dilute it. A skin tonic containing rose or lavender is ideal.

Q3. My hair is very dry and keeps getting split ends. What is the remedy? from Saima

A3.Split ends occur on dry and damaged hair. In split ends, the outer most layer, called the cuticle, gets destroyed. First of all, you should cut off the split ends and then give your hair protective and preventive care. Avoid tying your hair tightly with rubber bands. You should also avoid the use of brushes and hair dryers for some time. Use a wide toothed comb. Give your hair regular warm oil and henna treatments. A herbal hair conditioner, has been specially formulated to treat damaged hair. It is to be rubbed into the scalp after wetting the hair. Massage gently for 2 to 3 minutes and then wash off with plain water.

Q4. I do not have any skin problems, but my skin looks dull. How can I make it glow? from Chetna Murthy

A4. Internal health and external beauty are two sides of the same coin. You can improve the look of your skin by paying attention to diet and exercise. A nutritious diet, rich in fibre, would help the proper elimination of wastes. Take some daily exercise, after taking your doctor’s advice. This would help to improve blood circulation to the skin surface. Follow a daily skin-care routine, according to skin-type. Exfoliation would help to bring a glow to the skin. This can be done by the use of facial scrubs and masks. Use a facial scrub 3 or 4 times a week and a mask on the other days.

About Shahnaz Husssain:

Shahnaz Husain, the pioneer and leader of herbal care in India, has achieved unprecedented international acclaim for her practical application of Ayurveda. With a burning desire to recapture an ancient heritage, Shahnaz Husain has taken India’s Ayurvedic tradition to every corner of the globe.

After training for 10 years in cosmetic therapy and cosmetic chemistry, at leading institutions of the West, like Helena Rubinstein, Arnould Taylor, Swarzkopf, Christine Valmy, Lancome and Lean of Copenhagen, Shahnaz returned to her roots and studied Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of herbal healing. She set up her herbal clinic in her own home, in a very small way, rejecting the existing salon treatment methods and devised her own herbal treatments. She introduced a totally new concept of “care and cure”. She also began to formulate her own Ayurvedic products. This was the beginning of the legendary Shahnaz Herbal and other ranges. In fact she has become known for her specialized clinical treatments and therapeutic products for specific problems like acne, pigmentation, scars and blemishes, skin-sensitivity, dandruff, hair loss and alopecia. Today, Shahnaz Husain heads a chain of over 400 franchise salons in India and abroad, with outlets in prestigious stores and locations all over the world. Her franchise-based enterprise has helped in the worldwide extension of the Shahnaz Herbal clinics, popularising her formidable range of nearly 350 products.

Shahnaz has received several national and international awards, including the World’s Greatest Woman Entrepreneur Award from Success Group of the U.S.A. She is the first woman to be so honoured, in the 107-year history of the Success awards. Among her other awards are the Arch of Europe Gold Star Award for Quality, the Golden America Award and the Indian Government Awards for Export Excellence. She has recently been honoured with two prestigious international awards for Quality Excellence and Outstanding Woman Entrepreneur 2002, by Global Quality Management, in London.

Shahnaz Husain is also the pioneer of vocational training in cosmetology in India, having started her professional schools at a time when only apprenticeship training was available.

Shahnaz has never been one to rest on her laurels. She has always looked ahead, towards newer challenges, incorporating the latest techniques and introducing unique innovations. Her natural instincts and foresight have always led her to the next frontier, with her finger on the pulse of international demands. Hers is the story of the human spirit that transcends geographical boundaries and encompasses the entire world. It is a story that is an inspiration to others to follow their dreams with faith and courage. Indeed, as head of the largest herbal clinic-chain of its kind in the world, Shahnaz Husain has become a legend in her own lifetime.

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