Hydrating watermelon

Have you seen a square watermelon ?!

Besides quenching your thirst, the watermelon is a highly powerful antioxidant and hydrating fruit.

The watermelon is rich in Vitamins A and B. These vitamins let your skin emanate a radiant glow like what you see in youthful complexion.

The acids in the fruit act as exfoliating agents, dutifully removing dead skin cells from you face, revealing your younger skin beneath.

Containing 92 percent water by weight, watermelon’s high water content makes it an excellent skin moisturizer. It's hydrating property prevents your skin from drying and wrinkling, thus, making your skin elastic and firm !

Off the Kitchen
Watermelon hydrating toner
1. Mix 1 cup of watermelon chunks and 3 table spoons of water in a blender
2. Filter the residue
3. Pad the watermelon juice on face
4. Rinse after 10-15 minutes

Watermelon cleansing paste
1. Cut out a few pieces of watermelon
2. Mash the watermelon into a paste (careful not to turn it to watermelon juice!)
3. Apply the paste onto the face and massage for 2 mins
4. Wash off with cool water after leaving on for 5-10 mins

Pineapple: For removing dead skin cells

Apple from Pine tree?

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) work wonders because it removes dead skin cells, which is mainly made up of a protein called keratin.

But did you know there is a type of plant enzymes called Proteolyitc enzymes that actually help to dissolve the layer of keratin ?

Pineapple is a main source of Proteolytic plant enzyme. The enzyme helps to fight free-radicals that damage the skin and helps to remove dead skin cells while detoxifying to give a clean, rejuvenated skin.

Pineapple is useful against acne as it has anti-inflammation properties. Having exfoliating and anti-acne properties, pineapple makes your skin spotless and young.

And it makes good cocktails too!

Off the Kitchen
Pineapple mask
1. Prepare 1 tablespoon of pineapple juice
2. Spread the juice onto face and massage gently
3. Allow juice to dry for 8-10 mins
4. Wash off with warm water

Papaya: Exfoliating or whitening?

Skin Whitening Fruit?

Many people thought that papaya was good for whitening skin because after application of papaya extract, they experienced a softer and whiter skin.

However, papaya is NOT a ‘whitening fruit’ because it simply does not suppress melanin, which causes unfavorable dark spots, production.

Due to the presence of Papain, papaya is an excellent exfoliant. Papain dissolves dead skin cells thus aid in skin exfoliation.

When papaya extract is applied, your dead skins are readily removed and you get renewed skin!

Therefore, your skin appears softer, younger and vibrant, some say ‘whiter’ in complexion.

Papain is most ‘active’ in an unripe green papaya compared to a ripe one. Thus, it is better to use green papayas for skin care; whatever that is left can be part of your diet :)

Off the Kitchen
Papaya Exfoliating Mask
1. Prepare a cup of papaya juice (recommend to start with ripe papaya, if no signs of allergy proceed to use unripe green papaya)
2. Pat the juice onto face (recommend to mix in yoghurt for easier application)
3. Allow it to dry and leave on and for 5-10mins
4. Wash face with cool water

Note:

Application of papaya extract might cause sensitivity and skin irritation.

Try applying on hand or small area on the face to test for any allergy towards the fruit extract.

Balinese Papaya Mask
1. Mash papaya well.
2. Take an egg, beat it until it is frothy.
3. Combine that with the papaya. Add the pumpkin to the egg/papaya mixture and blend them together.
4. Apply mixture on your face. Cleansed your skin prior to ensure you get maximum benefits from the mask.
5. Leave the mask on for 10 minutes and rinse off mask.


Pore Minimizer Vinegar Toner
1. Mash 1/2 a papaya
2. Mix papaya with pure vinegar, such as white wine or cider vinegar.
3. Apply on face. Rinse after 10 minutes.

Vinegar gently cleanses and closes pores, restoring the skin's natural
pH balance.

The papaya exfoliates dead skin cells and lighten age spots and freckles.

Sour Lemon

Did you know lemon means Citrus limon?

Lemon juice contains citric acid that flushes out pores and keeps your skin feeling fresh and bright. This is because fruit acids' have exfoliating properties.

Lemon facial peels are great for your skin as they loosen dead skin cells and improve the skin's texture, transforming dull appearing skin into soft, smooth and vibrant skin !

Applying lemon juice to facial blemishes is a popular way to treat acne. Mix it with honey, egg white and yoghurt to get a potent mask.

Honey is a natural anti-bacterial agent that causes bacteria to implode, egg white tightens the skin when it dries up and yoghurt has gentle acids that help restore the natural acid balance.

Off the Kitchen

Lemon Peel Mask

1. Mix 2 tablespoons honey with 3 teaspoons lemon juice
2. 1 egg white
3. 3 teaspoon plain or Greek-style yogurt
   

Kill your strawberry with strawberries

Have a nose with blackheads so annoying that it has become a strawberry? A strawberry may help, literally ;)

Heard of AHAs?

Well, strawberries contain alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), which help to lift off dead skin cells, unplug pores and remove blackheads. Your skin becomes youthful as a result.

They are also rich in antioxidants like ellagic acid and Vitamin C.

Antioxidants are so important because they essentially terminate cell damaging reactions in the body, slowing down the aging process in your skin.

Ready to roll? Look out for recipes under "Off the Kitchen"

Off the Kitchen
Strawberry scrub
1. Mash 8-9 strawberries into a pulp.
2. Add 3 tablespoons of honey and mix.
3. Apply directly to the skin, rinse off after a few minutes.

Strawberry mask
1. Mix 8-10 strawberries
2. Add 2 tablespoons of apricot or olive oil
3. Add 1 teaspoon of coarse salt ( Kosher Salt, or Sea Salt) and apply.

An apple a day keeps the dermatologist away

Want to get rid of excessive oil or improve your acne problem? Here comes the apple!

Acne sufferers are often advised to use astringents if they have oily skin to close up their facial pores and reduce the amount of oil on the face.

If you have acne problems, apples are right for you.

Why? Because apples contain astringent that helps to control oil. Astringent is a chemical that tends to shrink or constrict pores.

Moreover, fruit acids from apples can attack the top layer of skin, removing dead skin cells and excess oil.

By removing this dirt and oil from your pores, it becomes easier for your skin to breathe, promoting much healthier skin.

Removing dirt and oil also helps to eliminate acne, and prevent future acne break outs.

"Off the Kitchen" will introduce apple solutions, which you can create easily in your kitchen. Apple cider vinegar also helps to ensure an optimal pH balance for your skin and lime juice, like apple juice, is also a good astringent.


Off the Kitchen
Apple and lime mask
1. Mix 1/2 cup of apple juice and 1/2 cup of lime juice
2. Apply for 15 minutes and then rinsed with cold-water.

Apple cider vinegar cleanser
1. Mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with small amount of distilled water.
2. Apply for 15 minutes.
This can effectively cleanse your skin making it look and feel more healthy and youthful.