By Vijaya George


S he takes one look at me and begins. "You must wash your face at least four times a day. Apply a little potato juice with honey on your face everyday and watch the results after one week," she advises, scrutinising my face. (Honey has more uses. See box). Then she turns to my hair, taking it between her fingers, as if to feel its texture. "You must wash your hair at least thrice a week," she says. "And that advice is applicable to everyone," she adds.

Sitting with Meena Laitu must be fun for most women. Tips on how to care for your body will keep flowing in at every given opportunity. "You will get everything you need from your kitchen," she says. Which woman wouldn't perk up when she hears something like that.

Every woman likes to look beautiful but some don't believe in buying face packs and stacking them up at home. However, even the most I-couldn't-care-two-hoots-about-beauty-treatments kind of woman sometimes enjoys lazing in the bath, applying something on her face, giving her hands and feet some loving care and just relaxing. At such times, a pack made at home would be a lot more appealing than a cosmetic you bought off the rack because one, they are inexpensive and two, you can be assured that there are no chemicals in them.

In India, many women wash their face with a little milk cream and special turmeric powder. Others just use milk cream. Some apply yoghurt. Different alternatives are used. Meena suggests a paste made with wheat powder (atta) and milk to wash your face.

Meena says tomato, curd and lemon function as individual cleansers. But if you have a sensitive skin, lemon may not be such a good idea. If you have a lot of pimples on your face and require a natural antiseptic, soak neem leaves in water and keep overnight. Use the water in the morning to wash your face. Neem leaves are easily available in Dubai.

She throws in some common tips too. Drink a lot of water. It detoxifies your body. Eat a lot of vegetables. Drink a glass of milk every morning while you're still young for your daily intake of calcium. As you grow older, the ability of the body to absorb calcium is reduced considerably.

For Meena, who's known in younger circles as Auntie, recipes for improving the texture of your skin come as easily as throwing in the ingredients for a dal curry. 15 years of practice has made her a veteran. Like most women with a talent, Meena does try to combine her skills with some entrepreneurship. While she does not practice professionally, friends and women in social circles who have heard about her, drop into her home for anything from oil massages and her own special concoction of henna with herbs to fruit and vegetable packs straight out of her blender.

Several women in Dubai do not hold nine-to-five jobs. Some think that holding a full time job does not allow them to do justice to their family. They want to be at home when the children get back. But such women need a part-time occupation too, not necessarily to earn money, as to disengage themselves from the routine of everyday life. For such women, indulging in hobbies are a good pastime and they help other such women pass their time too.

If you know of women in Dubai who pursue an interesting personal passion or hobby, do let us know.