The last time I had a facial (thank you Groupon) my aesthetician told me I had a lot of sun spots on my cheeks and recommended laser treatments to remove them. Yes, I admit sunscreen was not really a priority as a teenager. My cheeks would ALWAYS burn.
And we won’t even discuss the burning/peeling on my chest. What was I thinking??
Before signing up for lasers I did a little online research and found a lovely all natural solution to minimize those blotches and freckles. Bonus: With a Pineapple Papaya Mask you get a facial treatment with a side of snack.
Why Pineapple & Papaya?
Unripe papaya contains natural alpha-hydroxy acids and high levels of papain, an enzyme that helps dissolve dead skin cells.
Pineapple has lots of the enzyme bromelian, which helps remove the outer layers of skin to reduce age spots and wrinkles.
Used together, the enzymes and AHAs in papaya and pineapple naturally exfoliate and lighten skin color. Yay!
How to Make Your Own Papaya Pineapple Face Mask
You’ll need
You’ll need- 1/2 fresh papaya, peeled and seeded
- 1 cup fresh pineapple
- 1 tablespoon honey (optional)
Instructions
1. Juice papaya and pineapple in juicer if you have one. If you don’t have a juicer, you can mash the fruit together or put it in a blender. Strain out the pulp with fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
2. Gently wash your chest, neck and face.
3. Use a cotton ball to apply juice to chest, neck and face. Avoid the eye area – yeah, it stings. You can also do the backs of your hands at the same time.
4. Lie down and let it work for 10-15 minutes. It will tingle and itch. This is the AHAs working so try not to scratch.
5. Rinse with warm water and moisturize. Again, I highly recommend coconut oil.
You can do this mask 1-2 times a week. And if you have extra juice, it will keep in the refrigerator in a closed container for a week.
If you want to try another easy mask (also from the kitchen) try this one with turmeric.
I love this site. I do have 1 concern. Enzymes can be highly concentrated. As an esthetician I am aware there is a battle between skincare products made in a lab vs in a kitchen. But we cannot ignore there is a place where nature and science meet. My question is this, should the enzymes be diluted to prevent over exfoliating the skin. Although this is a natural product it still has a chemical component.
Just found this recipe! Can I use frozen pineapple for this? We don’t always have fresh pineapple available here.
Initially I assumed that cosmetic creams are better than these natural mask recipes, but when I tired my skin experienced a delightful experience.
But, one thing they consume time, which most of us lack. :|
Don’t forget sunscreen during the day! This is one of the most effective all natural diy AHA face masks. So sun protection is a must!
Hi-ya, neat web site you’ve got there.
Is it photosensitive?
SO trying this over the weekend! It beats going the laser route for sure!!
Happy to have found your blog :)
Don’t get laser treatments ever. I did and they are awful. I got an antibiotic resistant infection on my face. Oh, and it hurts like ca-raaaazy. Your facial mask is much better. And I bet it smells better too!
Wow I didn’t know pineapple and papaya had all of those natural things that are so good for your skin! I have burned and peeled on my chest too many times for me to count… so I should probably use this!
Oh my gosh this looks amazing and delish for that matter! Ha.
I’ve always wanted to try my hand at making my own mask. That looks lovely!
this looks amazing.
This seems like a great idea! And a great alternative to lasers! xoxo, morgan
I don’t think I’ve ever bought a papaya but the mask sounds wonderful!
This is so cool! I love that you totally made your own mask! You are crazy talented! Thanks for sharing, friend!