Do you know the reason behind curry’s yellow color? It’s your grandmother’s favorite: Turmeric powder! Or, Haldi as we call it in India. It has been used in India for thousands of years as a spice and a medicinal herb. Curcumin is the main active ingredient in it. It is a very strong antioxidant. It forms an integral part of the Indian cuisine. Apart from being used as an ingredient in cooking, turmeric offers many health benefits. The powder contains more than 300 antioxidants, which makes it a powerful healer. But it not just heals you from inside, it also makes you more beautiful. It also works as a fairness agent. It has been used as a beauty product for centuries. It is an inexpensive and natural way of treating several skin problems and getting a flawless skin. A range of benefits come with it. Let’s glance through the many benefits of turmeric.
Benefits of turmeric
1)Treatment of acne
You can prepare a face pack by mixing its powder and sandalwood powder and adding lemon juice to the mixture. Apply it on your face for 10 minutes and rinse off with lukewarm water. For acne scars, apply a mixture of the powder and plain water on the marks for 15 minutes. It is effective in the treatment of acne due to its antiseptic and antibacterial properties that fight pimples and breakouts. Â
 2) Facial mask for oily skin
For oily skin, make a paste by mixing 1 ½ tablespoons of sandalwood powder and a pinch of ground the powder with 3 tablespoons of orange juice and apply it on your face. Leave it for 10 to 15 minutes and rinse off with lukewarm water. Turmeric is beneficial for oily skin as it regulates the production of sebum, an oily substance produced by the sebaceous glands.
3) Facial mask for dry skin
If you have dry skin, you can make a face mask by combining 1 egg white, 2 drops of olive oil, fresh lemon juice and rose water and a pinch of turmeric. This can be applied to all dry areas such as the face, neck, elbows and knees. Allow it to dry completely and then wash it off with warm water.
 4) Treatment of wrinkles
Turmeric, in combination with other ingredients, is effective in reducing fine lines and wrinkles. You can prepare a face pack by mixing turmeric powder and rice powder with raw milk and tomato juice and apply it on your face and neck for 30 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water. This will reduce wrinkles as well as brighten your skin. If you have dark circles, you can add a pinch of turmeric to 2 tablespoons of buttermilk and apply it around your eyes for 20 minutes. It helps in eliminating wrinkles as well as dark circles.
5) Signs of aging
Being an excellent exfoliating agent, turmeric can help eliminate the signs of aging. You can make a paste by mixing besan and turmeric powder in equal proportions with water. This paste can also be prepared in raw milk or even yogurt. Apply it evenly on your body and allow it to dry. Rinse off with lukewarm water and scrub your face gently in a circular motion.
 6) Treatment of stretch marks
Turmeric can help lighten stretch marks. For this purpose, apply a mixture of besan and turmeric with yogurt/raw milk/ water on the stretch marks.
 7) Soothes burns
Turmeric can provide quick relief in case of burns because of its antiseptic properties. You can apply a mixture of turmeric and aloe vera gel on the burn and experience the wound heal in no time.
 8) Reduction of skin pigmentation and skin tanning
To remove skin tanning and pigmentation, apply a mixture of the powder and lemon or cucumber juice on the affected area for 20-30 minutes and wash off with plain water. This should be done regularly for beneficial results.
9) Removal of facial hair
You can make a facial scrub by mixing turmeric with chickpea. Applying this on your face can inhibit the facial hair growth. This paste should be applied consistently for about a month to get effective results.
10) Treatment of cracked heels
Turmeric is an excellent healing agent. If you have cracked heels, you can apply a mixture of 3 spoons of turmeric with a few drops of coconut or castor oil on your heels for 10 to 15 minutes before taking a bath. Doing this regularly will soften your heels.
  11) Night cream
You can apply a paste made from turmeric and milk or yogurt on your face. Leave the mask overnight and rinse it off the next morning using a light cleanser. Alternatively, you can add a pinch of turmeric to your moisturizer and cleanse the next morning. This should be done twice a week to get beautiful, healthy and younger looking skin.
Phew! That is quite a list of benefits of using turmeric powder. Turmeric and its uses are endless. Give turmeric a try and see for yourself!