Make Your Own Facial Masks... From Fresh Fruit

As much as I love going to the spa for facials, I often find myself either not having enough time, or I do not want to spend the money.

But that does not mean facials are not important, because they are.

In fact, they should be a regular part of one’s cleansing regimen. Think about it—all of those dead skin cells on top of the pollution in this city? To some degree, not going should not be an option.

So, what does one do if he or she cannot not afford facials on a regular basis or doesn’t have the time? It’s simple: Look in your refrigerator.

Some foods that you eat can actually be used as facial masks. Kiwi, strawberries, bananas, apples, lemons; these fruits are often used as skincare products which are great and work wonders with brightening your skin and adding clarity.

For instance, lemon juice is perfect if used as an astringent. It also helps fade away dark spots, especially on the knees and elbows. Bananas make the skin’s surface nice and smooth and strawberries even out tone and texture. Another great food for homemade masks is plain yogurt.

The enzymes in yogurt not only tighten large pores, but it also acts as a natural exfoliant by breaking down the dead skin cells. It has a nice, cooling sensation and makes the skin very soft.

Before you try concocting your special facial masks, there is one thing you must highly consider. If you are allergic to any of these natural foods, DO NOT put them on your skin. For instance, if you react to strawberries, you should not use them on your skin.

Also, do not grab a bowl and start throwing a bunch of things in it, claiming you have a mask. Ask your aesthetician to offer a couple recipes or look them up on the internet.

As a treat for my readers, I found a couple recipes for creating a fruit facial mask. Give it a shot and let me know how it turned out. I would love to hear the end results!

Strawberry mask: Mix 1 cup of over-ripe strawberries and 1/4 cup of cornstarch to make a drawing facial mask for deep-cleaning the skin. Leave on for 30 minutes and rinse thoroughly.

Cucumber mask: Make a cucumber mask by peeling a cucumber and pureeing it with 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice, 1 egg white and 1 teaspoon of witch hazel. This facial mask is cooling and refreshing.

Peach mask: Remove the peel and pit from a fresh peach and whip with one egg white. Peaches contain an enzyme that tightens up loose pores. Use as a facial mask, by smoothing over the skin and allowing to sit on the face for 15 minutes before rinsing.

Read more: How to Make a Facial Masks with Fruit.