Someone asked me recently whether it’s okay to eat a fruit mask that’s been on your face once it’s done doing its job. While I didn’t give a definitive “yes” or “no”, the fact that I took so long to answer the question made me realize how much I love putting food on my face and eating the leftovers. Unlike over-the-counter face masks that taste mildly poisonous if you happen to get some in your mouth, I have found that the most effective face masks are made out of fruits and superfoods that actually make great breakfasts. In fact, lots of super-expensive masks and peels feature extracts from these foods that are many, many times weaker than the real thing but are many, many times more expensive than they actually cost to make because they feature these extracts. So, in this post, I’ll share with you three of my favorite face mask recipes that you can eat for breakfast (or eat them off your face when you’re done using them).
Facial masks are so easy to use. Just follow these simple steps:
- Wash and rinse your face with a natural cleanser to remove dirt and makeup
- Pat dry
- Apply the mask on your cheeks, forehead, nose, and chin; use caution around the delicate skin surrounding the eyes
- Leave the mask on for 3 to 10 minutes
- Rinse off with cool water
- Lightly moisturize with a few drops of jojoba oil or other light facial oil
Simply the Best Papaya Mask
This mask is incredibly simple, yet astoundingly effective. Papaya features an enzyme called papain, which breaks down proteins. Since your skin is made of protein, papaya helps to exfoliate the dead outer layers from your skin and boosts cell renewal- the key to glowing, hydrated, even skin. And it’s also loaded with Vitamin C, which when taken internally, boosts your skin’s collagen production. The bit of lemon juice in here strengthens the exfoliating power and boosts this mask’s Vitamin C content!
1 small or ½ large Papaya
2 tbsp. fresh Lemon Juice
Blend the papaya fruit (without seeds) with the lemon juice, and store in a container in the fridge. You can use this for up to four days. As a bonus, you can separately grind the papaya seeds with a bit of papaya pulp and make a scrub that’s grainy and gives your skin a workout (but don’t eat this!).
A Very Pineapple-y Mask
Similar to how papaya features papain, pineapple features an enzyme called bromelain that used to be used to cure meat. This makes it an incredible exfoliator. Pineapples are so high in Vitamin C that sailors used to carry them on their voyages to prevent scurvy. And, they’re also so yummy!
This mask also features banana and kiwi. Banana contains Vitamin E, which works alongside Vitamin C to negate the effects of free radicals on the fats in your skin. It adds a creaminess to the blend. Lastly, kiwi is high in Vitamin C and helps to fight inflammation.
1 cup ripe Pineapple (should be fragrant)
2 Kiwi fruits, peeled
1 ripe Banana
Blend all ingredients, put some on your face, and eat the rest before anyone gets to it!
Chocolate for Breakfast?!
I do not usually recommend whole chocolate for beauty because of the combination of sugars with long-chain saturated fats, but cacao powder is full of antioxidants that do literal wonders for your skin. This recipe also features matcha, which has loads of skin benefits, and also works well around the eyes. Avocado is full of healthful fats, as is cashew, which additionally contains loads of skin-boostin minerals. If you don’t want to use honey, you can swap it out for a sweetener of your choice.
2 Avocados
1 cup soaked Cashews
4 tbsp Cacao Powder
2 tsp. Matcha
4 tbsp. Raw Honey (or other natural sweetener, or you can use banana!)
2 tsp. Vanilla Extract (for flavor)
A small amount of water, to blend
Blend all ingredients. This one doesn’t last as long, but it doesn’t really matter because it will probably get eaten anyway!
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