Fruit Facials / Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) Masks Recipes

     Spas around the world use fruit acid facials for their clients routinely, to smooth and improve the appearance and condition of the skin.    So, take advantage of summer's bountiful fruit harvest and make-at-home luscious  fruit facials, using the natural acid found in fruits and milk.  Recipes below.
                                               

     What are Fruit Acid Facials:  Also known as Alpha-Hydroxy Acid (AHA) facials, these treatments use the natural acids found in fruit and milk to exfoliate, clean, hydrate, boost collagen levels,and  improve tone and texture, just to name a few benefits.

     How It Works: Fruit acids loosen the bond between the dead skin cells and the skin. Sloughing off the dead cells and exposing healthy skin cells, basically a gentle exfoliation without friction. This action unclogs pores, which helps clear up blemishes, reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and scars.  AHA's also help even out skin tone, age spots,  and blotchiness over time.

      Why should I use  an AHA  mask?  Aging skin is a natural and long process. The wrinkles we see in our 30's and 40's actually began developing decades earlier!  Our skin is dramatically effected by lifestyle and environment, those long days of sun bathing in our teens and 20's leave their mark on us in our later years.  Here's hope:  we can slow down the process of aging skin, even reverse some of the damage done by using natures pantry.  God has provided for us in nature,  fabulous ingredients for fresh, healthy skin.  Fruit acid facials are inexpensive and easy to make at home.  Economical because you can make a batch up with the fruit that is in season, hence cheaper, and freeze it in ice cube trays for individual use later.

     What can I expect?  You will notice immediately a softer, smoother complexion, a fresh feeling. It is over time that you will see the benefits of skin color evening out, age spots reduction, blotchiness etc. The AHA's in your facial help retain moisture and stimulate skin cell renewal leaving your face incredibly healthy feeling, with a beautiful youthful glow.  Your skin can get sunburned easier after some fruit treatments, so if you're planning on sun bathing after one, use a sunblock.  Staying healthy always makes us feel more at our best, so try not to stress out about the aging process, life's good at all stages! Try a few of these fun natural treatments and have a great day!

photo source flikr

Apple Facial:   the Ritz-Carlton's Bachelor Gulch Spa actually uses an Apple Face/ body Scrub that incorporates brown or white sugar, apple puree and cinnamon.....yum   Apples have malic acid, vitamin A and C and are high in potassium.

photo from flikr

• 1 Tablespoon applesauce
• 1 Tablespoon honey, warmed
• 1 teaspoon yogurt or sour cream

Combine all 3 ingredients until smooth.  Smooth on your face with fingers or with a fan brush. Leave on 10 or so minutes, until you feel it drying out. Rinse in warm water followed with a splash of cool water, or cool green or black tea.  If you don't have yogurt or sour cream you can make this mask with just applesauce and honey.  The honey hydrates and calms the complexion which is great for all skin types, and acts as antibacterial helping the acne prone skin.  It is a great all around cleanser. The apple's malic acid gently exfoliates, exposing new skin and promoting new skin growth, it aids in smoothing and soothing the skin.  This recipe yields about 2  masks, keep in refrigerator.

Honey and Lemon facial:   

photo source flikr

• 2 Tablespoons Honey (warmed)
• 1 Tablespoon Lemon juice,  from concentrate or freshly squeezed
• mix these 2 ingredients 
• Smooth on face with fingers, it is sticky, leave on 10-15 mins. and rinse  

This fruit acid facial with lemon is a great brightener. Your skin will tone up, and look all around brighter after using this a few times.   The AHA in it will lighten and brighten the tone of your skin, and help with age and sun spots over time.  The honey is an anti-inflammatory helping the acne prone skin, also of course a hydrator.    Be careful of lemon around the eye area, do not get in eyes.  If your skin is sensitive try a cucumber facial rather than a lemon/citrus one.

Cucumber Facial:    

• Cucumber
• Honey
• Yogurt ( or buttermilk or sour cream )
• Splash of green or chamomile cold tea

Cucumber has the same ph as our skin, that is one reason why spas love to use it in their facials. It works as a gentle astringent, while it soothes and cools skin stressed by the sun and heat.  It will tighten pores and sooth itchiness.

Cucumber Nourishing Mask:

• Cucumber
• Avocado
• Milk or Yogurt or powdered milk
• 1 Egg white

This mask is best made in a blender for smoothness.  Use your own measurements for consistency and yield.

Chocolate and Honey Facial Recipe

  Yum is the only word for this facial, the scent, the richness.... incredible.....

   Eating dark chocolate  is well known to be healthy. And if it contains 70% cocoa it is touted as a "superfood".  But did you know cocoa is healthy for the skin also? It is full of antioxidants that promote healthy cellular tissue thru out our bodies.  Pure cocoa powder has twice the amount of flavonols (antioxidants) as dark chocolate by the way.  By applying cocoa directly to the skin we can improve it.   Here's why: Our cells produce free radicals as they metabolize and our body produces natural antioxidants to neutralize these free radicals.  Things that stress our skin like sun damage, smoking, unhealthy living, etc cause an excess of free radicals that can cause damage.  Eating antioxidant rich foods like chocolate, drinking green tea (an explosive trend right now) and even applying cocoa directly to the skin surface is all beneficial.  
   Personally, I don't get stressed out about all the trendy talk of free radical damage etc,   I just love to make  and use natural body products.  We've got to keep things in balance and keeping a proper perspective on all the hype is essential. Don't get stressed out about all the things that are suppose to cause us stress!  Try my luscious facial and enjoy God's provision!  It's gonna be a great day!

• 1 teaspoons cocoa powder, unsweetened
• 1 teaspoon honey  (great cleanser, antibacterial, calms the complexion, moisturizer )
• 1 teaspoon yogurt  (excellent natural peeling agent, soother, softener, hydrator )
•  makes 2 masks

Facial For My Russian Friends: humid weather recipe

   We have Russian friends coming to visit for the week here in the States.  We live in the hot, dry desert climates of  Southwestern USA, and our friends come from a climate that is decidedly more humid.  They will very much feel the difference in their skin!

   Humid weather affects skin making it more prone to imbalances and breakouts.  So, in honor of our Russian friends I offer you a simple, natural skin care routine for humid climes.