Fruits and vegetables can be used not only in cooking but also as effective means for skin and hair care. We will tell you how to organize an inexpensive and eco-friendly spa right at home using products from your refrigerator.
Plant-based masks nourish the skin and hair, promote the exfoliation of the upper layer of the skin, and moisturize it, strengthening hair follicles and making locks healthy and shiny. However, before using a mask, it is important to ensure there is no allergy to the ingredients used, as contact with the skin can cause an undesirable reaction.
Potatoes
Due to its rich composition (potatoes contain B vitamins, K, C, many trace elements, and starch), this root vegetable helps to get rid of pimples and acne, smooths the skin, has a rejuvenating effect, moisturizes, brightens, and eliminates pigmentation spots. Potatoes are also beneficial for the skin around the eyes, reducing puffiness and dark circles. It is recommended to use raw young potatoes, as they contain the highest amount of beneficial substances. You can slice the potato and apply it to the cleansed face or eyes. Alternatively, grate the potato on a fine grater, squeeze out the excess moisture, and apply the mixture to the face for 15–20 minutes, after which rinse with water. You can add any herbs or essential oils to the potato mask, such as chamomile or lavender.
Carrots
The bright orange carrot mask contains the powerful antioxidant beta-carotene, as well as vitamins C, K, E, PP, phosphorus, iron, and other beneficial substances. Grate one carrot on a fine grater, apply it to the cleansed face, and leave it for 20 minutes. This mask will help with inflammation, dryness, flakiness, and dullness of the skin, softening and nourishing it. The carrot mask is an excellent anti-aging remedy due to beta-carotene, which prolongs the youth of skin cells by fighting free radicals and preventing aging. You can also add other nourishing ingredients to the carrot puree, such as sour cream, fatty cottage cheese, or any unrefined vegetable oil — the main thing is that the consistency is thick enough and does not run off.
Apples
These fruits are rich in vitamin C, which is necessary for collagen synthesis, providing strength and elasticity to the skin. Apples also contain active antioxidants and polyphenols that protect the skin from harmful ultraviolet rays and aging. To tone and strengthen the skin, make a puree from an apple, apply it to the previously cleansed face, and leave the mask on for 20–30 minutes. Then rinse with water. Due to the high content of vitamin C, it is recommended to use the apple mask cautiously on dry skin; it is more suitable for oily and normal skin.
Avocado
It is believed that one avocado can replace a visit to a cosmetologist. Firstly, avocado is rich in antioxidants and contains alpha- and beta-carotene, which protect the skin from free radicals and visible signs of premature aging. Secondly, avocado contains a lot of vitamins C and E, which strengthen the protective properties of skin cells. Thirdly, avocado is rich in healthy fats that nourish the skin, and the high content of monounsaturated oleic acid helps break down the skin barrier, increasing permeability for other mask ingredients. To prepare a face mask, make a puree from avocado using a blender, adding a few drops of lemon juice, kiwi puree, or 1 tsp of honey. Leave the mask on the skin for 20–30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly and apply a light cream.
Oranges
Orange peel is rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, as well as containing compounds with rejuvenating properties. Dried orange peels can be made into an excellent face mask with an exfoliating effect. To prepare it, thinly peel 3–4 oranges, rinse thoroughly, and leave to dry for several days. Once the peel becomes brittle, grind it in a coffee grinder to a powder — you will get a wonderful natural peeling. The powder can be mixed with yogurt to a thick paste and applied to the face for 15–20 minutes. When rinsing off the mask, use circular motions for better exfoliation. After such care, the skin will glow.
Lemons
Although lemon juice is an active ingredient and whitens the skin in face masks, improves its color, and fights inflammation, it should be used with caution — it is better to reserve lemons for hair care. The essential oils and vitamins contained in these citrus fruits strengthen and nourish the hair and scalp, eliminate dandruff, give shine to the locks, and can lighten them slightly. There are many recipes for hair masks with lemon, but most often they are based on freshly squeezed juice from one lemon and a few tablespoons of cold-pressed olive oil. Sometimes raw egg, onion puree, honey, or aloe juice is added to the mixture. The mixture should be applied to the hair and scalp, wrapped in plastic wrap or a shower cap, and insulated with a towel. After an hour, the mask can be rinsed off with shampoo.
Cucumbers
The main thing to know about cucumbers is that they are 96% water! Therefore, cucumber is perfect for moisturizing the skin. Additionally, cucumbers have anti-inflammatory, healing, and rejuvenating properties: they relieve irritation, smooth out wrinkles, and help revive dull skin. Of course, you can simply slice a cucumber and place the slices on your face, but it is much more effective to make a puree from the cucumber using a blender after peeling it and add 1 tsp of honey to thicken the mask. Such a cucumber face mask will moisturize the skin, making it more radiant and healthy just 20 minutes after application. By the way, honey added to the mask also moisturizes the skin and increases its resistance to inflammation.
Strawberries
It is no wonder that our grandmothers and mothers actively used strawberries to maintain the health and beauty of facial skin. These berries are rich in vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, which fights free radicals and slows down premature aging. The rare ellagic acid found in strawberries helps to lighten the skin and get rid of pigmentation spots, manganese and antioxidants tone the skin, while alpha-hydroxy acid cleanses it by removing dead cells and reducing wrinkles. The bright color of strawberries is provided by anthocyanin pigments — bioflavonoids that are antioxidants and protect the skin from harmful ultraviolet rays. Preparing a strawberry mask is simple: slice the berries and place them on the skin or make a puree to which you can add other ingredients: honey, yogurt, or a few drops of lemon juice. The strawberry mask is not recommended to be kept on the skin for more than 15 minutes.
Onions
Onions have not only a strong smell but also a rich composition. The main active ingredient is sulfur, which promotes collagen production, strengthening the structure of the hair and restoring its shine. An onion hair mask nourishes not only the hair itself but also positively affects the scalp: it eliminates dandruff and excess oil. It is good to rub onion juice or onion puree into the scalp to strengthen the follicles and stimulate hair growth. To prepare the mask, pass an onion through a meat grinder or grate it on a fine grater, then add an egg, olive or castor oil, and honey. Apply the mixture to the roots and along the length of the hair, wear a plastic shower cap or wrap it in plastic wrap, insulate with a towel, and leave for 1–1.5 hours. Then rinse with shampoo and apply conditioner as usual.
Bananas
These fruits contain beta-carotene, vitamin C, potassium, and other beneficial substances. Bananas make a thick puree that can be used for face and hair masks. For dry hair, a nourishing recipe is suitable: mash 1 banana with 1 avocado and add 1 tbsp of olive oil. Apply to the hair for 15–20 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
