If you have oily, pimple prone skin, cut down on fried food, wafers, spicy namkeens and soft drinks. Wash your face as often as possible and nourish once a week with masks specially formulated to suit your complexion type. Multanni Mitti (fuller earth), when mixed with rose water has tremendous cooling properties and can benefit those with an oily skin, but should be tested well in advance for an allergic reaction.

If a blemish does rear its ugly head despite all these precautions, don’t squeeze it. Conceal it by simply using some matte foundation and lightly dusting with translucent powder. If it bursts, carefully squeeze it out and wash the area with soap and water. Follow up by applying a few drops of lime juice on the affected area with a cotton swab. The marks will disappear. As lemon is a natural bleaching agent, rubbing a slice on your face can also lighten your skin tone. Two spoonfuls of basen (gram flour) mixed with a pinch of turmeric powder and a few drops of lime make a good face pack.