Beauty therapist and naturopath Nirmala Shetty has 20 organic basics to help you cleanse, moisturise, exfoliate, hydrate, tone and relax.
Honey The elixir of life, vitamin-enriched and a natural moisturiser, honey is antiseptic and soothing. An excellent base for face and body packs, you could also use it as a healing lip salve.

Fenugreek Seeds/Powder Rich in iron, vitamin C and calcium, ‘methi’ is a prerequisite for healthy hair. Soak a handful of ‘methi’ seeds in a bucket of water and rinse your hair with it.
Lemon Or Lime A great disinfectant and rich in vitamin C, lemon works well for both skin and hair. Squeeze half a lime into a bucket of water and use it as an astringent for oily skin. It removes greasy buildup that cause acne. For the face, mix it with rose water and honey, it acts as a great skin tonic.
Peels Bottle up dried citrus peels. Mixed with glycerine and lemon juice, they are effective scrubbers and help cure a pimply back or rough skin.
Turmeric Powder Turmeric is an antiseptic and cleanser. Mixed with either olive oil or coconut oil, it helps your skin to glow.
Aloe Vera Apart from lending a bit of beauty to your loo, you can also just break off a stem and use the sap as a moisturiser or after-shave gel. It’s an effective first-aid against burns and a good cell regenerator. When applied daily on the face, it may reduce wrinkles and retard skin ageing. You could also massage tired feet with the sap.
Salt Mix it with a little tooth powder to give your teeth a sparkle. A gentle salt scrub with a little lemon juice and any essential oil is a good monthly exfoliation ritual.
Sugar Another exfoliater, sugar also softens the skin. Mix it with lemon juice and honey and rub it hard on rough elbows and knees to keep them soft and clean.
Rice Powder To remove and prevent blackheads, gently rub coarse rice powder mixed with a little water on the blackheads.
Oils Coconut, olive or almond, are necessary for good hair and skin. Almond oil is both soothing and nourishing; wheatgerm oil is good for delicate skin and coconut oil is still the best nourishment for hair. Relax your muscles and nerves with olive oil. Massaging your body with it before your bath helps your skin retain moisture.
Cider Vinegar