Play with your food: Bananas

Bananas are a good source of Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Vitamin A, Potassium, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, and Folate Acid.  You eat them all the time, but have you thought about using a ripe banana for a home made mask?  They have soothing properties that can help reduce skin inflammation, they can help make your skin soft and supple, they can help restore a youthful glow and they can even help clarify skin while retaining moisture.  So go ahead and reach for that ripe banana!!

The ingredients used in the following recipes are best when they are organic or locally grown.  Dallas isn't exactly known for its banana trees, so you can find bananas from the Dallas Farmers Market (or any other Farmers Market) or Whole Foods, Sprouts or your neighborhood grocery store that carries organic foods.  Before you apply your homemade mask wash and exfoliate your face first!

Banana Honey Mask (Oily Skin)

• 1 ripe banana
• 1Tbsp Honey
• Few drops of fresh squeezed orange or lemon juice

Mix banana and honey, add juice.  Apply to face, leave on for 15 minutes, remove.

Banana Mask (Dry Skin)

• 2 medium ripe bananas
• Honey

Mash bananas, add honey, apply to face, leave on 10 minutes, remove.

Banana Honey Yogurt Mask (Dry Skin)

• 1 ripe banana
• 1 tsp honey
• 2 tsp yogurt

Mix thoroughly, apply to face, leave on until dry, remove with cold water.

Banana Oatmeal Mask (Sensitive Skin)

• 1 large ripe banana
• 1/4 - 1/2 c. oatmeal

Mix until oatmeal is moist (not runny), aply, leave on 20 minutes, remove

Banana Avocado Honey Mask (Dry Skin)

• 1 ripe banana
• 1/2 avocado
• 2 Tbsp honey

Mix in blender, apply to face, leave on, rinse

Banana Egg White Mask (Dry Skin)

• 1 egg
• 1 ripe banana
• 1 tsp honey
• 3 Tbsp oatmeal

Mix together, apply to face, leave on 20 minutes, remove.

Remember, try to pick organic or locally grown, their vitamins will be more beneficial when using them as a mask.  So play with your bananas, they are not only good for your health, but they are good for your skin too!

Check the DIY Skin Care Page above for more recipes!!

This was originally published on www.examiner.com on March 7, 2011