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Anti-Aging

5 Summer Fruits With Anti-Aging Powers — and How to Use Them

Erase cellulite, age spots, and more.

Harness the power of one — or all! — of these farmers market gems by whipping up our simple spa-inspired recipes. Summer fruits are naturally potent in compounds that will make you look — and feel — beautiful.

Fade age spots with pineapple.

“Pineapple’s brightening vitamin C and exfoliating enzymes work together to break down discoloration,” says Ali Tobia, aesthetician at Just Ageless med spa in New York City. Use with sour cream (its lactic acid whisks away dead, discolored skin) so spots disappear even faster.

Try it: Just blend 1⁄4 cup of pineapple chunks and one tablespoon of sour cream. Rub onto spots and rinse after 5 minutes.

Soothe sunburn with watermelon.

Thanks to its antioxidant lycopene, summer fruits like watermelon can help reduce the inflammation and swelling that come with a sunburn. Also great? Lycopene helps protect skin from UV rays and repairs skin’s barrier to speed healing.

Try it: Puree 1 1⁄2 cups of watermelon, saturate a washcloth with the juice, and place on skin for 10 minutes; rinse.

Smooth crepey skin with cantaloupe.

Vitamin A in cantaloupe increases collagen production to tighten the loose creases of skin, says Tobia. Pairing it with yogurt (its creamy fats hydrate) helps firm skin in a flash.

Try it: Mix ½ cup of pureed cantaloupe and 1 cup of plain yogurt. Rub on skin; rinse after 10 minutes.

Soften rough heels with banana.

Moisturizing and skin-repairing vitamin E in bananas targets rough heel skin. Add humectant honey to leave feet feeling baby soft — stat.

Try it: Mix 1 mashed banana and two tablespoons of honey. Rub on feet and heels, let sit 15 minutes, then rinse.

Erase cellulite with coconut.

The fruit’s water is a rich source of fatty acids that hydrate skin to help “fill in” dimples. Combining with sea salt (it exfoliates) and aloe vera (it further moisturizes)boosts the skin-smoothing benefits.

This story originally appeared in our print magazine.

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