How to maintain healthy skin and hair naturally

We’ve all scrolled through social media, admiring flawless complexions and lustrous hair, wondering what secret potions people are using. The truth? The most effective beauty solutions aren’t always found in expensive products. Achieving healthy skin and hair naturally is entirely possible with the right knowledge, consistency, and a few lifestyle adjustments.

Why Your Skin Looks Tired (And It’s Probably Not What You Think)

Living in cities like Karachi or Islamabad means dealing with dust, pollution, and heat that literally melts your makeup by noon. But I’ve noticed something interesting. My friends who grew up in villages and moved to the city often have better skin than those of us who’ve been urban our whole lives.

The difference? They still follow old habits. They drink water as if it were their job. They oil their hair without thinking about it. They don’t overthink every single thing they put on their face.

We’ve complicated skin care tips to the point where you need a chemistry degree to understand ingredient lists. But effective skincare doesn’t need to be complicated.

Just Drink Water Already

My doctor told me something last year that stuck with me. He said most people walk around mildly dehydrated their entire lives. We drink tea, soda, and juices. But actual water? Maybe a glass or two if we remember.

I started carrying a water bottle everywhere. Not because I read it in some article, but because I was getting constant headaches. Within two weeks, my headaches reduced. Within a month, I noticed my skin looked different. Less dull. Fewer dry patches around my nose.

That’s it. No fancy skin glow cream from Dubai. Just water. Eight to ten glasses daily. Boring advice, but it works.

If you’re wondering how to achieve clear skin, start here. Take a photo today, drink proper water for three weeks, and take another photo. You’ll see it yourself.

Stop Buying Every New Thing That Launches

Last month, my cousin spent 4000 rupees on some cream that promised glowing skin in seven days. Know what happened? Nothing. Actually, her skin became irritated because it contained fragrance.

Meanwhile, besan from the grocery store costs what, 80 rupees? Mix it with yogurt and apply it for 15 minutes, twice a week. That’s what my mother’s been doing since before I was born. Her skin doesn’t have those dark spots and pigmentation issues that my friends are now spending thousands trying to fix.

I’m not saying never buy skincare products. But maybe try the simple stuff first before dropping serious money on things you can’t even pronounce.

The Stuff Actually Worth Doing

Nighttime Face Routine (Takes Less Time Than Scrolling Instagram)

People ask me for tips on glowing skin, as if I have some secret routine with fifteen steps. I don’t. Here’s what I actually do:

Rose water. The local stuff from any general store works fine. I pour some on a cotton pad and wipe my face. That’s the cleaning part done.

Then, almond oil is mixed with vitamin E. I buy vitamin E capsules, open them, and mix a drop of the oil with the contents. Massage my face for maybe five minutes while watching TV or talking to my sister on the phone.

That’s literally it. No essence, no serum, no overnight mask, no sleeping pack. Just those two things. Every single night without fail.

The trick isn’t having the perfect products. It’s doing something simple consistently. I’ve done this routine for eight months now. My skin has never looked better, and I’m spending less than I used to on random products I’d use three times.

Things in Your Kitchen Right Now

My aunt thinks buying face masks is the most wasteful thing ever. She makes hers fresh every time, and her skin is genuinely better than mine, despite being thirty years older.

Tomatoes are sitting in everyone’s kitchen. Cut one, rub it on your face, leave it on for ten minutes, and then wash it off. Does it feel weird? Yes. Does it work for brightening skin? Also yes.

Got a papaya? Mash it up and put it on your face. It’s got natural exfoliating properties. Sounds messy and annoying, but it genuinely makes your skin smoother.

Oatmeal with honey when your skin is freaking out. This saved me during my breakout phase last year. Just instant oatmeal from any store; mix it with honey and apply it. Fifteen minutes later, the redness and irritation had significantly subsided.

Rice water from washing rice. My grandmother saves this every single time. Uses it on her face and hair. Korean beauty companies have made millions selling this idea back to us in fancy bottles. Just save the water from your rice, and use it. Free.

These aren’t trendy beauty tips from influencers. These are things that have worked for generations because they actually do something.

Let’s Talk About Hair Because Mine Was Falling Out

Last year was rough. Stress from work, not getting enough sleep, and eating whatever was convenient. My hair started coming out in clumps. Actual clumps. I’d wash my hair, and the drain would be covered.

Panicked, I bought expensive hair oils, special shampoos, and supplements. Spent probably 5000 rupees total. Nothing changed.

Then my aunt sat me down and basically scolded me. “You’re not oiling your hair. You’re not eating properly. You stay up till 2 AM on your phone. What did you expect?”

She was right, obviously. Aunties are always right about these things.

The Vitamin Thing Nobody Talks About Properly

Everyone asks what vitamins are good for hair, expecting one answer. There isn’t one answer. Your hair needs multiple things.

Vitamin E helps blood reach your scalp. You get it from almonds, sunflower seeds, and spinach. I started eating a small handful of almonds daily. Not because some influencer said so, but because my aunt told me to, and I was desperate.

Biotin (which is vitamin B7) stops hair from breaking. It’s in eggs, in lentils, in chickpeas. Basically, in daal and channay that we eat anyway. You don’t need to buy expensive supplements imported from America. Just eat your regular food.

Vitamin C helps your body use iron, which your hair follicles need. Guavas have more vitamin C than oranges. They’re also cheaper here and taste better.

Vitamin D you get from sun exposure. Fifteen minutes of morning sun. Not the brutal 2 PM sun that’ll burn you. Morning sun.

I’m not a nutritionist, but I started eating properly, and within two months, my hair stopped falling out as much. Within four months, it looked healthier than it had in years.

The Oil Massage You Keep Skipping

Every single time I mention hair oiling, people say, Yeah, I oil my hair.” Then I ask how often and for how long. “Um, sometimes. I pour some oil, leave it for ten minutes before a shower.”

That’s not oiling. That’s just making your hair greasy.

Real oiling: warm up coconut oil or almond oil (mustard oil is also an option, although I personally find the smell too strong). Sit down comfortably. Put on a show or a podcast or call a friend. Massage your scalp for at least twenty minutes. Actually, dig your fingers in and massage, don’t just pat oil on top of your hair.

Leave it overnight. Wash it out the next morning.

I do this every Sunday without exception. My hairdresser literally asked me what I’d changed, because my hair had noticeably gotten thicker over the past six months. This was the only thing I changed.

It’s boring. It’s time-consuming. It works.

Hair Masks That Cost Nothing

Beat an egg with yogurt. Smells absolutely terrible. I’m not going to lie, it’s disgusting. But leave it on for thirty minutes, then wash with cool water (warm water cooks the egg, a lesson learned the hard way). Your hair will feel amazing afterward.

Methi seeds are soaked overnight and ground into a paste the next morning. Apply to your scalp. Fixes dandruff better than any medicated shampoo I’ve tried. Smells weird, looks gross, works perfectly.

These aren’t pretty solutions. They’re not Instagrammable. However, when people ask how to improve skin complexion or how to naturally address hair issues, these messy, smelly, and inexpensive solutions are often what actually work.

The Lifestyle Stuff You’ll Ignore But Shouldn’t

During exam season two years ago, I was sleeping maybe four hours, eating whatever required minimal effort, and stressed out of my mind. My skin broke out worse than when I was fifteen. My hair was falling out. Dark circles made me look like I’d been in a fight.

All the besan masks in the world couldn’t fix what lack of sleep and stress were doing to me.

Your body doesn’t care about your excuses. It needs sleep. It needs decent food. It needs you to calm down sometimes.

I know this is easier said than done. Life is stressful. The economy is terrible. Family has expectations. Work is demanding. But even small changes help.

I started sleeping seven hours instead of four. Started eating actual vegetables instead of just rice and meat. Started walking for twenty minutes daily because gym membership felt too expensive and overwhelming.

These changes have done more for my skin and hair than any product ever has. Which is annoying because I wanted a quick fix, but that’s not how the body works.

What I Wish Someone Had Told Me Earlier

Natural skincare works. But it’s slow. Like, painfully slow. You will not see results in three days or even three weeks.

Your skin takes about a month to fully renew. Your hair grows at approximately half an inch per month. If you’re expecting overnight transformations, you’ll be disappointed and you’ll quit.

I made this mistake repeatedly. Try something for a week, see no change, move on to the next thing. Never gave anything enough time to actually work.

Now, I pick one or two things and do them consistently for at least six weeks before making a decision. I take photos to track progress because day-to-day changes are invisible.

This approach has been more effective than five years of randomly trying different things.

The Honest Truth

Healthy skin and hair aren’t about buying the right products or following some influencer’s routine. It’s about consistent basic care with simple ingredients you can find at any local market, whether that’s a shop in Rawalpindi or anywhere else.

The besan face masks, the oil massages, eating your vegetables properly, drinking enough water, actually sleeping, this isn’t sexy advice. It won’t get likes on social media. But it works.

I spent years and probably hundreds of thousands of rupees on products promising quick results. What actually fixed my skin and hair? The stuff my grandmother had been saying all along. Simple things done consistently.

So when people search for how to make your skin glow naturally at home, the answer isn’t complicated. It’s just not instant either. And in our world of quick fixes and overnight solutions, patience has become the most challenging aspect.

Start somewhere. Maybe it’s just drinking more water this week. Perhaps we should consider doing an oil massage this Sunday. Small steps still move you forward.

Explore:
How to Build a Sustainable Health Care Routine That Fits Your Life
Natural vs. Medicinal Hair Care: What You Need to Know

Faqs

1. How can I naturally improve my skin without expensive products?

Start with the basics: drink 8–10 glasses of water daily, follow a simple night routine (like rose water + almond oil with vitamin E), and use natural kitchen ingredients such as besan, yogurt, tomato, or oatmeal masks. Consistency matters more than price tags.

2. What are the best natural remedies for hair fall?

Regular oiling (20-minute scalp massage + overnight application), eating vitamin-rich foods like almonds, eggs, lentils, and guavas, and using DIY masks like egg + yogurt or methi paste can significantly reduce hair fall over time.

3. How long does it take to see results from natural skincare or haircare?

Natural methods work slowly but effectively. Skin usually takes about a month to renew, and hair grows around half an inch per month. With consistent routines for 4–6 weeks, you’ll start noticing visible improvements.