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How to Get Healthy Skin: Five Fruits for An All-Natural Look (Part 2)

Writer’s note: Missed the first post in this series? Check out my list of five fruits to add to your summer diet to keep your skin looking and feeling healthy.

Fruits are not only tasty and healthy when eaten, but they can be great applied to your skin, too! Once you get passed the slightly strange idea of lathering food on your body, you’ll be on your way to beautiful, healthy skin.

These five fruits and many others are full of nutrients that can be combined with common pantry items to make inexpensive, all-natural skincare remedies. Read on to learn about my experience using a kiwi facial mask and more recipes and tips to pamper your skin using fruit!

Attention: If you have never applied fruits to your skin before, it is best to use a small slice and test it on your skin. If you feel any discomfort, please don’t continue with these skincare treatments.

  1. Kiwis have an abundant source of vitamin C and antioxidants to keep your skin feeling soft, supple and reinvigorate. The fruit’s pulp can be removed from its skin, pureed and used as a gentle exfoliator, cleanser and acne treatment for your face and neck. The natural acids in kiwis are also helpful in fighting signs of aging by keeping your skin toned. When applying a kiwi facial mask you may feel a slight tingle; this just means the fruit is working to give your skin a deep cleaning. Get the inside scoop about my first “tropical” fruit facial below.
  2. Berries are small, versatile fruits that blend well with many different ingredients to make simple yet effective skincare products. They are dense in Vitamins A and C and natural alpha-hydroxyl and salicylic acids to keep your skin glowing and radiant. The juice from berries can be mixed with a teaspoon of aloe vera gel for an organic facial toner. Blueberries and strawberries are frequently combined with popular ingredients like honey, unflavored yogurts and citrus juices to make homemade skincare treatments.
  3. The juice from lemons and other citrus fruits act as an astringent to unclog and tighten pores in your skin for a radiant and healthy look. One popular citrus scrub combines sea salt, olive oil and slices of lemons and oranges for a full body, spa-like treatment. Spritzers made from fruit juice and water is another easy way to revitalize your skin and senses on those hot summer days.
  4. Bananas are sweet treats for you, both inside and out. Their vitamins and minerals make it a must-have for moisturized, smooth skin. The fruit’s soft texture complements many ingredients including finely grounded oats and meals, honey and dairy products to make a spa-quality banana facial mask.
  5. Apples have a long list of uses and health benefits, but one of my favorite is giving you beautiful skin. Apple cider vinegar has been used for centuries as a home remedy to clear up acne, pesky dark spots and other blemishes. The fruit’s a great addition to your beauty regime to cleanse your skin of excess oils and give you a youthful, toned look.

Inside scoop on my first fruit facial experience

I made an easy facial mask using one kiwi fruit, two strawberries, and a half slice of peeled cucumber in less than five minutes using a food processor and a handheld strainer, to separate the fruits’ juices and pulp. The tropical aroma of the fruit blend invoked relaxing thoughts of sandy beaches and ocean waves. Then I came back to reality and remembered I was still in my kitchen and stored the liquids in my refrigerator to use later for a quick toner. Once my fruit mixture was a consistency of a paste, I cleaned my face with lukewarm water then applied the mask directly to my damp skin.

I instantly began to feel a tingling sensation from the fruits’ natural acids, but the cucumber helped soothe this right away.  I let the paste stay on my face for about 20 minutes then rinsed with lukewarm water, patted dry and applied moisturizer. My face felt smoother, softer and cleaner. I’ll definitely use this “tropical” face mask again and recommend it to all of my girlfriends!!

Tips for Using and Making Homemade Skincare Treatments

  • Wash off all cosmetics, creams and lotions before applying any facial mask or scrub to your skin with fresh, lukewarm water. Use a non-abrasive cleanser if necessary and finish by patting your skin dry. The steam of a hot shower also may be useful in cleaning your skin and opening your pores.
  • Milk, yogurt and other dairy products add moisture to your skin when included in your skincare recipes.
  • Add sugar and/or salt to your scrubs for a natural exfoliator to rid your skin of dead skin cells and rough, dry skin.
  • Don’t forget to relax; it’s a key component in these recipes. Put on some soothing music and think positive thoughts. Ahhhh…your skin deserves a little TLC (tender love and care).

Go ahead and ditch those beauty products for some fruity, homemade skincare remedies. They are inexpensive and easy to make from ingredients you may already have in your home. These fruits and so many others are staples in any girl’s (and guy’s) beauty regime for radiant, healthy skin this summer.

Image Credit: Nina Matthews Photography via photo pin cc

9 comments
  1. debbie

    Great article. You hit on some great ingredients to use in natural skin care. There are so many more recipes using everything from oatmeal and cornmeal, to coffee, yogurt and olive oil. You just have to pick the right ingredients for your personal skin care needs.

  2. Steph

    I shall try out all these recipes, just so long as I can keep the bananas and apples away from my youngest son. He has an endless appetite for them!

    1. Talancia Pea

      Steph, fruit “facials” are 100% natural and healthy for your skin, and the best part is knowing if your son eats them, he won’t get sick. Happy Summer!

  3. Tessa Janus

    I am always looking for new and natural ways to improve the quality of my skin. I have recently been using kukui oil. I found an organic brand which makes it even better. My skin is soft and dewy. I use it all over after my bath and it soaks right in. My fines lines have diminished and the redness from years of sun damage has toned down. Last week I used it on my son’s heat rash and it went away the next day. Kukui oil is definitely one of my better finds.

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