Diwali has come to an end, but your skin woes are just about beginning. All the pollution caused by crackers and unhealthy eating during the festive season has already begun to take a toll on your skin. The tiny pores of your skin get clogged with the soot and dust that stay suspended in the air for days after Diwali. Expect your skin conditions to worsen, especially if you have acne or irritation. A diet of fried foods and sweets only makes matters worse. What you need a complete detox not only for your skin but also for your insides. There are ways to accomplish that at home without spending a bomb at beauty parlours and clinics. Binged on Laddoos, Chaklis, Barfis and Karanjis? Do a Diwali Detox In 5 Steps.

Dry Brush Your Skin

Dry brushing is a technique that has gained popularity in recent years. It involves massaging your skin with a brush that has natural bristles. Starting with the soles of your feet, you have to rub the bristles on your skin while it is dry, working your way up to the legs, torso and arms. After dry brushing, slather your skin with a nourishing oil like sesame or coconut and let it get absorbed. Practitioners believe it stimulates the circulation and the lymphatic system, which helps in draining toxins out of your body.

Steam Your Skin

Your tiny pores may get clogged due to the pollution and smoke, and the best way to unclog them is to expose your skin to steam. It helps in cleaning your skin from the inside out. Warm steam opens the pores and makes you sweat all the toxins out. If you don’t have a steamer at home, you can fashion one by filling a large vessel with hot water, holding your face above the vessel and covering your head with a blanket. Be careful not to scald yourself.

Use a Cleansing Milk

Once your skin is steamed, apply a non-soap-based cleanser and massage gently. Take a clean cotton pad and wipe your skin with it. You will be surprised to see the amount of dirt and debris clogged inside your skin.

Take a Detoxifying Bath

If you have the luxury of a bathtub, fill it with warm water and add Epsom salts to it. Soak in and let the detoxifying salt do all the work, drawing impurities out of your skin. If you don’t have a bathtub, no worries. You can create a simple scrub out of Epsom salts and coconut oil, olive oil or almond oil. Rub the paste all over your body and let it sit for a while. Wash off with soap in the shower.

Detox from The Inside

To wash your body from the inside, you have to have at least 12-15 glasses of water every day in the days after Diwali, according to dietician Priya Maisa. Keep yourself hydrated with water flavoured by citruses or mint throughout the day. Sip green tea from time to time to accelerate the detoxification process.

Limit Sugar

After binging on sweets for five days, it’s time to take a break. Your skin will thank you. Cut down on all processed sugars entirely for the next week. Sugar attaches itself to the protein and lipid molecules in your body, damaging proteins like collagen and elastin that gives your skin its youthfulness.

Pranayama and Meditation

Practising pranayama, or the cleansing breath in Yoga, aids in the detoxification process. Conscious, controlled breathing is a natural way to remove toxins out of your skin and body. Meditating will help you calm down and relax after the excitement and stress of Diwali. Combining these two techniques will not only detoxify you, but also relax you.

These simple steps are essential for anyone who has been facing skin issues after Diwali. For best results don’t skip any of the steps and focus on detoxifying from the inside out.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 10, 2018 09:45 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).