As most of the specialists don't recommend introducing cosmetics to kids, dealing with their skin problems puts most of the parents in a fix. Here are some home remedies that could come handy next time you find yourself in such a situation.
1. Regular use of shoe in schools and colleges can give boys and girls dark patches on feet left by shoe bites. To get rid of these, soak feet in lukewarm water mixed with baby shampoo. With a regular olive oil massage, they will soon go back to looking smooth and supple.
2. Knees and elbows can start looking rough and dark as kids grow up. Give them a nice scrub with lemon peel.
3. For naturally healthy and glowing skin, include food rich in Zinc, Vitamin E, and Vitamin C. Make green leafy vegetables, fruits, nuts and fish a part of your children’s regular diet. Help them build the habit of drinking enough water through the day.
4. Not only is make up unnecessary for children, it can be unhealthy to let them focus on their looks from a young age. It’s best to avoid any cosmetics while dressing up children for parties, occasions and school events. You can help them put together a neat and natural look with smart dressing.
5. For the stubborn little ones who really must experiment with some makeup, there are easy home-made ones that smart moms can whip up in no time.
6. Extract the juice of a beetroot and store in the fridge. Mix this with a tiny bit of cold cream to make an excellent home-made blush. If you are dressing up your little girl for a stage event, this can also be used as an eyeshadow. You can easily lighten or darken the shade by altering the amount of beet.
7. Mix the beet juice with butter or cream to make lipsticks in a whole range of pinks and reds.
8. You can follow ayurvedic recipes to make your own home-made kajal. Dip a cotton swab into this mixture and line your little one’s eyes to make it bright and beautiful. Give the store-bought chemical infused kohl and eyeliner a skip when dressing up little girls.
9. Take care to keep cosmetics and makeup tools out of your children’s reach as they are always tempted to mimic all that you do. Tools like tweezers and cosmetics with chemical formulations can be dangerous if used by kids in the absence of adults.
(The original article was published in Vanitha. Information courtesy: Dr. G. Nandakumar, Asst. Professor, Pathology, Govt Medical College, Trivandrum; Magline Jackson, Her Choice Beauty Parlour, Kochi)
