A word of warning: if I ever try to give you advice on the finer culinary arts, I should be ignored. Completely. Ask anyone who has politely endured a dinner party at my place – I’m dangerously underqualified to scramble an egg. Unless I’m set to smear it on my face, that is. Then I’m practically Nigella.
Cooking up my own skincare recipes is a labour of love. I get to indulge my inner skincare geek by balancing the beautritional value of ingredients. I unwind over the hypnotic bubble of a pot. And the delectably soft and glowing results are all about me. It’s therapy.
So what’s my from-the-pantry product of the moment? An anti-sun damage tomato mask.
The recipe is a cinch. Just peel and dice a ripe, juicy tomato (a medium-sized one should do) and pop it in a pan to gently cook. If your pot needs it, add a dash of water or, for an extra antioxidant hit, brewed green tea. Then mash the softened tomato into a pulp, allowing it to cool before adding a tablespoon of live natural yoghurt. Is it looking a little runny? And a tablespoon or two of oatmeal to create a paste, then slather as much as you can fit on your face (the rest can be popped in the fridge for a few days). 15 minutes later, a rinse with tepid water will reveal smooth, cushion-soft skin with an extra watt of radiance.
Here’s why: The humble tomato is packed with dull cell-sloughing AHAs, brightening vitamin C and lycopene. “A chemical compound rich in antioxidants, lycopene protects and repairs the skin by fighting off free radicals,” explains health and skincare expert Fiona Tuck. “Lycopene is most freely available in cooked tomatoes, so you could even use tinned tomatoes,” she says. Meanwhile, the lactic acid and live cultures in the yoghurt soup up the softness and beta glucan from the oatmeal you added acts as a soothing anti-inflammatory.
It gives a beautiful new meaning to feeding your face, doesn’t it?
Bon Appétit!
PS: Don’t miss this week’s feature, Your Cosmetic Cookbook, which has a pantry full of DIY beauty recipes.
