What to do with that overripe kiwi that nobody wants to eat? Or with that banana forgotten in the cupboard? Do not throw these fruits away, in fact, you can use them as a base ingredient for fantastic beauty masks or scrubs.
Banana, revitalizing mask
Banana is a precious source of antioxidants, such as flavonoids, carotenoids, phenols and vitamin E, useful to counteract the aging processes, wrinkles and dull complexion (Khoozani et al, J Food Sci Technol, 2019). Cocoa, another ingredient in this beauty mask, is also a rich source of antioxidants with a powerful anti-aging action. In fact, the topical application of cocoa has been shown to protect the skin from photoaging (Scapagnini et al, Nutrients, 2014). But let's see how to use a ripe banana and cocoa powder as beauty allies! Mash the pulp of a very ripe banana. Add a teaspoon of honey and a teaspoon of cocoa powder. Add a tablespoon of plain water or rose water, mix and apply on the face for 15 minutes. Then rinse, sprinkle a floral water, such as lemon balm water that brightens the complexion or rose water that is anti-aging, and complete with your face cream.
Kiwi, scrub
Here is a recipe to prepare a delicate scrub, very useful in case of acne-prone skin and oily skin. In fact, kiwifruit shows antibacterial and healing properties (Mohajeri et al, Indian J Surg, 2015) and the peeling action is an excellent treatment in case of photoaging and spots caused by acne (Grajqevci-Kotori et al, Med Arch, 2015). Peel two very ripe kiwifruits and mash them with a fork. Combine a teaspoon of jojoba oil and a tablespoon of clay, green or white, whatever you have at home is fine. Complete with a teaspoon of lemon juice, which is tonic and lightening as well as an anti-aging agent (Smit et al, Int J Mol Sci, 2009), mix. Massage on a clean face for a few minutes, then rinse, spray a floral water, excellent in this case is the lavender water and complete with a drop of a plant based oil or face cream.
Avocado, anti-wrinkle mask
For mature skin, here's an idea for an all-natural anti-wrinkle mask based on avocado. In fact, when applied topically on the skin, avocado has been shown to increase collagen synthesis, it nourishes and hydrates the skin, is anti-inflammatory and healing (de Oliveira et al, Evid Based Complement Alternat Med., 2013 - Tzu kai Lin et al, Int J Mol Sci, 2018). The anti-aging action of avocado is maximized by the anti-radical properties of sage leaves (Karimzadeh et al, Indian J Exp Biol, 2017). Peel a very ripe avocado, remove the stone and mash the pulp with a fork. Add three finely chopped sage leaves. Separately, mix a tablespoon of oat flour, with an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action and capable of protecting the skin from UV damage (Pazyar et al, Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol, 2012), and a couple of tablespoons of rose water, add to the avocado mixture. Mix and apply to clean face for fifteen minutes. Then rinse, spray a floral water and complete with argan oil or your face cream.
Apple, illuminating mask
An ancient grandmother's remedy to counteract spots and dull skin is to apply the grated pulp of an apple to the face. In fact, apples are rich in polyphenols that make them a powerful ally against signs of fatigue, a dull complexion and skin blemishes (Palermo et al, Oxid Med Cell Longev, 2012). Clean an organic apple, cut it in half, and remove the core. Grate the apple with the peel. Add a spoonful of yogurt, which, when applied externally to the skin, improves its hydration, elasticity and brightness (Yeom et al, J Cosmet Sci, 2011), mix and apply on the face for fifteen minutes. Finally, rinse and continue the treatment by spraying a floral water, which acts as a tonic, and applying a few drops of serum oil or a little of your face cream.
