Left: Sheetal Rawal, scientist (human genetics) & founder of Apsara Skin Care
By: Marty S.
Home remedies by Sheetal Rawal
Fruits deserve much more credit than we give them. Besides being a healthy and tasty alternative when it comes to snacks and desserts, fruits are jam-packed with nutrients and vitamins that work exceptionally well both in our bodies and on our skin. Without the abundance of Vitamin C in countless fruits, scurvy would still be a major issue for all of us.
What everybody needs to know about fruits is that many of them are natural exfoliators. The fruits listed below help rejuvenate your skin, clearing up dead skin cells in order to make way for radiant new ones. So if you have a lot of fruit on hand that is about to go bad or you have been looking for a way to change up your regular skin care routine, read on to discover 5 different yet easy exfoliating fruit masks that you can make right at home.
1. Pineapple & Banana for Dewy, Radiant Skin
Pineapples are an excellent way to exfoliate your skin because it contains a unique enzyme called bromelain. This enzyme dissolves the dead skin cells on the surface of your skin, which reveals the soft, glowing skin underneath. Meanwhile, in addition to being a mildly exfoliating natural ingredient, bananas are high in potassium and antioxidants such as lutein. The former helps hydrate and soften the skin while the latter reduces the swelling in your skin and thus can help fight skin conditions such as acne. Use these two fruits together if you want a tropical surprise fruit mask to get you through the week.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. of banana pulp
1 tsp. of pineapple juice
Instructions
Mix ingredients together.
Massage the mixture into your skin for 3 minutes. Leave it on for 12 minutes.
Wash it off with warm water. Follow with your toner, serum, and lotion.
Use 1 to 2 times a week.
“I started using Apsara’s skin care regimen...I’m seeing a huge difference [in] my skin. [I have] less breakouts, and my skin feels much fresher every day.”
2. Apple & Rosewater for a Brighter, Cleaner Face
Apples can provide a host of benefits to your skin because it has a fruit acid called malic acid. Besides exfoliating your dead and dull skin cells, malic acid balances the pH of your skin and cleanses your pores of dirt, oil, and bacteria. This helps curb your acne spots and reduce the likelihood of future breakouts. Rosewater, a natural ingredient with astringent and antibacterial properties, is commonly used as a toner, so using them together in a fruit mask can tighten your pores and give you firm, glowing skin.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. of apple juice
1 tbsp. of rosewater
¼ tsp. of fresh lemon juice
Rice flour, as needed
Instructions
Mix rosewater, apple juice, and lemon juice in a bowl. Add enough rice flour to the mixture until you get a paste.
Apply the mixture onto your face. Leave it on for 15 minutes.
Wash it off with warm water. Follow with a skin care routine based on your skin type. Click here to find out what your skin type is.
Use 1 to 2 times a week.
3. Kiwi & Tamarind for an Exotic Exfoliating Experience
If you have yet to try these two tropical fruits, now is the time to do so. Both are tasty by themselves and can be used in a fruit mask. Kiwis are an amazing fruit that boasts a plentiful source of Vitamin C and Vitamin E; in fact, kiwis have a lot more Vitamin C -also known as ascorbic acid, a fruit acid - than an orange. These two vitamins help promote the health of your skin. For example, Vitamin E keeps your skin firm by boosting the collagen in your skin while Vitamin E fights free radicals, which can do serious damage to your skin cells. Tamarind, on the other hand, helps exfoliate the skin because it has a high concentration of tartaric acid, a fruit acid and alpha hydroxy acid that sloughs up the dead skin cells on the surface of your skin and improves your complexion.
Ingredients
½ tsp. of mashed kiwi
¼ tsp. of tamarind paste
1 tbsp. of applesauce
Corn flour, as needed
Instructions
Mix applesauce, kiwi, and tamarind paste in a bowl. Add enough corn flour to the mixture until you get a thick paste.
Apply the mixture onto your face. Leave it on for 15 minutes.
Wash it off with warm water. Follow with your toner, serum, and lotion.
Use 1 to 2 times a week.
If you are still curious about tamarind, watch this video to learn how to use it to close open pores and diminish blackheads. Enjoy and please subscribe to YouTube!
4. Blueberries, Raspberries & Strawberries for Antioxidant-Infused Skin
This fruity combination is an absolute delight when blended together in a smoothie, but these three fruits -blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries - can also be used in a skin-exfoliating fruit mask. All three fruits pack serious antioxidant power - polyphenols,
anthocyanins, Vitamin C, et cetera - which is very important if we want to keep our skin youthful. Antioxidants reduce the swelling in our skin and keep it looking firm, which, in turn, diminishes the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
Ingredients
1 tsp. of mashed blueberries
1 tsp. of mashed raspberries
1 tsp. of mashed strawberries
Oat flour, as needed
Instructions
Mix blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries in a bowl. Add enough oat flour to the mixture until you get a thick paste.
Apply the mixture onto your face. Leave it on for 15 minutes.
Wash it off with warm water. Follow with your daily skin care routine.