All you need from a bowl of fruits!

BEAUTY CORNER

Once a month, Living carries a column on beauty tips by our grooming expert Shahnaz Husain. Send your queries to [e-mail]

Fruits have traditionally been used for beauty care. Ayurveda makes use of fruits in its remedies for various skin and hair problems. Fruit packs are given in high-end beauty salons. Here’s how you can devise your own remedies at home with fruits.

Strawberries

Strawberries are powerful anti-oxidants and therefore, help to delay visible ageing signs like lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, etc. In fact, they also strengthen the supportive tissues and keep the skin youthful. They are rich in Vitamin C and are thus beneficial for the skin. Crush them and apply on the face as a fruit pack. Leave it on for 20 minutes and then wash with plain water. They can be mixed with other fruits too. Or mix crushed strawberries with curd and apply it on the face. It will lighten skin colour over a period of time.

Grapefruit

Like other citrus fruits, grapefruit also has a cleansing and toning effect on the skin. It is particularly good for oily and pimple-prone skin. It reduces oiliness and also helps to reduce tan over a period of time. Grapefruit also helps tackle oily skin problems like open pores by tightening them. Apply the fruit or its juice on the skin and wash it off after 20 minutes.

Grapes

Grapes are also antioxidants that have anti-ageing benefits on the skin. The juice or pulp can be applied on the face for a toning effect. It helps to revitalise the skin and add a glow.

Cherries

Cherries contain vitamins and minerals which help to nourish the skin. They have anti-inflammatory effects and help to heal and soothe irritated skin. They also help in cases of sun-damage and exposure to UV rays.

Apples

Apart from vitamins and minerals, apples also contain pectin and tannin, which help to tone and tighten the skin. Pectin is also said to have a soothing effect on sensitive skin. Apples are wonderful skin toners, helping to tighten the skin and stimulate blood circulation to the skin surface. Apples also have anti-oxidant properties. The fruit acids present in apples have a powerful cleansing effect, loosening and removing dead skin cells. This helps to brighten the skin and gradually clear away blemishes and dark spots. Raw apple pulp or apple juice can be applied on the skin daily. Apple cider vinegar has great benefits for the hair, helping restore the normal balance of the scalp and preventing scalp problems, including dandruff.

Litchis

Like most other fruits, litchis also help to delay ageing signs like fine lines and wrinkles on the skin. In fact, they also help to rejuvenate the skin and protect its youthful properties. Litchies are also said to prevent hyper pigmentation from excess melanin. They can be applied on dark patches on the skin. Litchies also help to hydrate the skin and prevent moisture loss. Litchie seed oil is used in treatments. The fruit pulp can also be applied on the skin.

Tomatoes

Tomato is a favourite Indian food item and a common ingredient in most Indian curries and  salads. It also has beauty benefits, thanks  to its high vitamin and mineral content. It contains lycopene which is an antioxidant and therefore, has anti-ageing benefits when applied on the skin. Tomato pulp or tomato juice also helps to reduce oiliness and lighten skin colour over a period of time. It is particularly useful for oily skin. Apply on the skin daily and wash off after 15 to 20 minutes.

Pomegranate

It has excellent benefits for skin care, as it helps moisturise the skin and is a powerful antioxidant. It improves the skin’s moisture retention ability too. It is said to boost the process of cell renewal and thus help  delay the formation of ageing signs on the skin. If used regularly on the face, it can remove tan and lighten skin colour.

Watermelon

Watermelon provides oil for dry skin. It helps to seal in moisture and keep the skin hydrated. It also helps to soothe and improve dry, scaly skin. Applying watermelon pulp or juice helps soften and smoothen facial skin.