Your summer skin plan personally customised by celebs

We know you wouldn't believe anyone less than the best, so we got celebrities with fab skin and experts in the glamour business to chart out a summer skincare plan for you

The summer sun is a cold, heartless villain, hell bent on wrecking havoc on your body's largest, and most delicate organ -- your skin. From the right kind of foods to eat to fresh-off-the-kitchen shelf remedies, here are a sackful of secrets we culled from the famous with fab skin, to tell you what you need to know to get sun-proof skin this summer.



Indrani Dasgupta, Model
"I use a sunscreen whenever I'm out in the sun. When I feel I've been out too much, I apply a sun balm to soothe my skin. I have dry skin, so a milk and besan weekly pack works well. And I carry a mist spray in my bag; that's basically ionized water that I leave in the fridge and carry with me when I'm out. You spray it on for a quick refreshing fix. Vichy and Evian have nice ones. I borrow generously from the kitchen too. Smash beetroot or papaya or any summer vegetable mixed with water, and apply it on your face.

Diana Hayden,
Former Miss World, Actress
Since I have combination skin, I only use water-based moisturisers. I sometimes apply a besan and lemon mix, or even open up green tea bags and apply the contents on my face. It helps tighten the pores. I wash my face three times a day, and use a toner. All my skin care products come from Blush; they work really well on my skin. When I couldn't afford expensive acne cream, I used to apply a small dab of toothpaste on my pimples. That did the trick. I've tried diamond and gold facials and they've felt fabulous.

Amaan Ali Khan, Sarod maestro
I drink green tea regularly, and it shows on my skin. I have dry skin, so I use a moisturiser every night and wash my face with a medically prescribed facewash three to four times a day, especially when it gets very hot and sweaty. I've stopped eating sweets, and I avoid butter.

Parizad Kolah, TV host
The best thing to do is to limit your time in the sun. Try to stay indoors and splash water on your face every two hours. I always use sunscreen when I step out. My mom, Kashmira Kolah, is a beautician and gives me facials once every month that rejuvenate my skin. Another trick is to place potato peels under your eyes for quick cooling. An afternoon nap away from the sun does a world of good to my skin.

Purab Kohli, Actor
When I'm shooting, a good moisturiser protects my skin. I often apply aloe vera-based cooling creams (borrowed from my wife), on my face. And I've tried face packs, again borrowed from her and other women in the family! It also helps that the first thing I do when I wake up, is drink a glass of coconut water. Plus, regular exercise helps calm the mind. If you are stressed, it'll show on your skin.

Asif Azim, Model
Summer is all about dust and pollution, so I end up washing my face five to six times a day, using a deep cleanser by Revlon. I never leave home without applying moisturiser, especially in summers. When my skin is reeling from the effects of a shoot, I apply a cooling face pack of multani mitti. Eat cooler foods, do away with masalas and oily stuff. Proper exercise boosts blood circulation and this shows on skin.

Feroze Gujral, Ex-model
When I'm playing golf in the sun, I use a Caroche-Psay SPF 50 sunblock. I also use a window screen in the car and wear hats whenever I'm out. Having said that, I think it's essential to sit in the sun for a bit in the mornings, for a healthy dose of Vitamin D. I also use Himalaya's Walnut Scrub and Pond's whitening cream every night. It helps prevent spots. I don't like to use too many chemicals on my face. In fact, I use eye make-up remover all over my face since it's gentle. Sometimes, I apply a mixture of lime, glycerine and rose water for a cooling splash.

Hot tips straight from the experts

Cory Walia, make-up artiste
Although sunscreen is a must in summer, it's a good idea to apply a thin layer of moisturiser with SPF, and then apply compact powder over it. The powder absorbs the oil and protects your skin from pollution. I also recommend that you refrigerate your eye pencils, lipsticks and foundation; the heat can ruin them. Stay away from lip gloss; it's sticky. Avoid cream-based eye shadow; it'll dry and settle in the creases of your skin. Hand sanitizers are our new best friends. Keep them with you at all times.

Dr Anjali Mukherjee, nutrition expert
To keep your skin hydrated, eat foods that are rich in antioxidants -- brightly coloured fresh fruits and vegetables like strawberries, pomegranates and carrots. Take Vitamin A, E and C capsules. Drink one glass of water every two waking hours. Your skin is called the third kidney; when the body builds up more toxins than it can handle, it spills out through the pores, causing pimples and acne. So steer clear of greasy food. Avoid foods that are high in heat like almonds, papaya and mangoes.

Dr Jaishree Sharad, dermatologist
Consume a lot of fluids. Drink water, juices and coconut water. People with oily skin should wash their face three to four times a day. Don't use cleansing milk since it blocks pores. Don't step out of your home without using a sunscreen that's UVA and UVB protective. UVA radiation is responsible for wrinkles and pigmentation. UVB radiation is the reason why your skin tans. Normal skin types need SPF 30, while sensitive or pigmented skin types need SPF 50. Don't forget to reapply the sunscreen every three hours.
Stick to cotton clothes; synthetic fabrics can cause fungal infections. After a bath, apply antifungal powder to
your soles.

Hollywood's top skin secrets revealed!

Gwyneth Paltrow eats zinc
When she's not hanging out with her rock star husband, this Goop blog writer makes a scrub out of oatmeal and honey to soften her skin. She also eats foods rich in zinc, to keep her skin glowing.

Vitamin Cu00a0rubs for Halle Berry
This Oscar winner uses fruit acid cleansers to exfoliate her skin twice a day. And if that isn't enough, she also rubs Vitamin C into her skin before applying moisturiser.

Cold milk and ice works best for Mariah
This diva's best kept secret is finally out. Her skin owes its glow to her homemade recipe of cold milk and ice mixed with two teaspoons of oatmeal. Well, now you know.

Dermaroller for Angelina Jolie
Just when you thought Angie couldn't get any weirder, we discovered the secret to her fab skin. It's called a dermaroller, and it's covered in tiny steel spikes, leaving thousands of pin pricks over her delicate skin. This stimulates the repair process, boosts collagen production and puts Angelina in the news once again.

Lifestyle change for Penelope Cruz
She turned vegetarian, quit smoking, started working out and meditating, and sleeps 12 hours every day. It worked. Penelope's skin is amazing. We wonder what she does for fun, though?