5 Tropical Fruits That’ll Fix Your Winter Skin and Hair Woes
If your skin and hair is rebelling against the harsh winter weather, there’s no need to hop on a plane! These aah-worthy island-friendly comfort fruits will repair cold-weather beauty bothers in a snap.
To Firm Sagging Skin: Guava
“The fruit’s antioxidants repair skin-sagging cell damage, while its vitamin A speeds collagen and elastin production to firm skin,” says aesthetician Lora Condon. To reap its benefits, opt for a guava-infused lotion, like Skin By Ann Webb pink guava zinc oxide moisturizer ($10.39, iHerb.com) onto skin in upward motions to help tighten it twice a day for results in a week.
To Soothe a Rashy Complexion: Coconut
Anti-inflammatory properties in the fruit’s oil soothe irritated and inflamed skin on contact. Plus, its lauric acid (a saturated fatty acid) strengthens skin’s barrier to prevent future rashes. Gently rub a quarter-size amount of the oil ($17.49, Amazon) onto irritated skin twice a day.
To Moisturize Dry, Brittle Hair: Mango
Rich in fatty acids that penetrate follicles to hydrate hair from the inside out, mango also fortifies strands to thwart breakage, shedding and damage. For instant hydration, apply a hair mask containing the fruit’s “butter ” (we like Soo’AE Super Butter intensive hair mask, $3, ULTA) to damp hair from roots to ends. Let sit 10 minutes, then rinse.
To Heal Cracked Hands: Banana
A high water content makes bananas ideal for healing dry hands. Pair 1⁄4 cup of banana (its compounds moisturize and mend cracks) with 2 Tbs. of ground oatmeal and 1 Tbs. of water and rub onto hands for speedy results. Rinse after 10 minutes.
To Erase Brown Spots: Pineapple
Pineapple’s fruit enzyme bromelain is a gentle exfoliant that sloughs off the buildup of dead, discolored cells, says Condon. Plus, its skin-brightening vitamin C further lightens discoloration. Try rubbing a pea-size amount of a pineapplei-nfused serum, like Pacifica Pineapple Quench Oil-Free Water Serum, $13.99, Target) onto spots twice a day for results in two weeks.
Feel Summer Happy in Seconds
Simply smelling warm-season scents can leave you feeling like you’re basking in the sun. Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe sea salt spray ($4.79, Target) will volumize locks while enveloping you with the gentle aroma of the ocean. Meanwhile, Tree Hut’s shea sugar scrub in Coconut Lime ($8.99, ULTA) whisks away dry skin while leaving behind the sweet fragrance of a poolside cocktail, and Coppertone Glow’s sunscreen lotion with shimmer (from $8.97, Walmart) summons the soft scents of summer while protecting skin from the sun year-round.
This story originally appeared in our print magazine.
