Revive winter skin with Papaya

Christopher Columbus called it the “fruit of the angels.” We think he may have been right. Papaya is an amazing fruit containing over 80 antioxidant nutrients such as carotenes, a huge concentration of Vitamin C, Vitamins A and B; flavonoids; folate and pantothenic acid; and a healthy dose of minerals, including potassium, copper, and magnesium.

Papaya is a healthy addition to our diet and delectably sweet, buttery-soft and full of papain, an enzyme that aids in digestion. Papaya trees produce fruit year round, so no need to wait for a seasonal harvest to try out these angels. 

But, what we really love about Papaya is that it acts as a natural skin exfoliator.  By applying it to skin, the papain enzyme breaks down inactive proteins and removes dead skin cells – exfoliating skin in the most gentle and natural way.

Exfoliant. A very simple method for exfoliating and moisturizing the skin is to apply papaya on it. Cut open a ripe papaya, scoop out and discard the seeds and blend the pulp into a smooth paste. Then, apply the paste to the face and leave for 15 minutes. Wash it off using lukewarm water and pat dry. Follow with a natural moisturizer, like olive oil.

Skin Lightener. Papaya also helps in removing skin discoloration. So, you’ll notice that dark spots and uneven skin tone will improve using papaya topically. Application of papaya paste will lighten and brighten the complexion. Green papaya (before ripening to its mature orange color) has more papain, so it’s more effective in lightening your skin. With a few additional ingredients in the papaya paste, it’s easy to create a skin lightening Papaya Mask at home.

Skin lightening Papaya Mask

Ingredients:

1 cup green papaya, chopped

1 teaspoon honey

1 teaspoon plain yogurt

1 teaspoon vitamin E oil

Puree the ingredients into a smooth paste. Gently apply the paste to the face and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Skin will tingle as it dries. Wash face with lukewarm water to remove mask and follow with cool water rinse.

Scrub. Papaya can also be used as a brightening body scrub. It can be made by mashing raw papaya and mixing it with honey, Dead Sea Salt and olive oil. Or, if you need a little extra moisture for dry skin, substitute brown sugar for the Dead Sea Salt.

We love nutrient-rich Papaya and the clear benefits for healthy, glowing skin.