Natural Beauty - greens for daily skincare

NATURAL BEAUTY
Greens That Beautify
Us Inside And Out
By Leah Jayasanker
Photography by Marlena Bielinska

When I was little my mother always told me to include a healthy portion of greens in every meal. Today I still hear the same thing from mom, yet I also hear fruits and vegetables contain some amazing ingredients that I should include in my daily beauty and skincare regimen. In the spirit of our “green issue”, we look at the benefits of using greens in personal care.

Green tea is one of the most important anti-aging components used today. If you're not drinking it daily or combining it into a personal care routine (Aubrey Organics Green Tea & Ginkgo Facial Cleansing Lotion) you might be missing out on one of the most important healthy skin herbs available today. Green tea is a natural astringent and antibacterial agent that can help to detoxify and purify the skin as it helps to ward off sun-related photo aging. It is also ideal for anyone who uses alpha hydroxy acid skin peels, as it assists in preventing irritation of the skin caused by glycolic acid used in peels and masks. Some beauty gurus even claim that green tea has anti-cellulite properties.

Another very green and very-good-for-the-skin food is cucumber, which contains properties that hydrate and nourish. This edible fruit, enjoyed raw or cooked, comes from the gourd family. Comprised of 90% water the cucumber serves as an excellent cooling agent, and is commonly used for reducing swelling, puffiness or big dark circles around the eye area (Caswell-Massey Revitalizing Cool Cucumber Eye Pads). Additionally the cleansing property of cucumber helps skin tremendously, making it soft and supple. Beauty experts recommend regular use of a cucumber-type product (Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Masque) to prevent pimples, blackheads, wrinkles, and dryness of the face. For skin irritation Tarte’s, The Eraser Concealer contains cucumber to help reduce puffiness and tighten skin.

A final source of fruit that’s worthy of reporting on is green apples. Melissa Jochim, Director of Product Development for Juice Beauty states, “Organic apples (pyrus malus) are packed with juice, rich in vitamin A, B, C, K, alpha-hydroxy acid (malic acid), phytonutrients, flavonoids, and phenols; protective against cell and tissue damage, powerful antioxidant activity and promote skin rejuvenation.” Jochim adds, “Organic apple juice has 50% higher nutrient value than conventional apple juice. An apple a day can keep the wrinkles away.”

Juice Beauty Organics-to-go ($45, Sephora) is a complete organic routine for day and night that provides essential vitamins and antioxidants for healthy, radiant skin. Active ingredients of organic hydroxy-acid juice base of apple, lemon, white grape and aloe work to exfoliate, brighten and refine skin tone and texture. Another product perfect for refreshing skin, packed with green apples is, Skin Milk Smoothies in Green Apple ($5.99, Drugtores). This rich in milk protein and vitamins A, D and E, calming wash is wonderful for a sunburned or irritated face and neck.