Summer is probably the most paradoxical of weathers. It causes dry skin to go patchier on one hand while activating excessive sebum production in oily skin. This makes summer skincare a little tricky.
Fortunately, that is where hydration masks come to your rescue. We don’t claim that the hydration masks are standalone techniques to protect your skin, but with a combination of a good diet, exercise and daily skincare, hydration masks work wonders. Hydration masks don’t need to be expensive; several fruit-based masks prove to be efficient protection for your skin.
Tropical fruits to rescue
Simplicity is sometimes the best recourse. Ripe papaya and ripe banana are not only great tropical fruits but also are excellent hydration agents. Skin that gets progressively dry through the season will find its solace in these potassium-rich fruits.
Papaya is a beta-carotene rich source of an exclusive enzyme called “Papain”. Papain is an active enzyme that helps in reducing both melanin production within the skin and blemishes and scars. Papain is also known to be a gentle exfoliant that dissolves inactive protein residues and dead skin cells.
Banana is rich in carotene, zinc and lectin that help in fighting and curing acne. Banana also has Vitamins E, B1, B, and C that arrest the free-radical action on the skin and help make it radiant and supple.
As with most tropical fruits, Papaya and banana are also replete with antioxidants, and bioflavonoids. All these nutrients and micronutrients help in increasing collagen production, smoothening out the ageing skin, reducing the free-radical effect on the skin tissues, and reducing the visibility of acne scars and dark spots. Potassium in papaya and banana is a natural hydrant and hence moisturises the skin.
Papaya mask for Dry skin- Single ingredient
• Peel and mash ripe papaya into a smooth lump-less purée.
• Apply the mask on your water cleansed face and neck.
• You can place cotton pads on the mask to avoid dripping.
• Keep the mask for at least 20 mins.
• Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry your skin.
Papaya mask for Oily or normal skin- 3 ingredients
• Peel and mash ripe papaya into a smooth lump-less purée.
• Add 2 tablespoons of honey and 5 or 6 drops of fresh lemon juice.
• Apply the mask on your water cleansed face and neck.
• You can place cotton pads on the mask to avoid dripping.
• Keep the mask for at least 20 mins.
• Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry your skin.
Banana mask for acne-prone skin- 3 ingredients
• Peel and mash a ripe banana into a smooth lump-less purée.
• Add 2 tablespoons of honey and 2 tablespoons of fresh yoghurt.
• Apply the mask on your water cleansed face and neck.
• You can place cotton pads on the mask to avoid dripping.
• Keep the mask for at least 20 mins.
• Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry your skin.
We add honey and lemon juice or yoghurt to counteract acne-prone tendencies in oily or normal skin types. Lemon juice is a natural astringent and does an excellent job in deep cleansing skin pores, killing germs on the surface of the skin and minimising the skin pores. While honey is an anti-bacterial that helps control the acne spread. Honey also leaves the skin feeling really hydrated and soft. The lactic acid and calcium in the yoghurt have a deep moisturising and skin tightening effect.
These masks are simple yet very effective during summers. Wishing you a happy, radiant and supple skin for the rest of the summer!
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