Foods For Your Face
Once only to be found in the beauty halls of department stores, skincare isn’t cheap – with some creams costing up to £1000 – ouch! But what if there were cheaper, natural alternatives?
Bananas are great as an all-natural face mask that moisturises your skin, leaving it looking and feeling noticeably softer. How To: Mash up a ripe banana into a smooth paste, then gently apply it to your face and neck. Let it set for 10-20 minutes, then rinse with cold water. Alternatively, this mixes well with plain yoghurt and honey – another great facemask, not just a healthy snack!
Not just good in a cocktail, tomato juice is a skin superstar. The lycopene in tomatoes helps prevent UVA and UVB damage – an eight-ounce glass gives you a sun protection factor (SPF of 5) – although please don’t forget to wear sun cream! Not only this, but tomato juice also brings back life to dull skin – what’s not to like!
Admittedly, this one is surprising. Rich in eggs and oils, mayonnaise is one of the best natural skin hydrators, preserving moisture in dry skin cells. To use, smooth one teaspoon of mayonnaise onto your face and leave it on for 10-20 minutes, before rinsing off with tepid water to reveal baby soft skin. Mayo isn’t just great for your skin either – its highly effective in softening straw-like hair and taming wayward curls, by sealing moisture into the dry cells.
Versatile, high in protein, great in a light salad or in a nice, greasy fry-up – is there anything the humble egg can’t do? Well, no actually – eggs are also great for your skin, so head to the fridge! If your skin is dry and needs moisturising, separate the egg and beat the yolk. Oily skin takes the egg white, whilst ‘normal skin’ takes the whole egg. Apply the egg, and wait 30 minutes. Voila! A new, fresh face!
Another wonderfully versatile food, oats are present in many a delightful concoction – even facemasks. For a pick-me-up mask combine 100mls water with 45g oats, and once this settles mix in 2 tsp plain yoghurt, 2 tsp honey and a small egg white. Apply to your face, and let it sit for 10-15 minutes before rinsing with warm water to reveal revitalised, soft skin.
This citrusy delight is a good addition to just about any mask, and is excellent at brightening, tightening and cleaning your face. Either put it directly on your face, or add it to an egg white mask, to tighten your pores, cut through oil, and cleanse your face. Be careful though – lemon is acidic, so don’t use too much or leave it on for too long!
Yep, almonds. Well, almond oil itself is one of the most commonly used oils in the cosmetics world, so why shouldn’t you help yourself to your kitchen version? Grab a handful, toss them in the food processor, and grind them to a powdery paste to make an excellent facial scrub. Moisturising, exfoliating and cleansing – the full service!
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