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Video: Pamper yourself with back massages and more

Famous for her roles in TV serials like Paalkhi and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, actress Karishma Tanna recently paid a visit to a Mumbai spa to avail of soothing summer treatments that fight the ill effects of sun-exposure, pollution and overall skin damage. Here's a firsthand view.

First up, Karishma opts for a facial which kicks off with a hot stone massage. The cosmetologist explains why it's important to have the back relaxed and soothed prior to starting on the facial and provides a side-by-side commentary on each step of the treatment, along with the benefits.

For those who would like some added information on do-it-yourself skincare, here are a few tips Tanna picked up outlined below:

We eagerly await summer in order to show off our skin. But warm, sunny days also bring along with them damaging skin culprits like tans, acne and miliria rubra.

Taking care of your skin in the right way may not only prevent you from getting a sun burn, but will also slow down the obvious signs of ageing that normally accompany regular exposure to the sun.

Sun protection at every age is important to prevent both short- and long-term damaging effects of exposure:

• Opt for regular body exfoliations; this is for those who do not like to tan. Exfoliations hydrate your skin and have it looking clearer and smoother.
• The buzz for this summer is organic treatments. Beat the heat with aloe vera, because it not only hydrates your skin, but also relaxes it, fading pigmentation spots and rejuvenating it to give you a healthy glow.
• Consume a lot of Vitamin C-enriched food like oranges, amla and tomatoes, which contain lycopene and provide a dose of antioxidants needed by those who are always on the go. Plenty of coconut water will also replenish the vital salts lost by sweating in hot and humid weather.
• Don't forget juicy carrots, which are the richest vitamin source and not only keep your eyes healthy, but act as an internal sun screen, making your skin more resistant to sun damage.

A good skincare regime for most skin types during the summer months:

• Cleanse with a natural, vegetable soap or soap-based cleanser.
• Exfoliate, not exceeding once or twice a week
• Hydrate your skin with an alcohol-free, natural toner or fill a clean, sterile spray bottle with filtered water and mist over the face after cleansing or exfoliation.
• Moisturise with a light, all-natural moisturiser. Creams and lotions with petroleum-based ingredients tend to clog the pores unnecessarily.
• Massage a face oil or moisturiser into the skin at night. Massaging serves to increase circulation, which helps the natural rejuvenation processes that take place during sleep.
• Keep your lips protected and moisturised with a lip balm, lip gloss or lipstick, preferably containing a natural sun block such as titanium dioxide.
• Cover up to reduce the amount of exposure to the sun with a wide-brimmed hat and long, loose-fitting clothing. Ninety percent of skin cancers are due to chronic sun damage and eighty percent of wrinkles arise from photoaging.

Videos: Rajul Hegde

Filmed at the Iosis Spa in Mumbai.

Foot reflexology, a haircut and spa treatments to try at home

Here, Karishma undergoes a soothing foot reflexology session and the spa's in-house hairstylist gives her a new look.

If you're thinking of pampering yourself at home, the experts suggest these three spa treatments you can try:

Papaya and coco body wrap

This decadent mask is actually an excellent moisturiser -- it leaves your skin baby-soft. It is recommended for normal skin.

You'll need:

• 1/3 cup cocoa powder + 1/2 a papaya (skin-lightening)
• 7 tsps cottage cheese (hydrating and smoothening)
• 1/4 cup honey (moisturising effect)
• 2 additional tsps honey (hydrating)
• 8 tsps oatmeal (exfoliating effect)
• 5 tsps milk powder (whitening effect)

Mix all ingredients together (a bullet blender is ideal) and smooth onto the body. Then wrap yourself in cling film. Relax for 30 minutes, then wash off with warm water. Your skin will feel lighter and hydrated after the treatment.

Cucumber and milk cooling face mask

Skin a cucumber, chop it finely and put it in the blender. Make a puree and add one tablespoon of chilled milk. Mix well and apply all over the face, neck, arms and areas scorched or burned by the sun. Leave on for 15 minutes, then rinse with cold water. Repeat this treatment twice or thrice during the course of the day. It soothes the skin and helps in alleviating sunburn.

Aloe gel massage

This is the most natural and soothing cure for sunburns and tans. Just pluck a few leaves of the plant, mash or puree them. Add the juice of one lemon. Apply this jelly -like solution all over the affected areas. It cleanses, clears and nourishes the skin.