Changing seasons can be tough on your skin. As the weather starts to warm up, you may notice that the skin routine you’ve been using all winter isn’t quite cutting it anymore. Your face may be dry, or your complexion dull. For the ultimate skin rejuvenator, there’s no need to spend big bucks on a cream that promises overnight miracles. In fact, you don’t need to look any further than your kitchen pantry!
Some healthy staples in your kitchen are actually excellent beauty products. Making a quick facemask or moisturizer out of them can provide instant relief for dry skin, but you can also reap the benefits over time by adding these foods to your daily diet! If you’re opting for the topical treatment route, try these easy recipes:
Banana Face Mask
This tropical fruit is full of vitamins C and B6 and magnesium, which is basically a trifecta of goodness for your skin! Together, they help to brighten your complexion, moisturize, and smooth wrinkles. Bananas might just be the best kept anti-aging secret!
To make a mask, just mash up one banana with 2 teaspoons of local, organic honey and a quick squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Apply directly to your face and leave it on for 15 minutes while staying super still—Any sudden movements and your mask might slide right off! You can use this time to meditate, listen to music, or even take a quick snooze. Rise with warm water to remove.
Oatmeal Face Mask
Not just a breakfast food anymore, oatmeal is also an excellent way to calm sensitive skin and diminish inflammation. There is a reason why your mom told you to take an oatmeal bath when you had the chicken pox: the oatmeal soothes any skin irritation, which reduces the urge to scratch. The addition of a bit of yogurt and honey, both great for calming irritated skin as well, make this mask ideal for sensitive, dry skin.
Add about a ¼ cup of oats to a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Transfer to bowl and add 1 tablespoon of whole fat, plain yogurt and 2 teaspoons of local, organic honey. Leave on for 15 minutes before rinsing your face with warm water.
Avocado Face Mask
This little fruit not only tastes incredible, it’s also an excellent treatment for dry and tired skin. The iron, potassium, calcium, and vitamins A, E, and B can help to liven up a dull complexion and bring elasticity back to dry skin.
To make your mask all you need is one avocado! Mash it up until it forms a smooth paste, then slather it all over your face. Leave it on for 15 minutes while you relax (this is another one that works best if you lay still), then wash it off with warm water.
Coconut Oil Moisturizer
This one isn’t a facemask, but it’s an excellent intense nightly moisturizer to put on after you use one of the masks above! The healthy fats in coconut oil help hydrate and rejuvenate your skin. Who needs a spa day when you have a jar of coconut oil?!
Water
As you probably guessed, water isn’t a facemask either, although it is the single most important addition to your diet if you have dry skin. Have you ever noticed that your lips often feel dry or chapped when you’re dehydrated? Well your lips are just showing you exactly how all of your skin feels! Drinking at least half of your body weight in ounces every day (so if you weigh 140 pounds, you should drink 70 ounces of water daily) will keep you looking fresh-faced and beautiful!
Do you have any natural skin moisturizing tips? Share them with us in the comments section below!