Some may not fancy eating them, but there’s every reason to try apples for your skin. Shahnaz Husain reveals some lesser-known beauty benefits of this wonderful fruit.
An apple a day is said to keep the doctor away. But did you also know that the fruit can do wonders for your skin? Apart from being packed with vitamins and minerals, apples contain pectin and tannin, which help tone and tighten the skin.
Pectin is also said to have a soothing effect on sensitive skin. Apples are wonderful skin toners, helping in stimulating blood circulation to the skin surface. They also have anti-oxidant properties, helping to prevent oxidation damage and thus delaying visible signs of ageing on the skin.
Apples contain fruit acids, which have a powerful cleansing effect on the skin – loosening and removing dead skin cells. This helps to brighten the skin and gradually clear away blemishes, like dark spots. Raw apple pulp or apple juice can be applied on the skin daily and then washed off with plain water after 20 minutes. It helps reduce lines and wrinkles on the skin.
The fruit acids also help in reducing oiliness, discouraging blackheads and whiteheads. Apples can be used as a scrub, mixing it with ground almonds and a little milk or curd. This can be applied on the face and body and rubbed gently on the skin with small circular movements.
No more acne
Apples also have a healing effect and can benefit acne-prone skin. Grated apple can also be added to face masks. They help nourish the skin and maybe used on all skin types.
* Grated apple can be mixed with a little curd and applied on skin with acne.
* Mix oats with curd, honey and apple pulp or grated apple into a paste. Apply on the face and wash it off after 20 to 30 minutes.
* For normal to dry skin, mix apple puree with cream of milk and apply on the face. Wash off after 20 minutes.
* For normal to oily and combination skin, mix grated apples with egg white and lemon juice. Apply on the face and wash it off after 15 minutes. It helps to remove tan and add glow. Ripe papaya pulp can also be added to this pack.
Skin & hair
Apple cider vinegar, which is obtained from apples, is one of the most useful remedies for common beauty problems. It helps to restore the normal acid-alkaline balance of the skin and scalp. Its main component is acetic acid. It also has other acids, along with vitamins, mineral salts and amino acid. As far as external beauty care is concerned, apple cider vinegar has been used for a number of skin and hair problems.
* For example, it makes for a good hair rinse, restoring normal balance and adding shine to the hair. After shampoo, add two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to a mug of water and use it as a last rinse.
* If you have dandruff, half an hour before you shampoo, apply two tablespoons vinegar on the scalp, massaging it lightly into the scalp. In case of sticky dandruff that adheres to the scalp, soak cotton wool in apple cider vinegar and rub gently on the scalp to dislodge the flakes.
* Apple cider vinegar can also be used to restore balance to acne-prone skin. Mix one part vinegar with three parts water. Soak cotton wool in the solution and dab on the face. The skin has a natural acid mantle and restoring the acid-alkaline balance helps to keep the skin healthy.
*Apple cider vinegar helps to relieve itching. Add some vinegar to bath water and rinse the body with it.
Deccan Herald
