Herbal heritage in a jar

AT A time when the business of synthetic beauty reached a crescendo in the second half of the 20th Century, Shahnaz Husain turned the clock backwards, exploring grandma's time-tested secrets that came right off the kitchen shelves. With hassle-free herbal concoctions, she shattered the myths about synthetics and changed the face of the world in her own way.

Lemon and honey, peaches and dates, turmeric and apricots... she packed the herbal heritage of India in unassuming little jars. Holding sway with herbs for three decades, Shahnaz today zips across the zanny globe managing her chain with a personalised business style. And what is India's guru of gorgeousness doing in Chennai? Well...Shahnaz was here recently for the launch of her precious pearl cream. And as is typical of the herbal queen, flamboyance marked the launch.

Clad in a shimmering attire, Shahnaz with her trademark dark, kohl-lined eyes and henna-treated tresses didn't quite look her age. Waving her bejewelled hands, she unravelled her wonder cream that came out of a massive oyster. The age-defying pearl cream is also a natural skin whitener and moisturer. Pearl, an age-old beauty aid prevents tanning and even lightens dark patches, she claims.

But despite her exhaustive range of flower, herb and even silt treatments, Shahnaz still swears by "inner beauty. All external application can only have a temporary effect. Herbal formulae for skin and hair will help only if inner health is good. In fact, internal health is the barometer for one's countenance."

Having married and given birth to a daughter in her teens, Shahnaz went Westward - to various institutions like Helena Rubinstein, Christine Valmy and Lancome, to pick up the threads of cosmetology. But gory stories of victims of synthetic treatments - burnt scalps and impaired vision, made her abandon chemical concoctions and turn to exotic herbs. "Mind you, you may react to certain herbal treatments. But that's only temporary and they are certainly harmless", she asserts.

Her pro-Nature stance has attracted the attention of even leading international stores like Harrods, Selfridges, Bloomingdales, Galeries Lafayette and Seibu. And all this she managed, "not through advertisement, but word-of-mouth- publicity."

And about the prohibitive cost of her products, the diva of beauty explains, "All my ingredients are of premium quality. And we spend so much on R&D. Every despatch - whether for the domestic or overseas market - is scrutinised meticulously before it leaves the factory. There is no way I can make the whole world beautiful and not pay my bills..."

For your derma dream

POTATOES ARE good skin-cleaning agents. Rub face gently with slices of raw potato. They also benefit the area around the eye, relieving puffiness.

Lemon can be used as bleach for elbows, heels and toes. Rub lemon halves and rinse off.

Starch, milk cream and wheat husk are a good combination. While starch tightens the skin, cream provides nourishment and husk removes dead skin. After application wash off with water in which rose petals have been soaked for a night.

Honey is a powerful moisturiser. It can be used with apricots as a peel-off pack. They also soften skin and add a glow.

Rosewater is good as an astringent, and can be used to close pores and tone the skin.

Turmeric and lemon pre-bath gel cleans the skin and leaves it soft and smooth.

Yoghurt is a natural cleanser. Apply and rinse after 20 minutes with warm water. Good for oily, spotty skin. Also cleans scalp and adds body to hair.

Boil cabbage, cool water and use it to wash face. Good skin nourishing treatment.

Use papaya pulp as face mask. The enzymes help soften dead skin cells, which can later be removed.

More such homely tips in Shahnaz Husain's "Beauty Book."

T. KRITHIKA REDDY

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