Fruitcake on Your Face
Take this least-wanted of holiday gifts and turn it into a thing of beauty.
Chances are, this seasonal concoction doesn’t do much for you in its baked and sliced form. But some of the ingredients you might find in it, in their pre-fruitcake state, can do wonders for your skin.
Grape Cleanser
The Great Grape: Grapes are chock full of polyphenols, which have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, research has shown that grape skin and seeds are a great source of OPCs (Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins), which promote production of collagen and elastin fibers.
15 dark grapes with seeds
1 teaspoon Olive Oil
1 tablespoon fine cornmeal
Use a blender to mix grapes (with skin and seeds) and olive oil. Pour into a glass bowl and add cornmeal. Stir until all ingredients are well combined. Pour a small amount onto a wet washcloth and gently cleanse your face. Rinse off with warm water.
Apple, Oatmeal, and Honey Scrub
The Amazing Apple: Apples are rich in vitamins A, B, and C and also contain malic acid, which helps the skin absorb these vitamins. Alpha-hydroxy acids found in apples help balance skin tone and exfoliate.
½ medium apple, cored, peeled and finely chopped (Braeburn and Red Delicious varieties have the greatest amount of beneficial ingredients for skin)
1 tablespoon oats (uncooked)
1 tablespoon sunflower seeds
2 tablespoons yogurt
1 teaspoon honey, warm
In a blender, grind the oats with the sunflower seeds. Core, peel and finely chop the apple; add this to the blender mixture. Pour into a glass bowl. Mix with yogurt and honey. Gently massage onto your face, neck, and/or chest. Leave on for three minutes and then rinse off with warm water.
Blueberry Mask
Incredible Blueberries: Blueberries contain large amounts of Vitamin A and C, as well as other powerful anti-oxidants like Pycnogenol and Anthocyanin that not only help repair damaged skin, but help reduce the inflammation reaction in the first place after exposure to UV rays. Studies have found blueberries help stop collagen breakdown, stabilize the collagen matrix, work against oxidative stress, and improve microcirculation.
1/3 cup blueberries
2 tablespoons yogurt
1 tablespoon rice flour
Place the blueberries in a glass bowl and mash them with a fork. Add other ingredients and mix well. Spread on your face, neck, or chest. Leave on for fifteen to twenty minutes. Rinse off with warm water.
Follow with your favorite moisturizer and eye treatment and voila—fresh and rejuvenated skin!