Fruit Facial Recipes

By Marlene Daniels 

Mashed, juiced, grated or sliced, fresh fruits and vegetables are incredibly beneficial to the skin. They are complex blends of natural chemical substances which make available to you such things as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, fruit acids, enzymes and water all which are beneficial for treating your skin. Fresh fruits and vegetables are best used in treatment masks.

BEAUTY MASKS; Why? Use a mask regularly to revitalise your skin. They are used to clean the skin, absorb excess oil, remove dead skin cells, soften blackheads, heal damaged or blemished skin, stimulate the circulation in the skin and stimulate healthy cell regeneration, nourish, moisturise, hydrate and soothe your skin and improve skin colour and tone.

How to use; Mix your preparation into a smooth paste and apply in thin layer to a clean damp face. Leave it on for approximately 15 minutes. If your skin is dry or sensitive do not allow the mask to dry out on your skin. Spray or sponge the mask with water whenever you feel it beginning to dry. A small amount of vegetable oil may be added to the mask to prevent it from drying out. Rinse well with warm water, tone with an herbal toner and apply a rich moisturiser.

Apple Grated apple is very soothing and smoothing to a dry skin. It contains malic and tartaric acids which gently exfoliate your skin.

Avocado Mashed avocado flesh is very soothing, softening and emollient to dry skin. It is rich in natural oils.

Bananas Mashed bananas is used in skin care preparations for its soothing and skin softening properties. It contains mucopolysaccharides which improve skin moisturisation.

Cucumber Slices and juice are very soothing, anti-inflammatory, hydrating and mildly astringent to the skin. It can be used to treat age spots.

Grapes Crushed grapes are very soothing, cooling and toning to the skin.

Lemon  Lemon juice is acidic and it is anti-bacterial, astringent and contains citric acid, making it useful when treating oily, blemished skin. Do not use undiluted.

Lettuce Juice is soothing to the skin and promotes the healing of blemishes.

Oat Preparations are very soothing to the skin, relieving irritation, inflammation and itching. They are used in bath preparations, cleansing preparations, face masks, face and body scrubs and soaps. Oatmeal, oat bran and oat flour can be used in these skin care preparations.

Paw-paw or papaya is used in face and body masks as a very gentle exfoliant. It contains the enzyme papain which has the ability to dissolve keratin and hence our dead surface skin cells. Green paw-paw contains more of this enzyme.

Peach and Pear slices, juice or pulp can be used to soothe, soften and hydrate dry skin.

Pineapple flesh or juice is used in the face and body masks as an exfoliant. It contains the enzyme bromelain which has the ability to dissolve keratin and hence dead surface skin cells.

Potatoes Potato juice or grated is soothing and anti- inflammatory. It reduces bruising and calm puffy eyes.

Seaweed is used in skin care for its ability to attract and retain moisture and for its cell regenerative properties. It is soothing, hydrating and healing to the skin.

Strawberry can be mashed and juiced to make skin care preparations which are soothing, toning and mildly bleaching. It can be used on an oily skin to balance overactive sebaceous glands.

Tomato slices or pulp, are used in skin care preparations. It has astringent properties which make it useful for the treatment of oily skin.

Watermelon slices are very soothing, hydrating and toning to the skin. It is generally recommended for use on normal to oily skin.

Fruit Facial Recipes are the cheapest skin care ingredients, they are fresh and natural and they offer simple but efficient alternatives to expensive commercial skincare. Make sure your fruit are organic, if not wash them carefully with warm water. I believe all the beauty ingredients we need, are already in the kitchen because if they are good enough to eat, they should be good enough for the skin. Save your money and your skin!

Originally trained in her native France, Marlene Daniels is a third generation beautician, an herbal home remedies specialist, herbalist, aroma therapist and soap maker. Now living in Sydney, Australia, she founded Soapconscious in 2002, a business dedicated to demystify cosmetic industry and offering alternative 100% natural quality products. Marlene teaches workshops, offers correspondence courses and already wrote many e-books about Natural skincare and Mineral Makeup. To learn how to make your own skin care and make up, please visit http://www.soapconscious.com