7.07.2008

Pineapple and Oats Facial mask


Praise the beauty gods I have found my hawaiian heaven !
It started out with one very ripe pineapple....


I decided to take a good slice (one full slice about an inch thich) and use it to make my standard pineapple facial mask. (the basic mask could easily be orchestrated by a pre-schooler - it involves taking 1/2 cup of fresh pineapple chunks and adding 3 tablespoons of organic cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil - and mixing them in a blender. The next step is apply, relax, 10 minutes, wash.) Really, that's it. And while its a noteworthy recipe - I started cutting the pineapple and decided to make juice with the rest. (it was hot out today !) So.... a pitcher of juice later, and one lusciously juicy pineapple slice left.... my stomach got the best of me and I couldn't resist eating the pineapple slice.
What ensued was my facial mask find of the decade - the newly crowned:

"take 5 years off your life" pineapple mask
(a new blend of various old favorites from the natural facial mask arsenal)
Ingredients:
about 1 ounce of freshly blended pineapple juice
1-2 tablespoons powdered oatmeal
(colloidal would be best - but I just ground regualr oats up with a mortar & pestle.)

1 tablespoon powdered buttermilk
1 tablespoon organic liquid honey

1 tablespoon whipping cream
1 tablespoon organic cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil

Directions: Put all of these wonderful ingredients together in a small bowl and whisk ! Let sit for about 5 minutes before using, as the liquid will be quite runny at first.
Spread in an even layer on face and leave from 10-15 minutes.
Wash off with warm water and pat dry with a soft washcloth - follow with toner and your favorite moisturizer.


This mask made my skin feel so wonderfully supple and nourished that I used the rest (along with a small dabble of regular oatmeal) as a quick hand scrub. Here was where the miracle came to life: The result on my hands was absolutely FABULOUS - I massaged my hands for about a minute each, and after washing off the oatmeal/pineapple gel I had instantly smooth skin - soft, supple, and YOUNGER looking ! (better than any $60 handcream I've ever tried.) My hands look so great I'm tempted to make up some more right now and get ready for a full body scrub.
I'll need to get out and buy more pineapples !

Why does this natural mask work ? The Science behind the Beauty:
Pineapples contain bromelain - a fruit enzyme that both exfoiliates and has anti-infalmmatory properties. Bromelain has been used topically to treat burns and to accelerate wound healing, and studies indicate that bromelain can treat local swelling and help to heal bruises. (long story short: your skin likes it !) The fruit part of the pineapple contains only small amounts of the enzyme responsible for all of this magic - commercial bromelain comes from the pineapple stem where the concentration is higher, but even the small amounts here have wonderful results.
1 to 2 slices of pineapple also contain approximately 100 mg of
ascorbic acid (vitamin c) - an antioxidant that may reduce fine lines and wrinkles, promote healing and even promote the natural development of collagen in your skin - vitamin C can be a wonderful topical addition to your organic skin ingredients list.
The vitamin E in Olive oil is its most desirable addition to this facial mask - with anti-aging / free-radical fighting / blending / and skin color correcting properties (vitamin E can help reduce the appearance of age spots and scars) - and olive oil is chalk-full of this wonderful vitamin. Olive oil has been used for centuries throughout the mediterranean - dating as far back as 3000 BC (where the Egyptians used it for its skin replenishing qualities). Olive oil is a wonderful emollient - (softening and smoothing the skin) - but be sure to buy organic cold pressed extra virgin (less refined and not put through a process using harsh chemicals that are not good for your skin ! )

The next ingredient in my mask is Honey. Honey is a natural humectant - allowing the skin to retain moisture. If the skin can retain moisture it remains soft and supple and GLOWING ! It is great for sensitive skin (doesn't irritate) and some studies have proven that honey has anti-oxidative properties. The current buzz is that MANUKA honey is the honey to use. It has highly effective natural antibacterial properties that help fight skin infections - amongst other things. see the http://www.thehoneydoctor.com/ if you are interested in this info :).
I used plain ole' President's Choice Organics pure honey - easy to find, and the price is right !





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