Hi fellow cysters, I've benefited a lot from the anecdotes on this board and it is only fair to return the favour!
So, I've recently found that turmeric powder is the best thing ever for my face.
It's well known to be good for the skin among Indian people (we call it haldi) and is a ubiquitous and very cheap Indian spice.
People claim that by using this over months, facial hair is reduced until it stops growing back. So far, I know that it at least removes the annoying stubble bumps that I get and it is also the only thing that gets rid of the acanthosis nigricans patches on my belly. It seems to condition my skin so that it is even-toned, soft, smooth and doesn't need moisturizer (and my skin used to be oily with acne, and rough).
I make a thick paste by mixing turmeric with a little milk in a small bowl and then add a little honey and sugar as an exfoliant.
The paste should be so thick that it doesn't drip, because turmeric stains clothes (it is what makes curries bright yellow) and is difficult to get out. I rub it on my skin before I shower, leaving it on for 15 mins.
I know this works well for brown- and dark-skinned cysters. I think it will work just as well for fair-skinned ladies, but you may want to test it on your arm first to make sure the yellow washes off!
Last edited by Shakti86; 08-14-2009 at 05:28 PM.
Reason: my mom just told me that you need to use a milk-base to get it to wash off properly
Years ago I tried this tumeric powder as some of my friends from India told me it could help with acne. But they told me to mix it with coconut oil, then apply to the face, then wash out. It didn't help me at all.
Your application sounds different, i.e. mix with milk or honey, plus sugar...it sounds interesting, I'd love to hear what the results are from other systers who try it.
Thanks for the hint!
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31 yrs, 173 cms, cw 66 kgs, gw 59 kgs.
Metformin (Glucophage), 1700 mg, Folic Acid 800mg, Zinc 30mg, tbsp apple cider vinegar w/water 1-2 times daily
A1989: Well, the slight smell I notice from turmeric, I kinda like - it doesn't smell like curry, lol. But if you're worried about the smell, you can just either do it at night or right before a shower (which is best anyway, to wash it off well).
zigzag: I think the oil-base is not the best thing for PCOS skin which tends to be oily enough on its own. Turmeric kinda dissolves in milk, so perhaps it can act better on the skin in that form. I also add a dash of Apple Cider Vinegar, which was the only other thing to help my skin when it was bad, though it is a strong smell until you wash it off!
Turmeric powder for an Ayurvedic facial 
