Hot summer weather calls for turning your fresh fruits and veggies (OK, you’ll need some other ingredients as well) into skin care saviors—juicy watermelon, tangy lemon and ripe coconut can be used in ways you probably never assumed before. Here, we’ve got the skinny on six DIY skin care hacks using foods you’ve probably already got in your kitchen, so you can reveal your best skin this season.
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Fruity Skin Fix
Albert Cruz, spa manager of eforea spa at Hilton Aruba Caribbean Beach Resort & Casino, says to rub the wet side of a watermelon rind on your face for ultimate hydration. “Because of its high water content and lycopene, watermelon is highly moisturizing and rich in antioxidants and minerals, resulting in reduced inflammation from the sun.”
Tan Extender
“To extend your summer tan, incorporate raw carrots into your snack routine,” says Nicole Courrau, spa manager of Sibö Rainforest, Spa & Retreat at Los Sueños Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort. “Carrots contain a very potent antioxidant called carotene that promotes the coloration of the skin, and when you have several servings in your diet, it warms up your natural skin tone to help your tan last longer.”
Body Smoother
The spa gurus at Finger Lakes–based Rasa Spa suggest using an at-home body scrub to help minimize the look of cellulite. Mix together olive oil, ground coffee, sugar, and fresh lemon rind—the combination invigorates the circulatory system and encourages cellular turnover, decreasing the formation of cellulite while simultaneously tightening and shrinking blood vessels.
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Lip Softener
“For sunburnt or chapped lips in the summer, mixing sugar with honey is a great moisturizer that helps heal them quickly,” says César Sánchez, spa manager for Kuö Spa at Costa Rica Marriott Hotel San Jose. “Mix two teaspoons of sugar with one teaspoon of honey and rub the paste gently on your lips (you can also use it on your face) to loosen dead skin cells. Let it sit for a few minutes and then wash off with lukewarm water.”
Sunburn Healer
David Oves, spa manager at The Spa at Conrad Miami, says a homemade yogurt face mask can heal sunburned, damaged skin faster. “Place a thin layer of plain yogurt on the affected area (body or face) as a mask. Leave it on your skin until the pain subsides and your skin feels cooler. When ready, rinse off for five to 10 minutes with cold to lukewarm water.”
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Anti-Aging All-Star
Jamaica’s Jewel Resort Radiant Spa resident wellness expert Sienna Creasy recommends taking advantage of her favorite island ingredient—the coconut—to fight signs of aging caused by the sun. “Take the jelly from a whole green coconut and blend it with natural plain yogurt. Once the mask firms up, apply it directly to your skin for a soothing effect. The yogurt’s lactic acid will gently exfoliate your skin, reversing damage and fine lines.”
