How to use Bananas on Skin

Bananas

Bananas are loaded with vitamins and minerals and are a healthy snack to eat throughout the day, but did you know that they are great for your skin as well? The peels are even said to reduce wrinkles and fine lines when rubbed onto area. They can be mashed up and made into a facial mask in just a minute. The banana helps to moisturize skin and present glowing skin.

Banana & Honey Facial Mask

1 Banana (1/2 of banana will work also & you can eat other half)
2 Tablespoons of Honey

Mash up banana and mix with the honey. Apply to facial area for 15-20 minutes and allow blemishes to fade away and younger skin to poke through. :) Rinse with warm water and splash with cool. It taste good too!


Banana Facial Scrub

1 Banana
2 Tablespoons of Brown Sugar (or Sea Salt)
<Oatmeal may be used instead>

If you want, you may add 1 Tablespoon of olive oil

Mix and rub onto skin in circular motions. The banana will moisturize and the sugar will exfoliate your skin. Rinse and reveal smoother skin. You can also add more of  the ingredients and use as an all over body scrub.


Tip: Eating them is also said to prevent cellulite, so eat away!

Guest Blogger

Guest Blogger Annita Phillips

Annita Phillips has experience with natural skin care and has tried some of the recipes on this blog. Below is what she has to say about it.

"Going natural is all the rave now. A lot of people are getting back  to the natural way of taking care of our body. I have allowed my hair go back to natural with no perms for over a year. It started for me a long time ago with my mother who is part Cherokee Indian. When we were young we did not have a lot of money and she would use the herbs from her garden to take care of us. As children we though it was "gross" but as a adult now I see it as a way to save money and it works better than most things you buy from the store.

 

Progress is good and quick, but getting back to basics is just as good. Natural skin care that you make yourself can save you money and is really "organic". Many products we get out of the stores have extracted elements of their organic counter parts. By using things you already have in your cabinets or what you can buy from any fruit stand you save money.

 

 I have enjoyed all of your post and my skin and hair feels good. Everyone is asking me what have I done and I tell them about your blog and give them the  web site information so they can do it as well.

 

Once you start you can not stop going natural in every area of your life. It is fun and you can share it with everyone you know."  Annita Phillips  Annita's Blog

 

 

How to use Oatmeal on Skin

Oatmeal

 

 

Not only is oatmeal heart healthy and helps lower cholesterol, it is beneficial to you externally as well. One of the recipes that I used three years ago for the first time was an oatmeal and strawberry mask. I guess I like to use strawberries because I have used a lot of recipes with them and they work! :)

Oatmeal Mask

1 cup of cooked cooled oatmeal
3 strawberries

Mix together and apply to a cleansed face. Let sit 15-20 minutes. You can add a tablespoon of honey too. You also can save leftovers and re-use. Just heat them up.

Oatmeal Scrub

2 Tablespoons ground oats
2 Tablespoons of Avocado
2 teaspoon brown sugar

Mix together until smooth and apply to cleansed face. Allow to sit for desired length and rinse off.


Other uses

• Good for skin exfoliate

• Can be used all over body instead of just your facial area.

• Good for itchy skin from eczema or something else.  You can add it in your bath water by placing in a nylon sock and adding to bath water.

How to use Strawberries in a Facial Mask

Strawberry Facial Mask

Being the peak of summer, fresh strawberries are easily available. I have posted earlier on all the wonderful benefits of strawberries and honey  strawberry benefits  honey benefits, and now would like to share one of my favorite face mask. It is very simple and leaves my skin feeling so soft and looking better. You can add many extra ingredients to your mask for extra benefits but I just use two simple effective ingredients.

 -Honey (raw if possible)
- 4 Strawberries

Mix together and the honey can be warmed up a little bit to spread onto skin easier. Apply to a dampened face (applies better) and allow to sit for 15-30 minutes. Rinse with warm water and splash with cool water. Now your skin should look and feel better. You can do this mask several times a week.

Avocados for Dry Skin

Avocados

Want to do something more with an avocado than make guacamole? Avocados have been used for years for skin care and they work particularly well on dry skin. They are high in omega-3 fatty acids along with vitamins A, D, & E (which help with healthy skin). They can moisturize deep into our layers of skin which is great for us all but especially great for people battling dry skin. Avocados can also help treat age spots and increase our collagen.

Avocados can be mashed up and applied to our skin or added with other ingredients for added benefits. You can also slice it and rub it directly on your skin several times a week for a great complexion.

Dry Skin Facial

1 Avocado
2-3 Tablespoons of Honey

Mash up avocado and mix with honey. Apply to a clean face and allow to sit for 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water and splash of cool to close pores back up.

Add cucumbers or tea bags Benefits of Tea Bags from earlier post for your eyes and relax while making your skin's appearance look better.

Another Reason to Stop Smoking

Smoking Bad for your Skin

Looking for another reason to add to the long list to stop smoking? Not only is it bad for you internally but externally as well. If you're trying to kick the habit and the damage to your lungs/body and potential for cancer isn't enough (although it should be), maybe knowing you're aging your appearance with every puff will help.

Smoking makes your skin look older and ages you while contributing to wrinkles in the process. It depletes your skin from oxygen and nutrients by narrowing your vessels in skin. It also damages the elastin and collagen in your skin, thinning it out. The facial expressions you make while puffing on the nasty little cancer stick also contributes to unsightly wrinkles.

So if you're trying to improve your health and skin appearance and are a smoker, here's (another) reason to not buy another pack and start to have a younger facial appearance.

BE STRONG! :)

Grape Benefits for Skin

Grapes

Grapes are high in nutrients like vitamins A, C, and B6 along with antioxidants. The Antioxidants found in grapes are beneficial against aging of our skin against things like wrinkles and sun spots. Centuries ago grape leaves were used to fight inflammation while it was noted that unripe grapes were used to soothe sore throats.

Grapes aren't just good for us eaten, as they are beneficial externally as well. Grapes can even out skin tone and can moisturize it. Grape seeds contain an oil that people are using in skin care products. Grape seed extract is rich in antioxidants and contains 20 times the antioxidants of vitamin E and 50 times the antioxidants of vitamin C. Even the grapevine can be used because it contains anti-aging properties.

Grapes can be sliced and rubbed on skin, mashed up and applied to sit, or added to other ingredients. You can make a grape facial mask by adding honey and applying to a cleansed face or add it to olive oil. The seeds can be added to olive oil and used as a scrub too. So grab some grapes and apply to your skin or eat for all their bountiful benefits.