5 Spa-Inspired Beauty Treatments That Harness the Power of Fall Produce
One of our favorite things about this time of year is the abundance of fall produce. Sure, summer has juicy blueberries and sweet strawberries, but what’s better than biting into a perfectly ripe pear, savoring a tart apple pie, or sipping a yummy pumpkin spice latté?
Fall fruits don’t just taste good, though — they’re also packed with nutrients that nourish your hair and skin! These five spa-inspired treatments harness the bounty of fall produce to reverse years.
Calm rosacea with a cucumber lotion.
Anti-inflammatory cucumber reduces the redness and irritation that come with rosacea flareups — and mixing it with sour cream boosts skin-soothing benefits.
■ TRY IT! Puree half a cucumber in a blender, strain the liquid, and mix it with two tablespoons of sour cream. Rub onto skin and let sit 15 minutes; rinse.
Fade age spots with a pumpkin cream.
The alpha hydroxy acids in pumpkin encourage skin to shed dead, discolored cells for a more even-toned appearance, says celebrity aesthetician Lisa Guidi, founder of Erase Spa. Pairing the gourd with moisturizing and exfoliating yogurt leaves skin looking even brighter in a flash.
■ TRY IT! Combine a tablespoon of pumpkin puree with a tablespoon of yogurt. Apply to spots and let sit for 15 minutes before rinsing
Thicken thinning hair with a fig conditioner.
Fig’s minerals increase circulation to the scalp to stimulate growth, while its vitamins produce hair-strengthening amino acids to thwart shedding. Increase the hair-thickening results by adding in coconut oil. Its lauric acid moisturizes and “swells” strands.
■ TRY IT! Combine two mashed figs and one tablespoon of coconut oil. Apply all over damp hair; let sit for 10 minutes, then rinse.
Erase wrinkles with a tomato mask.
“Antioxidants in tomatoes repair damaged skin and promote collagen production to fade fine lines,” says Guidi. And mixing with skin-plumping honey and aloe vera speeds results.
■ TRY IT! Puree half of a tomato and mix it with one tablespoon of honey and one-half tablespoon of aloe vera gel. (Try NaturSense Organic Aloe Vera Gel, $14.89 on Amazon.) Rub onto wrinkly skin; rinse after 10 minutes.
Smooth dry patches with a pear scrub.
Moisture-preserving properties in pears lock hydration deep into skin’s many layers to alleviate dryness. Use with brown sugar (it exfoliates) and olive oil (it hydrates) for softer skin — stat!
■ TRY IT! Combine a half cup of pureed pears, one-fourth cup of brown sugar, and one tablespoon of olive oil. Massage onto damp skin while showering for one minute. Let sit five minutes, then rinse.
A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, Woman’s World.
