Fruits for your skin and hair

Beauty expert Shahnaz Husain tells you which fruits to pick for your skincare treatments Fruits have always been considered a rich source of fibre and vitamins. In fact fruit packs are also used in high end beauty salons. You too can experience the benefits by taking heed of these tips. Read on to find out which fruits should be a part of your daily skincare routine. Banana Banana is extremely nourishing for the skin, because it contains Vitamins B and C and is a rich source of potassium. In fact, potassium helps to soften the skin. It also tightens and tones the skin. Bananas can be made into a pulp and applied on the skin, or added to face packs. Apples Apples are wonderful skin toners, helping to tighten the skin and stimulate blood circulation to the skin surface. Apples also have anti-oxidant properties. Raw apple pulp or apple juice can be applied on the skin daily. Apple cider vinegar has great benefits for the hair, helping to restore the normal balance of the scalp and preventing scalp problems, including dandruff. Papaya Papaya contains papain, an enzyme. Papaya is useful for removing dead skin cells and may be applied on the face and body. It also helps to lighten skin colour if used regularly over a period of time. Ripe papaya pulp can be applied on the face, or can be mixed with other ingredients like oatmeal, curd and honey to make face masks. Papaya pulp mixed with curd can be applied on the body. Mango The mango is rich in Vitamins A and C, which helps in toning and rejuvenating the skin. It helps to delay the visible signs of ageing of the skin, and also has a softening effect on it. Mango pulp can be applied on the face to keep the skin soft and supple. It is suited to all skin types. It is an anti-oxidant and used regularly, it can reverse oxidation damage. Orange Like lemons, the orange is also rich in Vitamin C. The fruit pulp can be included in fruit masks. Orange peels can also be collected and dried in the sun, then ground into a powder and added to face masks. It has a cleansing and gradual skin lightening effect. Orange juice can also be added to masks for the face and hands. In fact, raw orange and lemon peels can be rubbed on the nails to remove discolouration. Orange peels rubbed regularly on the hands can help to lighten skin colour and also tighten the skin. Strawberries Strawberries are powerful anti-oxidants and therefore help to prevent oxidation damage, which leads to ageing signs, like lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, etc. In fact, they also strengthen the supportive tissues and keep the skin youthful. Apples are rich in Vitamin C and thus beneficial for the skin, as Vitamin C keeps the skin healthy. Crush them and apply on the face, for a fruit pack. Leave on for 20 minutes and then wash off with plain water. They can be mixed with other fruits too. Or, mix crushed strawberries with curd and apply on the face. It will lighten skin colour over a period of time. Grapefruit Like other citrus fruits, grapefruit also has a cleansing and toning effect on the skin. It is particularly good for oily and pimple prone skin. It reduces oiliness and also helps to reduce tan over a period of time. Grapefruit also helps oily skin problems like open pores and helps to tighten them. Apply the fruit or juice on the skin and wash off after 20 minutes. Cherries Cherries contain vitamins and minerals, which help to nourish the skin. They have anti-inflammatory effects and help to heal and soothe irritated skin. They also help in cases of sun-damage and exposure to UV rays. Pomegranate It has excellent benefits for skincare, as it helps to moisturise the skin and is a powerful antioxidant. It helps to improve the skin's moisture retention ability too. It is said to boost the process of cell renewal and thus helps to delay the formation of skin ageing signs. Used regularly on the face, it can remove tan, lighten skin colour and also brighten the skin. Watermelon Watermelon helps dry skin. It helps to seal in moisture and keeps the skin hydrated. It also helps to soothe and improve dry, scaly skin. Applying watermelon pulp or juice helps to soften and smoothen the skin.