You have to try Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan's favourite new homemade face mask

Kareena Kapoor Khan and Karisma Kapoor have always been on the same page when it comes to their beauty secrets—both rely on clean food, lots of water and tried-and-tested home remedies to maintain their radiant skin and strong strands. “My family (especially my sister, Karisma Kapoor) swears by a mix of almond oil and yoghurt applied to the face for a good 30 minutes,” Kapoor Khan shared in 2016. And in 2018, she echoed the same sentiment, saying "On a lazy day at home we just soak ourselves up in [almond oil]! A combination of that and yoghurt is great for the face too, if you have dry skin." Her confessions proves that when the two know something's working, they'll keep it in their repertoire forever. Currently self isolating in their respective homes, the celebrity sisters played around with a new kitchen ingredient: matcha. “Packing and pouting together,” Kapoor captioned her latest Instagram story, which includes a collage of their faces painted with identical earthy green matcha face masks. 

Matcha is a powerful antioxidant, making it a great addition to a skincare and haircare routine. Since it is rich in EGCG (a type of catechin), it has free-radical fighting powers. Antioxidants are able to protect the skin from future damage, and block premature signs of ageing, while fighting dullness at the same time. It is also an anti-inflammatory, and is rich in Vitamin E, making it a cure-all for a lot of skin and hair issues. The same way matcha can wake you up when you drink it, its caffeine content can reduce puffiness on the skin, particularly around the eye area. It also boosts skin hydration by improving water retention and reducing water loss, making it a must-try for all skin types. 

5 ways you can use matcha in your DIY skin- and hair-nourishing recipes

1. An anti-inflammatory eye pack

Mix matcha, rosewater and cucumber into the thick paste, and apply to the thin skin around the eyes. The natural caffeine in matcha will constrict blood vessels and reduce puffiness in the area, while rosewater soothes any itchiness or redness. Cucumber is able to hydrate too due to its high water content. 

2. A hair-growth boosting hair mask

The caffeine, antioxidants and polyphenols found in matcha encourage blood flow and circulation to the hair follicles, which can improve hair growth. It is also rich in Vitamin E, which not only promises faster growth, but also stronger and healthier hair. Brew matcha tea with egg whites, which promotes better scalp health, as it cleanses it of excess oils and fights dandruff.

3. A nourishing face paste

Due to the high EGCG content, matcha extract is able to improve skin barrier functions, so it is ideal for those that have dull skin prone to redness or irritation. Mix matcha with honey and avocado to create a thick paste, and apply all over the skin and neck using circular movements. Both honey and avocado are nourishing ingredients that strengthen the skin barrier by moisturising all-over.

4. An exfoliating body scrub

You can slough off grime, dead skin and dirt from the skin while improving circulation and fighting sun damage. Mix ground matcha, sugar crystals and yoghurt and apply to the skin in upward motions. Due to its astringent properties, matcha is also able to decrease excess sebum production and reduce inflammation, both of which can help soothe skin conditions like psoriasis and rosacea. 

5. A face mask for oily, acne-prone skin

When applied to the skin, matcha powder is able to soak up excess sebum, which helps to reduce p.acnes bacteria as well. Mixing it with turmeric and aloe vera and applying it to the skin can soothe and help fight dark marks left over from zits as well without over-drying the skin in the process. 

Also read:

This is the homemade face mask Kareena Kapoor Khan is using while self-isolating at home

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