We love a good beauty find — and it doesn’t hurt if it’s as sweet to our taste buds as it is to our skin and beauty regimens. That’s where papaya comes in. This tropical fruit has been harnessed for years for its beauty benefits and is known as uneven skin tone and dead skin cells’ worst enemy.
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Not only can it help you beat hyperpigmentation, but it can also help clear up acne, protect against sun damage, and rejuvenate your skin. It is rich in papain, a protein-dissolving enzyme that helps decrease inflammation and exfoliate dead skin cells to reduce breakouts. Papaya is also loaded with vitamins A and C, two essential components in any skin-brightening regimen, along with other nutrients and antioxidants.
While this goodie is found in many products, you can also mix and mash it at home for glowing skin. Scroll through for three easy ways to add papaya to your beauty routine!
Mashed Papaya + Salt Body Scrub
Serve up a full-body glow with this papaya scrub. Cut the fresh papaya in half, scoop out the seeds (be sure to save these), then mash the chopped papaya and mix it with one tablespoon of fine salt and ¼ cup of coconut oil. Viola! An all-natural body scrub is ready to be served.
Gently rub it onto your skin in slow, circular motions, applying a thicker paste layer on darker areas like elbows, knees, and armpits.
Kick back and let papain fight dead skin cells and keep bacteria and sebum from invading the skin, forming small bumps, and clogging the pores. While the trace minerals and detoxifying properties in salt help smooth out the scaly spots, coconut oil guarantees your skin a moisturized glow.
Mashed Papaya + Cucumber Facial
In addition to its skin-brightening properties, papaya also has alpha-hydroxy acids that can help remove the top layers of dead skin cells and clear skin blemishes. Meanwhile, the anti-inflammatory properties of cucumbers can help soothe skin irritation and ward off redness.
Mash the papaya the same way as above, but this time let’s blend it with grated cucumbers. (Save the cucumber juice!). Apply the papaya cucumber face mask on your face and neck, give it 15- 20 minutes to work its magic for skin pigmentation, then rinse off with cool water. Now, take that cucumber juice you saved and soak a cotton pad and press it onto your skin. The juice is an excellent natural toner that refreshes your skin.
Papaya Seeds + Honey Elixir
Remember those seeds we scooped out earlier? Yes, they are also our skin’s besties! These dark, round seeds are blessed with anti-aging properties, as well as vitamins, antioxidants, fiber, and minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, which translate to a wide array of health and beauty benefits. They also help maintain lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels, a healthy gut, stronger bones, and skin elasticity.
So, grind those papaya seeds and mix them with two tablespoons of honey. But instead of applying it to your face, drink up!
Who knew this sweet-tasting fruit could be such a sweet addition to your beauty regimen! Are you going to try one of these yummy recipes? If so, tag us in a pic or drop a comment below!
