Every month, Living carries a column on beauty tips by our aromatherapist, Blossom Kochhar. Send in your queries to dhliving @gmail.com
The next time you stop to buy fruits/vegetables from the market or grocer, pick up a few extras of the following fruits and vegetables to concoct your own homemade skincare products.
Lemon cleanser — all skin typesIngredients: 1/8 a cup of ground almonds, 2 tablespoons of milk or cream, a teaspoon of lemon juice.
Method: Mix the ingredients well and turn it into a paste and use it as a skin cleanser. Rinse well with warm water.
Benefit: Lemons are a natural source of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and antioxidants. A natural form of AHA — such as lemon — is found in many natural skincare recipes for not only the cleansing attributes but for toning and exfoliating the skin too.
Skin revitalising orange peel
Ingredients: 1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon of honey, 1/8 cup of fresh citrus (lemon, orange or lime) juice, 1 packet of plain gelatin.
Method: Mix them well and whip it into a paste. Apply this on the skin. Let it set for 20 minutes then rinse it off.
Benefit: Oranges are a great source of AHAs and Vitamin C, which are clinically proven to prevent wrinkles and fine lines. In this creation by Dolan, he says, "The egg yolk moisturises and firms, the honey moisturises and the citrus juice exfoliates the dead skin cells away, stimulating new cell production."
Avocado Mask
Ingredients: 2 avocados, thoroughly mashed into a paste, 3 tablespoons of sea salt or kosher salt, a quarter cup of honey, grated rind of two fresh lemons along with the juice, a quarter cup of organic coconut oil.
Method: Mix all the ingredients together until you get a smooth and creamy consistency. (The consistency should be that of thin sour cream). Apply this to your skin for 10 to 15 minutes, and then scrub it off with warm water. Leave the remaining portion in a refrigerator for two to three days.
Benefit: "Avocados have a treasure trove of anti-aging attributes," says Dolan, including Vitamins A, D and E, as well as proteins, lecithin, potassium and beta-carotene, which is a cancer-fighting ingredient. Dolan continues, "Avocados also are high in emollient qualities imparted by sterolins, which work to heal sun-damaged skin, scarring and reduce age spots."
Papaya Peel
Papaya is a favourite skincare fruit. The fruit offers anti-oxidants and is rich in essential enzymes. Papaya has both preventative and restorative properties when used in skincare. Its powerful fruit enzymes are know to aid and accelerate healing in skin disorders such as acne. In addition, the fruit enzymes provide gentle exfoliation for the skin.
Papaya provides a "natural" face lift and rejuvenation, bringing on a wonderful and natural glow to the skin. It is commonly used in toners, moisturisers, and facial peels. In addition, it is gentle enough for all skin types.
Ingredients: A cup of fresh pineapple, half-a-cup fresh papaya, 1 tablespoon of honey.
Method: In a mixer, puree the fruits together. Add honey and make a smooth paste. Apply this to the skin and leave it on for 20 minutes, and then rinse. Pineapple and papaya contain natural enzymes and alpha-hydroxy acids that remove dead skin cells while the honey moisturizes the skin.
Pumpkin Pleasure
Ingredients: Pumpkin, sugar crystals, 1 teaspoon of honeyMethod: Puree fresh pumpkin pulp in a blender and mix in the sugar crystals. To the pumpkin pulp, add 1-2 tablespoons of honey. Make a paste. Apply it to the face and neck. Leave it on for 20 minutes then rinse with warm water.Benefits: Pumpkin is used at a lot of day spas as part of a deluxe facial treatment.
Coolness of Cucumber
Ingredients: three teaspoons of yoghurt, a few slices of cucumber.
Method: Take the cucumber and puree it in a blender, adding the yoghurt towards the end. Make a paste and apply this on the skin. Leave it on for 20 minutes then rinse.
Benefits: Cucumbers are great for calming down inflammation and shrinking your pores.