They're young, hard-working, and very, very wise. Especially skin wise. Steal their healthy secrets, and get ready to glow! Seven women-on-the-move spill their radiant secrets to Shubhra Krishan


Mayo Surprise
I get asked all the time how I manage to keep my skin glowing in spite of all the pollution. Okay, so here's my secret: I'm crazy about Russian salad, and you'll always find a homemade pot of mayonnaise in my fridge. All I do is, take a spoonful of it and plaster it all over my face just before getting into the shower. It's got all you need for nourishing your skin, and I don't mind licking the runny bits off!
Pooja Guha, 21, College student

The Coffee Addict
I spend a lot of time indoors, and end up drinking endless cups of coffee, which I know leach skin of essential moisture. So, I try to make up for it with a really nourishing skin pack. I take a few fresh apricots and soak them in water for about two hours. Then I mash them and mix them with honey to make a face mask. Apricots are very rich in Vitamin A and honey is a great moisturiser.
Abha Iyer, 20, Advertising executive

Woodwork Pretty
I work with woodchips, dust and chemicals. All of them irritate the skin and affect the complexion. So, I mash a papaya or a banana, and take half the pulp in a bowl with a few drops of olive or almond oil. It makes an excellent skin-protecting paste. I enjoy the rest of the fruit as dessert, of course!
Vinita Sahay, 23, Furniture designer

Workaholic's Break
Since I spend eight long hours inside a tiny cubicle, my skin tends to get dry and fatigued. So, I've started carrying a spray bottle of mineral water to office. Every now and then, I spritz a little on my face, and dab it dry with a soft tissue. It doesn't get simpler than this, and it has made such a difference to my skin texture!
Monica Wadhwa, 24, Call-centre executive

Beauty Bookmark
I am a voracious reader, and particularly enjoy tips on beauty and health-care. One of my absolute favourite recipes is this: Take a small amount of wheat germ, and stir in a little yoghurt. Rub this on your skin, and wash off with warm water after a few minutes. The wheat germ sloughs the dead cells off the skin surface, and the yoghurt nourishes and hydrates your face.
Rita Mehrotra, 25, Writer

Shutterbug's Quickie
High intensity lights, pop and flash, reflect and deflect all over my studio floor. Try as I might, I can't always shield my skin. Besides, I barely ever have time to whip up even a simple 'ubtan'. So, I just take cold milk in a bowl, dip a cotton pad into it, and dab my face with it as I get ready. After 15 minutes, I splash my face with cold water, and it instantly wakes up every pore of my skin.
Ambika Singh, 25, Fashion photographer

Glitzy Care
Make-up chemicals, especially glitter, can really ruin the skin. And I can't avoid them. To repair the damage, I take a bit of protein-rich egg white, mix it with a dash of fresh cream, and apply it gently on my face. I leave it on for just 10 minutes, and then wash off thoroughly. I follow it up with a lovely, fragrant lotion.
Sangeeta Nambiar, 22, Model