As the world shifts towards an organic, more natural way of living, global interest is on the rise for cosmetic products made with the very same healthy ingredients we eat every day. Thankfully, the very food that nourishes you from the inside also happens to be great for your body on the outside, too. Below is our list of some of the most common superfoods that are now also the star ingredients in your favorite face masks.
Green Tea
Green tea is a well-known antioxidant. It fights free radicals, which damage cells and are the primary cause of aging and disease. When applied topically, green tea provides your skin with the same benefits, along with a few other bonuses. This tea fights bacteria and has excellent anti-inflammatory properties, which means that it can calm unsightly redness and bring balance back to your skin tone. It is also a natural astringent that can reduce pore size and control oil and sebum production, leading to decreased acne breakouts.
Honey
Like green tea, honey has antibacterial properties and is likewise rich in antioxidants. It also provides intense hydration and moisture to the skin, giving it a healthy glow. CosRX’s Ultimate Moisturizing Honey Overnight Mask is a great way to integrate this super ingredient into your skincare routine without attracting ants or getting a sticky feeling. Use it as a sleeping pack before you go to bed at night and let the honey work its magic on your skin. You’ll wake up with deeply moisturized, refreshed skin that radiates from within.
Yogurt
Having a cup of yogurt in the morning for breakfast can do wonders for your immune and digestive system. This health food is packed with protein, calcium and vitamin D, as well as probiotics – healthy bacteria that help your body cleanse itself from the inside out. Yogurt also provides a similar cleansing effect when used on your skin. It contains lactic acid, which happens to be an alpha hydroxy acid that dissolves dead skin cells and provides gentle chemical exfoliation, reducing sunspots and other types of discoloration. It also has a cooling effect that can help relieve sunburned skin.
Egg Whites
For smooth, bright skin, look no further than your own refrigerator. Egg whites are capable of refining pores and tightening the skin, and applying it onto your skin results to a reduction in wrinkles and fine lines. Plus, it also combats sagging skin and puffiness under the eyes. An egg white mask can also reduce blackheads. This is because the egg white has astringent properties that allow it to penetrate deep into the pores and clear out the dirt and sebum stuck within.
Coconut
There’s a reason they call the coconut the “tree of life” – and with the amazing benefits it has on skin, it may as well be called the “tree of eternal life”. Coconut oil and milk in particular are excellent moisturizers and exfoliators, just like the other foods on this list. The antibacterial ingredient in coconut oil is called caprylic acid and it not only helps control acne, it also helps protect your skin from substances that cause breakouts. As a light moisturizer, it helps prevent moisture loss without leaving a heavy feeling.
Sugar
Sugar is a great physical exfoliant. Its particles are small but abrasive enough to slough off dead skin cells on the surface of your face, but aren’t harsh enough to cause micro-abrasions or small skin tears that you might otherwise experience with a facial scrub made with fruit shells and pits, for example. It can also be used for chemical exfoliation — sugar is a natural source of glycolic acid, which promotes cell turnover for more radiant-looking skin.
Keep these ingredients in mind the next time you feel like having an all-organic pampering session at home. It’s likely that you’ll find the right ingredients for getting healthy skin in your very own kitchen.
