VeggHead

Beauty

Combined with other ingredients, fruits and vegetables are extremely useful in making some of the best facial masques, skin creams, bath treatments, and skin ointments that can be found anywhere.
Fruits such as bananas, berries, cantaloupe, grapes, lemons, oranges, peaches, and pineapple can be used to make facial masks, luxurious skin creams, cosmetics and anti-aging products. Vegetables like avocados, carrots, cucumbers, greens, peppers, potatoes, and tomatoes have similar valuable uses.
Here are a few simple tips to help start using vegetables in your beauty products:

Beneficial Vegetables

Avocado is packed with properties that naturally help the skin in its own collagen production.
Banana has natural oils that work perfectly as skin softeners while the fruit’s rich vitamins and nutrients are wonderful for improving hair’s elasticity.
Beans of differing varieties can be useful in fighting off the first signs of aging.
Blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries are packed with antioxidants as well as their own natural anti-inflammatory properties. Used in skin cream, they can help soothe skin while repairing surface cells.
Cantaloupe makes a soothing skin cream that ensures a radiant and glowing complexion.
Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which can help smooth rough skin patches.
Cucumbers have long been known to help in the reduction of dark circles underneath the eyes.
Garlic can help stave off signs of aging by jumpstarting new tissue regeneration.
Grapes contain polyphernols, which hydrate both the hair and skin.
Greens are rich in antioxidants that reduce skin inflammation and prevent cell damage.
Lemons act as a natural skin bleach and softener. Used on rough elbows, knees, or foot calluses lemon can help even out skin color and make skin softer and more supple.
Peaches are chock full of antioxidants and nutrients that work to protect skin from damaging UV rays.
Peppers help increase circulation and work well in cosmetics to plump up the lips.
Pineapple contains a powerful enzyme that helps eliminate dead skin while protecting it from free radicals.
Potato helps to alleviate dark circles underneath the eyes.
Strawberries are a natural tooth whitener
Sweet potatoes are great for helping to stop the signs of aging.
Tomato is rich in lycopene which helps to fight free radicals, and its vitamin C boosts collagen production.
Watermelon helps to soothe sunburn and makes minor skin repairs by encouraging tissue regeneration.

Recipes

Not sure how to go about using some of this knowledge? That's alright! We've included a few skin care recipes for you to try out!

Lemon Cleanser for All Skin Types

Ingredients	Method
1/8 cup ground almonds (A coffee grinder works well) 2 tbs milk or cream 1 tsp lemon juice	Combine thoroughtly, and use to gently cleanse skin. Rinse well with warm water.

Skin-Revitalizing Orange Peel

Ingredients	Method
1 egg yolk 1 tsp honey 1/8 cup fresh citrus (lemon, orange, or lime) juice 1 packet plain gelatin	Mix together thoroughly, and apply to skin for 20 to 25 minutes

Avocado Body Mask

Ingredients	Method
2 avocados, thoroughly mashed into a paste 3 tablespoons sea salt or kosher salt 1/4 cup honey Grated rind of two fresh lemons, along with the juice 1/4 cup organic coconut oil	Mix all ingredients together until smooth and creamy. (The consistency should be that of a thin sour cream.) Apply to your skin for 10 to 15 minutes, then scrub off well with warm water. Keep unused portion in refrigerator for two to three days.

Strawberry Drawing Facial Mask

Ingredients	Method
1/2 cup fresh strawberries 1 tablespoon fresh milk 1 tablespoon rice flour or cornstarch	Mash together all ingredients to make a smooth paste. Spread over your face and neck, and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water and pat your skin dry. Use twice weekly.

Apricot and Papaya Face Scrub

Ingredients	Method
1 tsp apricot kernel powder (finely grated) 3 tbs apricot pulp 3 tbs ripe papaya pulp (peak season is beginning of summer; end of spring if you're lucky!)	Mix all ingredients together and apply to your face and neck for 20 minutes. Gently scrub while rinsing off. Leon Rao, natural skin care advisor and author of Leon's Anti-aging Beauty Secrets, advises, "If you don't have apricot kernel powder at home, you can substitute it with oatmeal powder or almond powder."

Carrot Facial Mask

Ingredients	Method
2-3 large carrots 4 1/2 tbs honey	Cook carrots, then mash into a smooth consistency. Mix the mashed carrots with honey, and apply to your face. Leave on for 10 minutes before rising off with cool water.