As your age advances, the skin loses some of its elasticity, jawlines get saggy, brows get furrowed and wrinkles develop. The severity of aging effects on your skin is hinged on various factors: your lifestyle, diet, genes and personal proclivities. With the rising cost of the spa treatment, everyone appreciates a chance to sport beautiful, glowing skin without spending a fortune. Discovering the skin pampering benefits of natural fruits enables you to maintain a beautiful younger looking healthy skin – without breaking your budget. Most natural fruits are laden with vitamins, mineral nutrients and essential oils vital in the maintenance of a supple, smooth and radiant skin.
Papaya – loaded with flavonoids, vitamin C, beta-carotene and essential minerals such magnesium and potassium, this tropical fruit firms up the skin and prevents sagging. It is an excellent source of vitamin C which is essential in the production of collagen- a skin firming protein. Topical application of papaya pulp on the skin gets rid of toxins and gives the skin a radiant look. A mix of milk, honey and papaya achieves a deeper skin hydration.
Strawberries – not only are they delicious, these berries boast a high concentration of vitamins and minerals. In addition to high Vitamin C content, strawberries are rich in antioxidants; compounds that neutralize free radicals in the body. Free radicals, highly reactive oxygen molecules, damage skin cells and cause premature skin aging. Strawberries support the connective tissues; healing the skin from within. Crush about 10 strawberries to a pulp and mix with 1 tablespoon of yogurt. Apply this face mask and wash it off after 20 minutes. It’ll leave your skin soft and radiant.
Tomato – rich in vitamins, dietary fibers, minerals and antioxidants, dieticians often recommend tomatoes in weight and cholesterol control programs. Tomatoes also contain lycopene, a flavonoid antioxidant that protects the skin from the harmful UV rays, thus offers some defense against skin cancer. Topically applied tomato face masks reduce blemishes and blackheads, evens out skin tone and shrink the skin pores. Tomato pulp mixed with a little oatmeal creates an excellent exfoliating mask while mixing with lemon juice gets you a cleansing mask.
Bananas – loaded with antioxidants, minerals such as Vitamins A, B, C, phosphate and potassium, bananas are the perfect anti-aging fruits. They heal cracked skins, nourish and hydrate the skin, delaying the aging signs. Topically applied, a mixture of mashed ripe bananas with a little honey generates miraculous results for your skin.
In addition to harnessing the bountiful goodness of natural fruits, incorporating a few sessions of facial acupuncture into your beauty regiment, rejuvenates not just your face but your whole well-being. According to WebMD, acupuncture, stimulates the production of collagen and elastin; filling out wrinkles, lifting droopy eyelids and reducing age spots. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine that offers a good alternative to people seeking the negative side effects of surgical beauty procedures such as facelifts. By involving other parts of the body during a facelift, acupuncture helps the body sustain the youthful look attained for a longer period of time. A minimum of ten sessions is often recommended in order to erase fine lines, reduce deeper wrinkles and saggy jawlines.
photos by Anthony Mitchell
