Remove Facial Wrinkles with Fruit

Wrinkles begin to appear as you age because the skin becomes thinner and loses its elasticity. While some people treat the signs of aging with more extreme measures like surgery or injections, you can also combat wrinkles using fruit. Fruit, in all its varieties, include a number of very powerful properties that can help reduce the appearance of face wrinkles from the inside and as a topical treatment.

Steps

Adding Superfood Fruits to Your Diet

1. Harness the power of antioxidants. Antioxidants are compounds that protect the body from damage done by harmful molecules called free radicals. An antioxidant-rich diet can help counteract the damaging effects that free radicals have on your skin, which helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Antioxidants and other important skin nutrients are found in a variety of sources, but the best source is fruit!
2. Consume foods that are rich in vitamin C and vitamin E. Vitamins C and E are rich in skin-enhancing antioxidants, and some experts believe that vitamin C is the most important vitamin for combatting wrinkles. Vitamin C supports collagen production, which keeps the skin plump and full of moisture, and vitamin E helps protect against radiation from the sun. Some fruits that are rich in vitamins C and E include:
   • Tomatoes are packed with vitamin C, which helps make skin look firmer and plumper. They also contain lycopene, which helps neutralize skin-damaging free radicals from the sun and improves vascular function. One study noted that regularly eating tomatoes for six weeks resulted in extra circulation, a noticeable glow, and increased protection against sunburn (which causes wrinkles!) by 33%.
   • Avocados are packed with both vitamins E and C, and they also contain B-complex vitamins and essential fatty acids that nourish the skin and keep it soft and wrinkle free. They are also high in glutathione, which flushes toxins from the body and is shown to help with acne and wrinkles.
   • Citrus fruits, such as oranges, grapefruits, clementines, and tangerines, are very high in vitamin C. For example, a medium-sized orange provides about 117% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin C!
3. Eat foods that are high in vitamin A and beta-carotene. Vitamin A and beta-carotene, an antioxidant that converts into vitamin A within the body, are important nutrients for maintaining, protecting, and repairing the skin. The antioxidants found in vitamin A- and beta-carotene-rich foods help to fortify the skin against getting wrinkles in the first place, as well as the formation of new wrinkles. Some fruits that are rich in vitamin A and beta-carotene include:
   • Cantaloupes are high in vitamin A and vitamin C, and they contain the most beta-carotene than any other fruit. Regularly eating a quarter of a medium-sized cantaloupe provides enough of these nutrients to promote skin cell turnover and increase skin elasticity.
   • Stone fruits, especially apricots, are very high in beta-carotene antioxidants and other compounds that help fight wrinkles.
4. Munch on foods that contain quercetin. Quercetin is a type of flavonoid, which are natural compounds found in plants that contain antioxidant properties. These antioxidants, like the antioxidants found in vitamins, help fight free radicals and their damaging effects on the skin. Some fruits that are rich sources of quercetin include:
   • Apples are one of the best sources of the quercetin. Apples also contain a great deal of vitamin C and are extremely hydrating, which are both great for the skin. Just be sure to eat the apple skins, since that’s where the quercetin is the most concentrated!
   • Red grapes are also very high in quercetin, and like the apple, the antioxidant is most concentrated in the skin of this fruit. The antioxidants in red grapes will also help reduce inflammation of the skin and improve overall skin tone.
   • Berries, especially blueberries and raspberries, include a great deal of the wrinkle-fighting quercetin. Considered “free-radical scavengers,” many berries include high concentrations of quercetin, vitamins, and anthocyanins, which neutralize the enzymes that destroy connective tissue (i.e., that cause wrinkles!).

Making a Papaya Face Mask

1. Wash and prep a small papaya. First peel the papaya, then cut it in half and remove the seeds. The seeds of the papaya are very abrasive, and leaving them in the mask could cause you to scratch or damage your skin.
2. Cut the papaya into small pieces and blend. Papayas contain enzymes that firm the skin and eat away the top layer of skin, which will help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles over time. Be sure to add the whole papaya to the blender for maximum enzymes!
3. Add 1 tablespoon of whole milk to the blender and blend until smooth. The milk will help make the texture of the face mask more manageable, but milk also contains alpha-hydroxy acids that encourage the production of collagen to fill in wrinkles.
4. Spread the papaya mixture on your face and neck. As you spread the mask on with your clean hands, gently massage the papaya and milk into areas with pronounced wrinkles. Relax and wait about 30 - 45 minutes for the mask to dry completely. When it is dry, rinse with lukewarm water, dry your face, and then apply moisturizer.
5. Apply the mask three times a week. While it may take weeks, or even a few months, to see results, keep applying! Just be sure to make a fresh mask each time, as the mask only keeps for up to 12 hours in an airtight container.

Making a Banana Face Mask

1. Take a ripe banana and cut it into chunks. Bananas are packed with nutrients that diminish the look of wrinkles and help add a healthy glow to the skin. In fact, bananas are so good at protecting the skin from free radicals and delaying the aging process that many people call them “Mother Nature’s Botox.”
2. Take the chunks and mash them with a fork or spoon. Be sure to get the banana as smooth as possible. Lumps will take longer to dry and will not be absorbed into the skin as well. If you want to use a food processor or a hand mixer you can, but it’s not necessary.
3. Add half a teaspoon of organic honey to the mashed banana. Mix the honey and mashed bananas thoroughly. If you feel like the mixture is too thick, try adding a few drops of orange juice, milk, or cream. The citric acid in orange juice will also help to lighten dark pigmentation spots, and milk and cream will add extra moisture to the skin.
4. Apply the mask to your face and neck. You might want to put your hair up and wear an old shirt since applying the mask can get messy. Be sure to apply the mask using clean fingers, and massage the mask onto the skin with gentle, circular motions. You can also apply a second coat if you prefer.
5. Let it soak into your face for 15 minutes. In order to let the nutrients in the mask sink into you skin for maximum effect, leave the mask on for at least 15 minutes. If you are looking for extra moisture, you can leave the mask on for up to 30 minutes.
6. Rinse your face with lukewarm water. Using a clean washcloth or your clean hands, rinse away all of the banana mask. Make sure to get the entire mask off so it does not clog your pores. Apply moisturizer as soon as you are all rinsed off for best results!

Tips

• There are numerous types of fruit masks to reduce wrinkles, and these are only two examples. If you want to try others, try doing some research online or ask friends for recommendations!
• In addition to adding antioxidant-rich foods to your diet, drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day will also help flush the body of toxins and keep the skin hydrated and prevent wrinkles.

Warnings

• If any redness, itching, or irritation occurs due to a fruit mask or the addition of a certain fruit into your diet, discontinue use immediately!

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