milk and filtered water. Juice the tomato
and strain, adding the juice to equal
amount of milk. Apply to the face and neck
twice daily. Rinse off after 10 minutes.
(From Pretty as a Peach by Janet Hayward
and Susie Pritchard-Casey.)Kool as a kiwi
Fuzzy, egg-shaped kiwifruit is
a nutritional dynamo, chock full of
vitamins E and C, both powerful
antioxidants, and vitamin K, which helps
with stretch marks and wound healing.
Research by Plant & Food Research New
Zealand shows consuming kiwifruit can
help to regulate blood sugars, making it
a great fruit for sustained energy.Fresh and fabulous skin food:
Kiwifruit are an easy snack on the go; they
keep for weeks in the fridge.
Try a fruit smoothie with sliced and
peeled kiwifruit, banana and fresh
pineapple juice to start your day.
Pop a chilled kiwifruit slice over each
eye to revitalise tired, puffy eyes.
Mix mashed kiwifruit and one banana
together with a little yoghurt. Apply to face
for 10 minutes then rinse off.Wonderful watermelon
Fabulous watermelon is often thought of as
just a sugary sweet treat but it’s nutritionally
good for you. Watermelon is rich in vitamins
A and C and is hydrating, which, of course, is
essential for plumping up the skin.Watermelon contains cucurb itacin E,
a biochemical plant compound that is an
antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory
effects. It can help with skin conditions
like acne.Fresh and fabulous skin food:
Chop watermelon into chunks and enjoy
on its own or with a fruit salad. Lightly
barbecue watermelon chunks on the grill
or add it plus a few mint leaves to a leafy
salad with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.
Make a hydrating mask by mashing
chopped watermelon and blending it with
natural yoghurt.
For dry or irritated skin, remove the
juicy flesh of the watermelon, cut wafer-
thin pieces of the white rind and cover
your face.Beautiful banana
Bananas contain fibre and are high in
potassium, which is essential for your
heart, muscles and nerves. Too little
potassium can lead to constipation, which
may prompt increased skin breakouts and
toxicity. Bananas also contain vitamin B 6 ,
which promotes better sleep; lots of rest
is vital for glowing heathy skin.Fresh and fabulous skin food:
Snack on a banana, add to smoothies
and fruit salads or bake banana cakes
or muffins.
Mix mashed banana with raw sugar and
use as a scrub to remove dry, flaky skin on
your hands.
To treat a dry, flaky scalp, mash
a ripe banana with honey and rub into
the scalp, working through to the ends
of the hair. Leave for 20 minutes and
wash and condition.
Use as a foot treatment: start with
a soothing Epsom salt footbath then
dry the feet and apply mashed bananas.
Rinse well.Succulent strawberry
Red fruits like strawberries are rich in
antioxidants and high in ellagic acid, an
anti-inflammatory. They also contain
alpha hydroxy acid, compounds that
help with acne. This compound helps
remove dead skin cells, so strawberries
are an ideal addition to natural beauty
treatments for glowing skin.Fresh and fabulous skin food:
Snack on handfuls of strawberries for
a delicious treat that’s low in sugar.
Dip strawberries in melted dark
chocolate (which is also high in
antioxidants) for a sweet indulgence.
Make a strawberry face mask by
mashing strawberries and adding a
tablespoon of yoghurt and honey. This
mask will help to revitalise the skin.
For a strawberry, honey and oat
cleanser, you’ll need 1 tbsp shredded
coconut, 2 strawberries, ¼ cup cooked
oats, 1 tbsp coconut milk (or green tea)
and 1 tbsp honey (or molasses). Combine
coconut and strawberries in a food
processer and blend lightly. Add the rest
of the ingredients and blend until smooth.
This mask will store for up to two weeks in
the fridge. (From Natural Beauty Skincare
by Deborah Burnes.)More fruits for natural beauty
Peach: High in a range of minerals and
vitamin C. When applied topically, it’s
great for unclogging pores. Mix with
a little natural yoghurt and honey to
soothe the skin.
Fig: High in B vitamins, figs can give your
skin a natural boost. Simply mash the
pulp and apply to the skin.
Pineapple: High in vitamin C. Blend
some berries and chunks of fresh
pineapple for a delicious smoothie.Carrol Baker is a freelance journalist who
writes for lifestyle and health magazines across
Australia and New Zealand.Watermelon is rich in vitamins
A and C and is hydrating,
which, of course, is essential
for plumping up the skin.34 | wellbeing.com.au
beauty
FRUIT FOR SKIN