D
id you know that you can
naturally refresh and renew
your body’s largest organ —
your skin — by using fresh
fruit? It can be that simple!
Humans feed their skin with all kinds
of beauty products. According to the
Australian Academy of Science, off-the-
shelf beauty products may contain up to
50 ingredients and women typically use
up to 15 personal-care products daily.
This can add up to hundreds of different
chemicals every day. Swapping a few
store-bought products for natural ones,
like fruit, is a step in the right direction.Get fruity
Fruits can rejuvenate the skin when
used as masks and scrubs. You can find
plenty of recipes to try or, if you’re feeling
inspired, embark on your own rewarding
natural skin-care journey by investigating
the attributes of different fruits then
experimenting and creating your own.Fruit aids skin hydration
One of the key things in caring for the skin
is adequate hydration as it helps plump up
the skin and reduces the appearance of
fine lines. Cucumber, tomato, watermelon,
strawberries, rockmelon and grapefruit all
have a very high water content.Fruit for glowing skin
Fruit that’s high in carotenoids gives skin
a lovely translucent glow. Naturopath
Alison Mitchell says when you eat red,
yellow and orange fruits the beta-
carotene is transported into the blood
and then accumulates in the tissues.
“Eat a lot of coloured fruits and your skin
will have a rosy tinge,” she explains. “It’s
also helpful for natural sun protectionbecause, as we know, exposure to the
sun adds to the visible signs of ageing.”
The highest sources of beta-carotene are
dried apricots and mangoes.Is sugar sinful for the skin?
Sugar has been implicated in expediting
the ageing process, yet many fruits
are high in sugar. Dermatologist Dr
Katherine Armour says consuming sugar
leads to a process called glycation. “This
is when the glucose creates changes
in collagen and elastin molecules in
the skin, potentially creating more fine
lines,” she explains.
The good news is, however, that the
sugar in fruit is not of the refined variety
(which is a far worse culprit for glycation).
“In any case, the antioxidant benefit
found in fruit would far outweigh the mild
glycation effect,” she adds.Regardless, we are cautioned not
to overdo it. According to the Dietitians
Association of Australia, the recommended
daily intake of fruit is two medium-sized
(150g) pieces. Too much sugar contributes
to weight gain, increased risk of heart
disease, diabetes and acne.Detox for fresh fabulous skin
Fruit is a wonderful way to detox and
can give your skin a shimmery glow. If
you’re planning a skin detox, Mitchell
suggests starting your day with a
breakfast smoothie containing your
favourite greens, some lemon or lime
and collagen powder to aid skin repair.
Mitchell explains that fruits are
a viable part of a detox because many
contain bulk fibre. “Fruits that are rich
in fibre will bind up toxins and help you
to eliminate them more effectively,” she
says. Avocado, pears, apples, raspberries
and bananas are all high in fibre.Fruit for fantastic skin
Eating fruit has a multitude of beauty
benefits. According to Armour, there
are plenty of good reasons to snack on
raw fruit as part of your beauty routine:
“There is emerging evidence that we
should be eating fruit that’s high in
antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory
and photoprotective properties.”
So, what about putting fruit on your
skin? According to Armour, there’s plenty
of anecdotal evidence but not a lot of
science to back the claims. “That isn’t
to say it isn’t true — it’s an emerging
field with more clinical studies to be
done,” she says.
Many off-the-shelf products these
days contain fruit extracts. If you’re
buying skin products that contain fruit,Fabulous fruits
You can snack on it, drink it and cook with it but did you know that fruit
can be used as a natural beauty product? Find out how to feed your skin, naturally.Wo rds CARROL BAKER30 | wellbeing.com.au
beauty
FRUIT FOR SKIN