Fruit-ful Benefits for Your Skin

The last few months I've held a "cooking" class for tweens. Instead of filling our bellies, we are 'feeding our skin' with some pretty amazing skin remedies from Gena Surphlis, creator of COOKING COSMETICS. These recipes include all natural ingredients found at your local grocery store. Gena kept the kids informed about the advantages of healthy ingredients and using natural products in their skin care routines. 

Some of my favorite classes covered the benefits of using fruit for body and skin like:

Papayas

Teen skin is prone to breakouts which could lead to spots and an uneven skin tone on the face and body. Papaya contains papain -- an enzyme known for its gentle exfoliating benefits. Papaya along with honey can help lighten the skin in areas with uneven pigmentation. Read about it here.

Watermelon
Watermelon makes a great facial toner! Watermelon is loaded with antioxidants and amino acids that clears pores and controls oil on the skin. Combine watermelon with witch hazel and distilled water for an easy skin refresher.

Lemons
Lemons are one of the most popular home skin care ingredients. Lemon juice can be added to your favorite facial cleanser or shampoo to prevent dandruff and replenish and tone your scalp. A few lemon slices will soften rough skin spots such as heels and elbows too.

Apples

Apples are another multi-tasker. Rinse hair with apple juice to boost shine and reduce dandruff. You can rub thin apple slices on your face to clean it and control oily skin. Great remedy to combat acne too.

Strawberries

Strawberries are an excellent exfoliator as they are rich in salicylic acid to penetrate deep within the pore. Strawberries help lessen the appearance of whiteheads and blackheads. Rich in antioxidant Vitamin C, it assists in collagen production which reduces lines and wrinkles Alpha-hyrdoxy acids increase skin cell renewal to reveal vibrant youthful skin. 

To keep my skin even and ward off breakouts, I use an all natural face mask that I make right in my own kitchen. I mash fresh strawberries with some lemon juice together then apply the mixture onto my face and rinse with cool water after 10 minutes. The concoction brightens my skin and I follow with olive oil to moisturize. It’s an easy way to remove excess oil buildup, reduce blemishes and tone my skin all at once.