Living in a city comes with a major drawback: pollution. If you’re a city-dweller then you know that fighting the effects of pollution isn’t easy. Pollution steals away your glow and leaves you with damaged skin. While you can’t protect your skin against all the smoke, you can cleanse off the after-effects of pollution. These home-made face washes will help you do just that.

 

Kaolin clay face wash

Kaolin clay face wash

The absorbent properties of this light clay (it is very similar to multani mitti) will remove the oils and dirt from your face. A few drops of rosewater added to it will help maintain the skin’s pH balance.

Mix 1 tbsp. of kaolin clay and 2 tsp. of rosewater. You can even add 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil for a soothing effect. Splash your face with warm water to open the pores. Massage the clay onto your face and rinse after 5 minutes.

Do this at the end of a long, humid day outdoors.

 

Lemon and honey face wash

Lemon and honey face wash

Just like lemon juice and honey in warm water flushes out the toxins from your body, a face wash made with these two ingredients will remove the dirt from your face. Lemon is an antiseptic and kills bacteria while honey is a natural moisturiser. This face wash will not only brighten your skin but will also reduce signs of ageing.

Mix 1 tbsp. lemon juice with the same amount of honey. Warm it up for 10 seconds in a microwave. Apply the mask to your face and neck and wash off with cold water.

Use this mask every morning and evening for glowing skin.

 

Spirulina powder face wash

Spirulina powder face wash

This all-natural face wash contains only spirulina powder and water. Pretty basic, right? But it is full of vitamin E and antioxidants that remove the free radicals from your skin, counter acting the adverse effects of pollution.

Mix 1 tsp. of spirulina powder with 2 tbsp. of filtered water and massage it onto your face. Leave it on for 10 minutes then wash off with cold water.

Doing this 2-3 times a week will give you softer skin.