Gram flour is a common ingredient in many of our kitchens. It is said that gram flour can tackle many skin issues like pimples, tan, blemishes, dull and dry skin effectively and imparts a glow if used regularly. Even some of its benefits were backed up by science. For instance, it is used as a cleanser as it has alkalizing properties and maintains the skin’s pH (1). It is also proven that gram flour can effectively remove toxins from the skin and clears the dirt (2). Regular application of besan to the skin removes the excess oil, but it will not dry out (3). It gives the skin a smooth and supple look by maintaining moisture levels. Besan has excellent bleaching properties. It can also act as a mild exfoliant and gives you a toned, replenished, and tighter skin. With regular use, your skin might also become lighter (4, 5). If you include it in your regular skin care regime, the tone of your skin will be improved, and it will be more even. It also imparts a radiant glow to your skin (6). To some extent, it can also aid in the removal of unwanted hair, though this effect is not very significant. Gram flour can be a valuable addition to your skin care regime. Scroll down to know more!
Homemade Besan Face Packs
Dr. Aanand Geria, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist, says, “If you have oily skin, mix an equal portion of besan and yogurt together for glowing skin. For those with dry skin, use raw milk rather than yogurt.” Let’s take a look at the best besan packs to make at home: Besan – The Answer To All Your Skin Problems
1. Aloe Vera And Besan Face Pack
1 teaspoon gram flour (besan) 1 teaspoon aloe vera
Repeat this twice or thrice a week. Aloe vera soothes and nourishes the skin. It contains a wide range of vitamins, minerals, polysaccharide, and antioxidants (7). Healthy, nourished, and supple skin is what you can easily get by adding aloe vera to your skin care routine. This face pack works well for removing sun tan, relieving sunburn, reducing dark spots, and hyperpigmentation. Oily skin and combination skin
2. Besan And Turmeric Face Pack
2 teaspoons besan A pinch of turmeric powder Rose water
If you have extremely dry skin, add half a teaspoon of fresh cream to the face pack. Do this twice a week. Use this face pack to brighten up your complexion. Turmeric is a perfect ingredient to achieve this in combination with the gram flour. It has skin brightening properties. It is also antimicrobial in nature and can benefit people whose with acne prone skin (8). All skin types
3. Besan And Multani Mitti Face Pack
2 teaspoons multani mitti (Fuller’s earth) 1 teaspoon besan Rose water
Reapply up to twice a week. Multani mitti is a type of cosmetic clay that absorbs all the excess oil and impurities from the skin. It clarifies your pores and also has a cooling effect. It can also improve circulation to the skin’s surface (9). Oily skin, combination skin, normal skin
4. Besan And Tomato Face Pack
2 tablespoons besan 1 small ripe tomato
Do this twice or thrice a week. Adding tomato pulp to besan makes it a skin lightening and de-tanning face pack. The natural acids found in tomato act as bleaching agents and can lighten tan, dark spots, and hyperpigmented areas (10). Tomato pulp also helps to rebalance the skin’s pH and the associated natural sebum production. The vitamin C content of tomato proves beneficial to make the skin smoother and firmer by getting rid of wrinkles and fine lines (12). All skin types
5. Besan And Banana Face Pack
3-4 ripe banana pieces 2 teaspoons besan Rose water OR milk
Repeat this once or twice a week. Banana is full of rich fats that deeply nourish the skin and moisturize it. It also minimizes scars and wrinkles by boosting the production of collagen and elastin (13). Dry skin
6. Curd And Besan Face Pack
2 tablespoons gram flour (besan) 1-2 teaspoons curd (yogurt)
Apply this twice a week. Yogurt is a wonderful cleanser and skin moisturizing agent because of the natural oils and enzymes present in it. Its lactic acid content also helps to exfoliate the dead skin cells and brighten up the complexion. The zinc found in it can clear up your zits (14). Zinc is often used in over-the-counter formulations for acne treatment. Dry skin, normal skin, combination skin, acne-prone skin
7. Egg White And Besan Face Pack
1 egg white 2 teaspoons besan ½ tablespoon honey
Do this once in every 4-5 days. The enzymes present in egg white unclog and tighten the skin’s pores. This will, in turn, diminish fine lines and wrinkles (15). It also improves the process of rebuilding your skin cells. Your skin will feel firmer and radiant just after one application. All skin types except dry skin
8. Green Tea And Besan Face Pack
2 tablespoons gram flour 1 green tea bag A cup of hot water
Repeat this twice a week. The antioxidants present in green tea are not only beneficial when you drink it, but also when applied topically. Direct application on the skin surface will help the antioxidants to repair the skin that has been damaged by oxidative stress (16). This will remove dullness and improve your skin’s health manifolds. All skin types
9. Besan And Lime Juice Face Pack
2 tablespoons besan ½ teaspoon lime juice OR lemon juice 1 tablespoon yogurt A pinch of turmeric
Repeat this twice a week. Both lime and lemon juice can work effectively towards lightening the skin tone as they are natural bleaching agents. Their vitamin C content helps to improve collagen formation and reduce oxidative damage as well (17). Use this face pack to brighten up the complexion, lighten dark spots and pigmentation, and also firm your skin. Oily skin, combination skin, normal skin
10. Besan And Orange Juice Face Pack
2 tablespoons besan 1-2 tablespoons orange juice
Do this 2-3 times a week. This face pack will leave your skin with a wonderful glow. Orange juice’s mild acids will exfoliate and tone your skin. It is a commonly used natural astringent. It contains vitamin C, just like lemon juice, that can make your skin firm and reduce pigmentation too (18, 19). Oily skin, combination skin, normal skin
11. Besan And Neem Face Pack
1 tablespoon dried neem powder 1 tablespoon besan 1 tablespoon yogurt OR rose water
Repeat this twice a week. The antimicrobial properties of neem can clear up the acne infection on your skin effectively. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce the swelling seen at the acne sites (20). Acne-prone skin, oily skin If you are sensitive to dairy products, use rose water instead of yogurt to prepare the face pack.
12. Besan And Oats Face Pack
1 tablespoon ground oats 1 tablespoon besan (gram flour) 1 teaspoon honey Rose water
Repeat this once or twice a week. Oatmeal can thoroughly cleanse your skin and get rid of all the dirt, grime, and impurities. While the cleansing action is underway, it soothes the skin and moisturizes it (21). All skin types, especially dry skin
13. Besan And Papaya Face Pack
4-5 ripe papaya pieces 1 tablespoon gram flour Rose water
Apply this once every week. Papaya’s enzymes exfoliate the skin and remove the accumulated dead cells. This leaves the skin brighter and radiant (22). It can also unclog and shrink the skin’s pores (23). Use this remedy if you suffer from large pores and blackheads. All skin types
14. Besan And Potato Face Pack
2 teaspoons besan 1 small potato
Do this 2-3 times in a week. This is an excellent face pack for skin brightening and lightening. The natural bleaching properties of potato juice remove tan and lighten pigmented areas of the skin (24). It is also an emollient and an analgesic. These properties can help treat dry patches and skin redness (25). All skin types
15. Besan And Baking Soda Face Pack
A pinch of baking soda 1/4 cup water 2 tablespoons gram flour A pinch of turmeric
Repeat this once or twice a week. The astringent and pH neutralizing properties of baking soda help to bring down the excess sebum being produced by the skin. The bacteria causing acne are also killed because of baking soda’s antimicrobial effect (26). Oily skin, combination skin, normal skin
16. Besan And Rose Water Face Pack
2 tablespoons besan 2-3 tablespoons rose water
Repeat this twice a week. Rose water is a great toner, and refreshes the skin (27). The combination of rose water with besan nourishes your skin and restores its oil balance. Your skin will look bright and full of life after a few applications. Oily skin, combination skin, normal skin
17. Milk And Besan Face Pack
2 tablespoons besan 2 tablespoons milk
Do this once in every 4-5 days. Milk is an age-old skin cleanser. It removes impurities from your skin and unclogs pores. It is also a natural emollient (28). All skin types Do not use this face pack if you are allergic to milk.
18. Besan Ubtan
2 tablespoons besan 1 tablespoon fresh cream 1 teaspoon milk 1 teaspoon honey A pinch of turmeric
For best results, repeat this cleansing regime twice a week. Fresh cream (or malai) is a natural moisturizer that has been used since time immemorial. It hydrates and nourishes dry skin, and its results can be seen almost instantly (29). Turmeric works as an antiseptic and also maintains your skin’s pH. Honey moisturizes and heals the skin. Together, these ingredients will surely make your dry and lifeless skin glow. Dry skin, normal skin
19. Honey And Besan Pack
2 tablespoons gram flour 1 tablespoon honey
Apply this twice a week. Honey has antibacterial properties that cure and dry out pimples with regular use. It cleanses and tones the skin, while soothing inflammation and moisturizing it too (30, 31). Acne prone skin, oily skin, combination skin, normal skin
20. Besan And Sandalwood Face Pack
1 tablespoon gram flour 1 teaspoon sandalwood powder 2 tablespoons rose water A pinch of turmeric
Repeat this once or twice a week. We already know that rose water helps to cleanse and hydrate the skin, and soothes and cools the irritated skin. Turmeric is a natural healer that also contains antibacterial properties. Sandalwood purifies the blood and can hence treat pimples. It also lends the skin a wonderful glow (32). Acne prone skin, oily skin, combination skin, normal skin Be on guard while buying sandalwood powder. Not many brands sell authentic sandalwood powder, and using something that is not authentic will worsen the condition.
21. Besan And Cucumber Juice Pack
2 tablespoons besan 2 tablespoons cucumber juice 5 drops lemon juice (optional)
Do this twice a week. Cucumber has astringent properties that help in closing the pores. It also hydrates the skin and lightens marks, scars, and your complexion. It also works well to tighten the skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles (33). This is an excellent face pack for treating blemishes at home. Acne prone skin, oily skin, combination skin, normal skin, dry skin
22. Besan And Almond Pack
4 almonds 1 tablespoon milk ½ teaspoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon besan
A substitute for milk is rose water! Use the latter instead on a sensitive and acne-prone skin. Repeat this once or twice a week. Almond has the necessary vitamins and minerals that nourish and hydrate the skin. It is rich in vitamin E which is essential for a healthy skin. Almonds also rejuvenate and refresh the skin around the eyes. Its mild bleaching properties can help reduce dark circles and pigmentation (34). Dry skin, normal skin
23. Besan Exfoliating Face Pack
2 tablespoons gram flour (besan) Water
This can also be used to scrub the entire body. All you need to do is take more quantity of besan. Add a few drops of your favorite body oil for a nourishing effect. Use this exfoliating face pack/scrub once every 4-5 days. This is another age-old practice, wherein mothers used a mixture of besan and water on their daughters’ skin to lighten the skin and remove unwanted facial or body hair. Exfoliating your skin with this paste cleanses your skin and lightens your complexion while gently pulling out fine hair from their follicles. All skin types
NOTE
Some natural ingredients mentioned above might suit your skin, while some might not. If you have never used a particular ingredient before, it is best to do a patch test to check for allergic reactions before you smear your face with the pack. It’s always better to be safe than sorry! Another point to be kept in mind is the usage of recommended face packs to treat acne. It is critical that you consult a dermatologist before you treat skin issues like acne at home. Without proper investigation, you might end up aggravating the problem. We have given you a plethora of options to choose from for a besan face pack. Pick the ones that suit your skin type and issue the best. They contain simple ingredients that combine with each other and help you get rid of your skin issues in no time. Using besan in the right way in accordance with your skin type will make it healthy and glowing. Try these besan face packs, now! Grandma is always right! Well, almost always! Can besan remove acne scars? We have compiled a roundup of the best and simplest besan face pack recipes in the infographic below. Dr. Aanand Geria says, “This would depend on the severity of the acne scars. It is highly unlikely that a pockmark scar will be removed without a more invasive treatment, such as micro-needling or laser resurfacing. If you wish to use besan as an adjunct to treatment or for very mild acne scarring, the best way is to exfoliate two times a week. Be sure you do not have active acne.” Can we apply besan face packs daily? No, daily use of besan face packs may dry out the skin excessively. Is besan good for skin whitening? Yes, besan helps clear tan and lighten the skin tone. Are there any side effects of using besan on the face? “If used daily, besan can be harsh on the skin. The application sucks all natural oils and moisture from the skin, which causes dryness. That’s why it’s important not to overuse DIY remedies such as besan,” says Dr. Geria. Besan is generally safe for use on the skin. However, it may cause skin damage if rubbed too hard on the face or lead to allergic reactions in individuals who are allergic to it. Can besan lighten dark circles? Yes, besan can help lighten dark circles when used regularly due to its skin-lightening effect.
