5 ways to use fresh cream, Kiara Advani’s go-to skincare ingredient, in your DIY beauty recipes

There's something about fresh cream that makes everything delicious. While the dairy product is most used in curries and as fluffy dessert toppings, for the longest time in India, the kitchen staple has been used in skin-softening beauty concoctions. A grandmothers' favourite, it has got a nod from Kiara Advani too. “My mom makes this paste with fresh cream and besan which works as a scrub, and she insists I follow this home treatment once a month,” she once confessed in an interview.

Fresh cream is commonly made by heating whole milk, after which a layer of coagulated proteins rises to the surface before it can be skimmed off the top. Advocates of fresh cream credit the presence of lactic acid, a component of milk and one of the milder alpha hydroxy acids, for its skincare benefits. AHAs are considered as a hardworking class of skincare ingredients that stimulate the production of collagen and elastin to improve appearance of fine lines, decrease discolouration and dark spots as well as brighten the complexion. Cream, especially paired with a physical exfoliant like besan, makes a nourishing body scrub for those with dry skin.

Another major component of malai is fat, which works well as a natural moisturiser not just for parched skin but also lack-lustre hair. Fresh cream is a saving grace for tresses exposed to natural and chemical elements to boost hydration and fight breakage. Adding this budget-friendly, static-reducing conditioner to your routine can lend smoother, shiner mane.

Here's how you can use fresh cream in your skincare and haircare DIY recipes

1) A DIY salve to get smoothen out an uneven tan

Uneven tanning of complexion due to sun exposure is inevitable, but no fun to live with. Why not harness fresh cream in all its glory to tackle this tall order? Directly slather malai on your face and let it sit for 10 minutes, before rinsing it off with a gentle cleanser. You can also make a mask using fresh cream and besan à la Kiara Advani to achieve similar results. Repeat the masking twice a week for optimum results.

2) A nourishing mask for dry skin

If you've noticed a dull tone to your skin that no amount of diligent moisturising has fixed, this concoction will assist you in sealing natural moisture in and preventing dullness. Start with half a cup of fresh cream, and add 1 teaspoon of sandalwood powder to it. Then, mix 1 tablespoon of gram flour along with ¼ teaspoon of turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon of honey and 3-4 drops of rose essential oil. Add 3-4 tablespoon of raw milk to the mix whip up a thick paste-like consistency. Apply it all over your face and neck and let it dry completely before washing it off.

3) A natural exfoliating recipe

To optimise the benefits this pantry staple has to offer in eliminating the dead skin cells, combine malai with oatmeal or breadcrumbs to make a paste. Gently rub it on your face in circular motions. Let it sit for a few minutes and wash it off with cold water. You may also use this mixture on other parts of your body that may have dead skin cell accumulation like the elbows, neck or knees.

4) A glow-boosting DIY mask

There is a reason why this turmeric is extolled as a natural miracle worker of home skincare remedies. Cucurmin, present in the spice, is known for brightening, repairing, stimulating glow and reducing acne scars and discolouration of the skin. Combine it with fresh cream for a mask that’s perfect to banish dullness. Take 1 tablespoon of malai and mix 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder to it. Blend the two ingredients to make yourself a face mask. Apply this to your skin, massage, and rinse after a few minutes.

5) A deep conditioning hair mask

If you've been suffering from persistent frizziness and damaged, dry hair, call in the big guns with this two-ingredient mask. All you need is honey and fresh cream. Blend the two and apply it on your strands after shampooing (in place of conditioner). Leave it on for 10-20 minutes and rinse it out with lukewarm water. Considered a reigning star in supermarkets and drugstores, honey contains keratin that can aid in strengthening the strands and preventing breakage caused by weak, brittle hair. It’s also proven to encourage cell regeneration for a healthier scalp. When fused with fresh cream, which is chock-full of proteins, the mask can soften the hair texture.

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