Beauty Benefits of Neem

Face pack with Neem Extracts

The humble neem is often ignored by urban folks in favor of more synthetic ingredients, but it has been used in Ayurveda for over 4,000 years. Neem leaves are easy to obtain and can be used as a beauty aid in many simple ways. We tell you why it should be on your beauty list.

Purifying water
Boil a concoction of neem leaves (about 50 leaves in two liters of water) till the leaves are soft and discolored, and the water turns green. Strain and store in a bottle. Add about 100 ml of this to your bath water to rid the skin of infections, acne and whiteheads.

Skin toner
This can also be used as a skin toner — just dip a cotton ball into the liquid and wipe your face with it every night. This will clear acne, scars, pigmentation and blackheads. This potion can be used as a hair rinse to treat dandruff and excessive hair fall.

Face pack
Cut about 10 neem leaves and boil them with small segments of orange peel in a little water. Pound them to a pulp. Add a little honey, yoghurt and soy milk, to form a smooth paste. Apply this to your face (can be done thrice a week). This will clear acne and breakouts, dry up whiteheads, pull out blackheads and even reduce the appearance of pores. Honey and neem are excellent moisturizers.

Hair conditioner
A paste made of neem leaves boiled in water and honey, and applied to the hair, leaves it well-conditioned, without frizz and dandruff free.

Healer
Extracts of neem leaves and seeds produce pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory and fever-reducing compounds that can aid in the healing of cuts, burns, ear aches, sprains and headaches.

Root cure
The bark and roots of the neem tree have medicinal properties; in powdered form, they can be used to control lice and dandruff. Neem has anti-bacterial properties that help fight against skin infections such as acne, psoriasis, scabies and eczema among others.