Homemade beauty from the garden: a blackberry and apple face mask
by
This season we are focusing on juicy, fragrant blackberries and tart, crisp apples says clinical aromatherapist and natural perfumer Tanya Moulding.
As October and late autumn draws in, I think of fruity crumbles, cobblers and compotes- hearty, comforting desserts which have some therapeutic virtue – the fruits are rich in vitamins, fibre and antioxidants! So once you have fed your waistline and your soul, why not feed your skin (and face in a different way) with any leftover fruit.
Apples and blackberries contain naturally occurring fruit acids. Blackberries are rich in salicylic acid, apples are rich in malic acid; both are excellent for refining the skin by removing dead skin cells. This mask will cleanse, refine and rejuvenate the skin, and is ideal for all skin types if you adjust some of the ingredients (see note at end*). This mask is ideal for an oily/combination T-zone, if you just want to use on one part of the face.
Blackberry and Apple Face Mask
Things you’ll need:
3 blackberries (washed and picked over)
½ an apple, washed and finely peeled and grated
½ teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon plain yogurt
Step-by-step
- Mash the blackberries with a fork.
- Stir in the grated apple.
- Add the honey and then the yogurt and stir to combine.
- Use a hand blender, if you want a smoother texture, as blackberries tend to have a ‘seed-y’ texture.
Instructions for Use:
- Apply to cleansed skin and smooth the mask over the face taking care to avoid the eyes. You can take this mask right down to the décolletage to help improve brightness and skin tone.
- Leave on for five minutes for dry/sensitive skin and ten minutes for oily/combination skin.
- Gently remove the mask with a damp cloth/cotton wool.
- Moisturise as usual.
You can keep any remaining mask in the fridge for two days, or apply to the hands as a treatment mask (ideal for dry/dull, hardworking hands!)
*Notes:
- If your skin is dry, feels tight and/or sensitive you can replace the yogurt with double cream.
- For extra exfoliation or if your mask is too runny, add a teaspoon of fine oatmeal, you can then gently rub this mask off after 5-10 minutes and follow steps 3-4 as usual.
After taste testing many crumbles and cobblers this recipe was created by:
Tanya Moulding,
Botanical skincare, natural perfumery and olfactory education, events and workshops
@perfumemistress