Many recipes are time-tested, but do remember that we should all be careful about allergies to certain products sometimes even natural ones.

THE FACE
*Do not apply any of the following face packs in the delicate area around the eyes.

SANDALWOOD : 
For all types of skins: Grind together 1 teaspoon each of poppy seeds, khuskhus, and sandalwood powder with 3 almonds. Apply the paste on the face and leave for 20 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water.
To make larger quantities, use the three ingredients in equal proportions. Pound and powder, mix together and bottle. To make the pack, take 2 to 3 teaspoons of the powder and mix into a thick paste with sufficient milk. Poppy seeds and almonds are rich in oils and nutrients while sandalwood is cooling.

HONEY & EGG 
For oily skin: beat together until creamy, 1 tablespoon of honey with the white of 1 egg. Apply to the face and wash off with cold water after half an hour.
For dry or normal skin: beat only the yolk with honey. Wash with cold water after half an hour.

CHICKPEA FLOUR
* For dry skin: Mix 1 teaspoon chickpea or moong flour, ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon cold milk or cream. Apply on the face and neck and let dry. Wet fingertips with cold water and gently rub off, then
wash with water. The pack stimulates the skin and leaves it soft and smooth.
For oily skin: use water or lemon juice instead of milk to mix the pack.
*Some skins may be allergic to chickpea flour. Substitute with husked green gram (moong) flour.

ALMOND-SAFFRON
For cleaning skin: Rub 2 or 3 almonds on a marble slab or a sahan with plain water or rose water. Powder a couple of strands of saffron or dissolve them in a few drops of warm water and add to the almond paste. Apply the paste to the face and let it dry. Wet hands with water and rub the face until all the paste comes off. All dirt and dead skin will come off with the paste.

MASOOR (Whole black lentils)
To remove freckles and keep skin clear of blemishes: Soak 1 teaspoon of masoor in 1 teaspoon of water for half an hour.Grind together with 1 teaspoon of clarified butter and apply on face. Follow this treatment for seven days.

MULTANI MITTI 
For smooth skin: Take a small lump of multani mitti (Fuller’s earth, available at most Indian grocers) and dissolve in sufficient water to make a smooth paste. Apply the paste on face and neck, but not in the area around the eyes. Lie down and relax with thin slices of cucumber or cotton wool swabs soaked in rose water on the eyes. Avoid talking or smiling until the clay dries and hardens. Wash off gently with water.

MULTANI MITTI-CUCUMBER
For oily skin: Thoroughly mix together 2 table spoons each, cucumber juice, milk, and multani mitti. Apply on face and wash off when dry.

MANJISHTHA (Madder root)
For curing acne and for soothing burns: Rub a piece of manjishtha root on a rubbing stone with 1 teaspoon of clarified butter. Apply to face.

PAPAYA
For oily skin: Mash 1 or 2 teaspoons of ripe papaya fruit and apply on the face. Lie down for 15 minutes, then wash with water. Papain, the enzyme present in the fruit, helps remove dry and dead cells on the skin.

PAPAYA-MINT-TEA
For acne and pimples: Mix one portion pulp of ripe or  unripe papaya, half portion of mint leaves, and a few tea leaves. Boil all the ingredients together with three times the quantity of water. Gently dab the liquid on affected spots using either a soft piece of cloth or a cotton swab. Letdry and then wash with lukewarm water.

CREAM & HONEY 
For dry skin and wrinkles: Mix together 1 teaspoon each of cream and honey and massage the mixture into the face and neck. Wash with warm water after 15 minutes.

OATMEAL & HONEY
For removing summer tan or dark circles around the eyes: beat together equal proportions of oatmeal, honey, white of egg, and almond oil and thoroughly massage into the face and neck, arms and legs.Wash off the pack after 20 minutes.

LEMON JUICE & HONEY
For oily and lifeless skin: Mix together 1 teaspoon of lemon juice with 2 teaspoons of honey. Apply to the face and neck and wash off after 15 minutes. The pack stimulates and refreshes the skin.

BETEL LEAF
For removing warts on the body or face: *Do not use near the eyes.
Remove the stem of a betel leaf and force out a drop of juice from the cut end with the aid of tweezers or with the fingertips. Gently touch the stem to chunam (slaked lime used in paan) and apply on the wart. Leave for about half an hour and then wash off. Apply twice a day for three or four days until the wart falls off. If there is even a slight burning sensation on application, use only once a day.