Unflavored, unsweetened milk with minimal additives is known for its skin softening and moisturizing properties. However, milk can also be used in combination with turmeric, honey and even essential oils. The simplest beauty therapy is to take the inside of a milk bag and rub it on your face. It is even safe to be used on children, especially those with problem skins. Depending on your skin type you could use full cream or skimmed milk. Cleansing milks remove surface grease, dirt and salt left on the skin by perspiration, without upsetting the face’s delicate hydro-lipid (water-oil) balance.

The key to using milk and many other traditional beauty aids is in rinsing them off. Milk is a breeding ground for bacteria when left at room temperature. That is why if not removed properly it could lead to pimples or itchiness.

Beauty aids for the face

Makeup remover: Mix a tablespoon of full cream milk and a few drops of sweet almond oil. Pat the milk mixture onto your face using a sterile wad of cotton. Remove it with another wad of cotton. Rinse off thoroughly.

Cleanser: For oily skin, use skim milk. For normal, dry or mature skin, use whole milk or full cream milk. Apply on your face, like you would any ordinary cleanser. Rinse off with a lot of water.

Mix together half a teaspoon of lime juice, two teaspoons each of milk and cucumber juice. Apply on the face and neck and wash off after 15 minutes. This lotion opens and cleanses the pores.

Take four tablespoons of warm milk and add four or five drops of any vegetable oil, like sesame seed (til) or sunflower oil. Put this in a jar and shake it well. Dip cotton wool in this mixture and use it to wipe and cleanse the skin. Rinse well.

Face wash: Make a paste out of skim milk powder and water. Use this instead of soap to wash your face.

Face pack: Mash bananas with milk and apply on face. Wash the pack after 20 minutes to make your skin smooth and supple.

Milk mask: Mix a tablespoon of fluid milk with one fourth teaspoon of cold pressed almond oil. Apply on a cleansed face. Wait for about two to three minutes. Apply this again in three or four layers after letting them dry for two to three minutes. When the mask is hard and dry, wash it off with lukewarm water.

Scrub for all skins: Mix together a teaspoon each of skim milk powder and honey. If your skin is very oily add a few drops for freshly squeezed lemon juice. Use that as a mild scrub on your face. Substitute skim milk with whole milk powder for normal or dry skin. Rinse off thoroughly with lots of water.

Tan remover: Blend turmeric powder with milk and apply on the face. You can wash it after drying, or scrub it off when dry or after keeping it on overnight, with a good face scrub to remove facial hair. For effectively treating sun burnt skin mix together lime juice and milk and apply on your face rinse off after the mixture is dry.

Complexion enhancer: Take a teaspoon of gram flour, one pinch turmeric powder, few drops of lime juice, half a teaspoon of olive oil and half a teaspoon of milk, mix them and apply on your skin. Leave it on for half an hour before rinsing it off with water. Applying a mixture of methi or fenugreek seeds and boiled milk keeps your skin smooth. Daily applying lemon juice, barley flour and milk for 15 minutes is excellent for your skin.

Bleach: Mix together a teaspoon of lemon juice, half a teaspoon honey and a few drops of milk and apply on your face for 15 minutes. Take four almonds, about one and half teaspoon besan or gram flour, a teaspoon of milk and four drops of lime juice and apply on your face.

Beauty aids for the body

Moisturizer: Adding a glass of milk added in the bath water is a good moisturizer.

Bath oil: Add a cup of instant full cream milk powder to your bath. For an added taste of luxury dilute two drops of sweet almond oil and soak yourself in it. Rinse the milk off before getting out.

Shower gel substitute: Take two clean containers. Fill one with milk powder or milk and the other with honey. For each tablespoon of honey, add a drop of lavender oil to keep away the ants. Mix them just before a shower and apply all over your body for a clean, glowing skin. This one is good for baby skin too.

Herbal milk bath: Take a cup cornstarch and dry milk powder and add two teaspoons of your favorite herbs to them. Blend them and use as a bath gel. Brittle and splitting nails: Mix two tablespoons of powdered gelatin in a glass of milk or fruit juice and drink daily in the morning.

Bloodshot eyes: Soak a cotton pad in milk and keep it on closed eyes for 10-20 minutes.

Beauty aids for the hair

For fine hair: Mix a handful of milk powder with enough water to make a paste. Massage this paste into your hair and steam it. Rinse off and shampoo after half an hour.

For thinning hair: Drink two cups of milk daily, take vitamin B-complex and vitamin C supplements as well for the nutrients your body probably lacks.