Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) and how you can do it yourself

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) are the hottest ingredients to hit the beauty Business. They are found in a number of expensive businesses. They are found in a number of expensive beauty lines and are perfect for sloughing off dead skin. But before you go spending hundreds of dollars; just know that foods such as pineapples, strawberries, apples, and even milk are overflowing with AHAs. So why not go directly to the source? Many of the recipes we will be highlighting on this Blog are filled with AHAs. When applied to the skin, they penetrate the upper layer to peel off dry skin and welcome new healthy cells. If you pamper your skin constantly with AHAs, it will begin to regularly exfoliate — as it did when you were in your teens. 

Here is one to try. One popular combination for a homemade facial mask is banana, honey and yogurt. Honey is a natural antiseptic, and it tightens the pores. Bananas are nutrient-rich, so they nourish the skin. Yogurt has lactic acid (AHA), which smooths and softens the skin. Once you know how to put these three ingredients together to make a natural facial mask, you can use it once or twice a week to keep your skin looking healthy.

Instructions

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     Peel the banana, and cut it in half. Put half of the banana in the mixing bowl, and mash it until it is creamy. Use only a ripe banana, because green bananas won't mash so well.
     
     
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     Mix the plain, unsweetened yogurt well before you measure it out for your homemade facial mask. Add the two tablespoons of yogurt to the mashed banana, and blend the two ingredients well. 
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     Use honey that is pure, with no additives. Pour one tablespoon of honey into the bowl with the banana and yogurt. Blend all three ingredients together.
     
     
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     Apply the mixture to your face and decollete evenly (remember your face starts with decollete), avoiding getting it in your eyes. Pop a couple of cucumber slices on your eye lids and you are ready. Leave the mask on for fifteen to twenty minutes (take a power nap if you want to), and then rinse the mask off with cool water. Then, pat your face dry with a wash cloth. 

     
     

     Follow up with your favorite moisturizer. We recommend Lumi*Essence Organic Advanced Brightening Repair Treatment, which contains Kojic Acid and Alpha Arbutin to further brighten and rejuvenate your skin.

     Enjoy!