Glow: ubtan, haldi and radiant-skin rituals
The face packs and ceremonies behind India's idea of glowing skin, from ubtan to the haldi ritual.
In India, glow is a ritual as much as a result. Ubtan before a festival and haldi before a wedding bring families together around a bowl of herbs. These guides explain the ingredients and the traditions, without promises about changing the colour of anyone's skin.
- Kheera: cucumber in face careWhy cucumber is a classic cooling face ingredient in India, what is in it and what a pharmacology review says about its soothing reputation.1 min read
- Dark marks after pimples: why they happen in brown skin and how to help them fadeWhat post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is, why it is common in Indian skin, how long it lasts and the gentle, sun-safe way to help it fade.2 min read
- Haldi: turmeric's place in Indian beauty ritualThe meaning of the haldi ceremony, and what clinical reviews say about turmeric on skin.2 min read
- How to use a lepa: the Ayurvedic face pack, step by stepWhat a lepa is, how to mix it, which liquid to use for your skin, how long to leave it on and common mistakes that cause irritation.1 min read
- Pre-wedding skin care: an unhurried plan from haldi to the big dayA realistic pre-wedding skin and hair plan for brides and grooms, the meaning of the haldi ceremony, and what not to try in the final weeks.2 min read
- Sunscreen for Indian skin: the real secret to an even-looking glowWhy sun protection matters for brown skin, how UV and visible light worsen pigmentation, what to look for in a sunscreen and why we never sell fairness.2 min read
- Ubtan: India's original face packWhere the ubtan comes from, what goes into it, and how to use a herbal face pack well.2 min read