If you’re like most people, you probably have a few skin care secrets. Everyone I know has a particular way of caring for their skin, and most of the time, the strategy is connected with a particular cosmetics brand. While I think that the popular skin care brands are there work great, I just cannot exchange my secret fresh fruit facials recipes for any of those popular brands.

What is this fresh fruit facial I am talking about? It’s a simple technique that involves using fresh fruit juice, pulp and even peel on our skin. The logic behind this is simple. Fresh fruits have enough minerals and vitamins to make anyone healthy, so why not directly use fruits on skin to make skin smoother? The antioxidants in fruits are extremely valuable, and it’s sad that humans usually take these for granted by not eating enough fruits every day.

So, let’s delve into my recipe box of facials that can be done using fresh fruit…

Peaches are gritty and can work well as exfoliants. Get a ripened peach, peel and get rid of the pit. You can slice up the peach for easier blending. Add egg white (from a single egg) to the peach slices in the blender and fire it up. When the mixture is well blended, you can scoop up a tablespoon of the mixture and apply it on your face. Allow it to sit there for 30 minutes before rinsing with cold water.

Apple mask is a good way to make your skin glow especially if your skin is not too dry and not too oily. Sometimes, you see all these products on the shelves of skin care stores and you wonder why there aren’t more products created for people with normal skin. Well, if you have this type of skin, I suggest you try this apple mask. Peel, core, and quarter an apple. Mash or chop the apple in your blender, and add two tablespoons of honey. Blend again until the mixture is smooth. Refrigerate the mixture before you apply on your face. Pat the mixture on your face gently and leave it on for 30 minutes. After this time, you can rinse with warm water until you can no longer feel the stickiness of honey.

While I’d rather eat strawberries than place them on my face, I love putting on my strawberry mask. Don’t use the type of strawberries you’d normally eat. Use the very ripe ones. Mash half a cup of strawberries with one fourth cup of cornstarch. Use a blender if you don’t want to waste time. Apply the mixture to your face, avoiding the eye area. After 30 minutes, rinse with tepid water.

If you have blemished skin, here’s a facial mask that you can use to reduce the blemishes. Chop one ripe tomato into small bits and blend with oatmeal (one tablespoon) and, lemon juice (one table spoon). Don’t overdo the mixing so that the mixture will stick to your skin. If the mixture is too thin and syrupy, add more oatmeal until it’s more paste-like. Apply the mixture on your face and leave it on for 10 minutes. Use a warm, wet cloth to scrub it off your face.