A little bit of cilantro (also known as coriander) can go a long way in food preparation. A few sprinkles of this herb are enough to pack in tonnes of flavor and liven up just about any dish. But the uses of this humble herb goes far beyond garnishing and flavoring purposes. Leaving culinary recipes aside, cilantro is also a star ingredient in many do-it-yourself beauty recipes, especially when it comes to skincare.

Here’s how.

1. As A Skin Rejuvenator

Cilantro is high in vitamin C – the most sought after nutrient when it comes to skin rejuvenation. A potent antioxidant, vitamin C helps fight off free radicals that are the leading cause of skin damage since they can disrupt collagen and elastin formation in addition to causing inflammation and skin cancer.

If you notice your skin looking tired and aged, this cilantro-rice face mask may be just what you need.

Ingredients:

Fresh cilantro, finely chopped: 2-3 sprigs

Pure aloe vera gel: 2 tablespoons

Yogurt: 2 tablespoons

Fresh coconut milk: 1 tablespoon

Rice powder: 1 tablespoon

Any cosmetic clay of your choice: 2 tablespoons

Directions:

• Put all the ingredients into a clean bowl and mix well until you get a smooth paste.
• Apply a uniform layer of this mask onto your skin.
• Wait for about 15- 20 minutes till the mask is almost, but not completely dry.
• Rinse the mask away with lukewarm water and pat your face dry.

As A Blackhead Buster

Blackheads are basically caused when the oily sebum produced by your skin undergoes oxidation and turns black, thus clogging your pores. The antioxidant properties of vitamin C contained in cilantro can inhibit this process of oxidation, which makes this face mask an excellent natural remedy for fighting blackheads.

Ingredients:

Fresh cilantro juice: 1 teaspoon

Fresh lime juice: 1 teaspoon

Directions:

• Put the two ingredients in a small bowl and mix until well combined.
• Apply this solution to the parts of your skin that are the most affected by blackheads.
• Wait for an hour till this solution dries up.

As An Acne Fighter

In addition to safely eradicating blackheads by preventing oxidation of oil deposits in your pores, cilantro can also help mop up excess oil from your skin, which is often one of the main causes of acne. In addition to this, cilantro also has potent anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal properties that can further fight off acne-causing microbes and soothe inflamed areas of your skin.2 3

If you have a bad case of acne, try this simple cilantro mask. It will not only help reduce your acne but will also help stave off future breakouts.

Ingredients:

Fresh cilantro: a handful

Lemongrass: 1 teaspoon

Chamomile: 1 teaspoon

Directions:

• Put all the ingredients in a bowl. To this, add a cup of boiling water. Let this rest for 1 hour.
• Next, blend the contents of the bowl for 2-3 minutes.
• Apply an even layer of this mixture on your face and let it sit for 20 minutes.
• Rinse off with lukewarm water and pat your face dry.

As A Face Lifter

As we grow older, our skin loses its ability to produce collagen, an important protein that imparts fullness to your face. With the loss of collagen, your skin starts to sag, leading to wrinkles and creases.4

Once again, vitamin C-rich cilantro can come to your rescue by stimulating fibroblasts – carpenter cells in your skin that are responsible for producing collagen.5 It is because of this reason that vitamin C is one of the top ingredients in anti-aging products.

This cilantro-egg white-oats face mask can work wonders in erasing away those fine lines and wrinkles. With regular application, your skin should begin to feel firmer and bouncier!

Ingredients:

Fresh cilantro: 2-3 sprigs

Egg whites: 2

Oats: ½ cup

Direction:

• Put all your ingredients in a blender and process until you get a smooth paste.
• Apply an even layer of this paste onto your face.
• Allow it to sit for about 10-15 minutes till it dries up.
• Rinse off with lukewarm water and pat your face dry.