By Hannah Kohut
Springtime is great for rejuvenation, and that includes your skin as well.
Over the winter we probably laid on thick layers of moisturizers to keep our skin from drying out. While it was great for locking in moisture, we likely locked in a lot more, like clogged pores, excess oils, trapped dirt, dead skin, and more.
But now it’s time to unclog those pores and unveil brighter skin!
And for this, we love facial masks made with green foods. That’s because of the amazing amount of nutrients they hold. Combine that with other natural ingredients that pack exfoliating and antimicrobial powers and you can reveal your best skin ever, right at home.
But first, let’s learn why green foods are so good for your skin.
Health Benefits of Greens
Green foods are good for your body, inside and out. The reason is they are loaded with Vitamin K, folate, lutein, and Vitamins A, B, and C. Each of these nutrients helps your body and skin on the cellular level by fighting off skin-aging free radicals. Green foods also:
- Rebuild collagen. This leads to more plump, firm skin.
- Boost cell turnover. More cell turnover means less dullness and more glow.
- Fight inflammation. Helps control redness and irritation.
- Help prevent aging. Antioxidants from greens fight off free radical damage, which ages our skin.
It’s always best to nourish your body from within. By including dark, leafy greens in your diet, you are building up your body and skin’s defenses against illness, damage, and early aging. Check out our top five leafy green superfoods to learn more about their incredible health benefits.
Skin-Loving Green Smoothie
If you don’t like the taste of greens, you can drink this surprisingly fruity-tasting green smoothie instead! You honestly don’t taste the greens thanks to the mango, banana, and coconut water. Here is one of our favorite recipes:
Ingredients:
- 2 handfuls of kale or spinach (or a blend of both)
- 1 banana
- 1 cup coconut water
- 1 cup frozen mango chunks
Instructions:
- Add to blender; blend until smooth.
This smoothie is great for breakfast, giving your body an early boost of nutrients and helping to keep you full until lunch (less snacking!).
DIY Green Face Masks
Green foods also have topical skin benefits. For instance, avocado is extremely moisturizing, while green tea provides instant calming for irritated skin. That’s why they work so well as skin masks. We’re sharing our favorite DIY, at-home face make recipes, all made with simple, easy-to-access, affordable ingredients that you may already have in your kitchen.
Before getting started with any of these masks, here are a few tips:
- Always wash your hands before applying the masks to your face.
- Start with freshly cleansed skin.
- Apply a test patch to a discreet area, like behind your ears, to test for irritation.
- For thicker masks, you may want to remove it in the shower and follow with a light cleansing to remove any residue.
Skin-Clearing Avocado Face Mask
This face mask is great for combination skin. Ingredients like avocado and coconut oil moisturize the skin, while honey, lemon juice, tea tree oil, and apple cider vinegar remove dullness and treat oiliness and acne. The banana is a great source of alpha hydroxy acid, which helps encourage cell turnover and reveal fresh, glowing skin.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup ripe avocado
- ¼ of a ripe banana
- 1/2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp. honey (raw is best)
- 1 tsp. coconut oil
- 1/2 tsp. apple cider vinegar
- 1-2 drops of tea tree oil
Instructions:
- Add all ingredients to a small bowl.
- Mash together with a spoon until a creamy consistency is formed.
- Apply to a clean, dry face.
- Leave on for 10-15 minutes, rinse well.
Avocado-Cocoa Face Mask
If your skin is on the drier side, this avocado mask is for you. You get the incredible moisturizing benefits of avocado, plus the skin-calming antioxidant power of cocoa powder.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 of a ripe avocado
- 1 Tbsp. honey
- 1 Tbsp. cocoa powder
Instructions:
- Mix all well in a small bowl.
- Apply to a clean, dry face.
- Leave on for 10 minutes, rinse well.
Invigorating Mint and Cucumber Face Mask
Who doesn’t love the lively, uplifting smell of fresh mint? When applied to the skin, mint can calm redness, treat acne, and moisturize. Add a drop of peppermint essential oil and you’ll have a perfect pick-me-up for your senses and your skin.
Ingredients:
- 6-8 fresh mint leaves
- 2-inch thick slice of cucumber, skin peeled
- 1 Tbsp. honey
- 1 Tbsp. rosewater
- 1 drop of peppermint essential oil
- For a thicker consistency, add 1 tsp. raw oats
Instructions:
- Using a mortar and pestle, mash all ingredients until a paste is formed.
- Apply to a clean, dry face, avoiding the eye area.
- Leave on for 5-10 minutes, rinse well.
Matcha and Charcoal Face Mask
This mask is great for natural exfoliation without drying your skin. Matcha powder provides antioxidants like Vitamin A (retinol) and Vitamins B, C, and K, while the activated charcoal and tea tree oil help clear pores and control oil. The raw apple cider vinegar helps dial down the acidity of the charcoal, so the mask stays close to your skin’s ideal pH level.
This mask may be trickier to rinse off in the sink, so we recommend applying it before you shower for easier removal.
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp. matcha green tea powder
- 1 tsp. activated charcoal
- 1 tsp. jojoba oil (or grapeseed oil if your skin is oilier)
- 1 tsp. raw apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp. water
- 1 drop tea tree essential oil
Instructions:
- Mix all ingredients in a small bowl.
- Apply to a clean, dry face, avoiding the eye area.
- Leave on for 10-15 minutes, rinse well.
Note: due to the potential drying effect of charcoal, you may need to apply a light moisturizer after. Use no more than once a week.
Green Tea Toner
While not a face mask, this green tea toner is a great follow-up for these face masks. It can help remove residue, calm skin, keep pores clear, and invigorate your skin!
Ingredients:
- 6 oz. warm purified or distilled water
- 3-4 cucumber slices (about ¼ thick)
- 1 green tea bag
- Juice from half a lemon
- ¼ tsp. apple cider vinegar
- Spray bottle
Ingredients:
- Steep the tea bag and cucumber slices in water for 2-3 minutes. Discard the tea bag.
- Add remaining ingredients.
- Allow to cool completely, then pour into the spray bottle.
- Spritz face with the toner as needed, or spray onto a cotton pad and wipe across the face.
Enjoy Your Natural Beauty
These are just a few of our favorite uses of green foods for your face, but the options are endless. We’d love to hear your favorite uses in the comments and on our social channels!