Natural Beauty with Apples

“An apple a day keeps you beautiful!” If you are lucky enough to have an apple tree in your yard or garden you have a key ingredient in making your own skin and hair care products as well as a healthy food to enjoy. Apples contain malic acids, a fruit acid which helps in keeping your skin firm and glowing. Applying fresh apple pulp and eating apples are two good ways to keep your skin fresh and glowing with natural beauty. Apples are a source of vitamins A and C. Vitamin C is important for healthy skin as it aids in the formation of collagen, a protein that keeps your skin flexible and healthy. Apples also contain copper, which helps in the formation of melanin, which helps protect your skin from the harmful effects of UV rays from the sun. Vitamin A, which is often called the “beauty vitamin”, is also found in fresh apples and gives your skin a healthy glow.

Here are some easy ways to enjoy fresh apples this fall. They can be found year round at your local grocery but there is something about fall and apple picking that just seem to go hand in hand. Schedule a visit to a local orchard and mix up some of these simple recipes for beautiful skin and hair. You may also want to make some for gift giving.

Fresh Apple Hair Rinse

Fresh apples make an effective hair rinse that will leave your hair full of shine and your scalp super clean. This is especially helpful if you use a lot of styling products. The rinse will help to clear away any residue that may be giving your hair a dull and lifeless look. If you color your hair you may want to avoid this recipe or do a small test on the underside of your hair as it could alter or remove your color.

Ingredients:

1 large apple, peeled, cut into small pieces

2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar

2 cups water

1 Tablespoon fresh, chopped mint leaves

Directions:

Mix together all ingredients in a blender or food processor set on “high.” Pour the mixture through a strainer into a clean container, discarding all solids. To use: Pour over your hair after shampooing as a final rinse. Massage through your hair and rinse thoroughly with cool water.

Yield: 16 ounces

Clarifying Hair Rinse

Hard water or water with a high mineral content can change your hair color over time. If you live in an area with hard water or well water using a clarifying hair rinse once a month will help keep your hair clean and healthy and remove any built up minerals such as iron or copper that can alter your hairs color.

An easy test of your water is to fill a glass with distilled water and another with water from your tap. Place a teaspoon of dish detergent in each glass. Gently shake or stir the glasses. If your tap water makes few suds than the distilled water you may want to have your water tested. A simple fix is to install a water filter.

Ingredients:

2 cups water

1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 Tablespoon baking soda

1 teaspoon fresh or dried lavender buds

Directions:

Yield: 16 ounces

Deep conditioning hair pack

The crisp, cooler days of autumn can cause your hair to become dry and brittle. This oil rich conditioner contains molasses, which is a natural humectant. This recipe also contains apple cider vinegar that will help cleanse and condition your scalp and also restore the natural pH to your hair and skin.

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon walnut oil

1 teaspoon canola oil

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 egg yolk

1 tablespoon molasses

1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Directions:

Mix together all the ingredients, stirring thoroughly. Massage into damp hair and scalp. Wrap your hair in plastic wrap or an old cotton towel and let sit for 15 minutes. Shampoo your hair as usual and rinse well. Finish with a cool water rinse.

Yield: 2 ounces

Apple Pectin Toner

For centuries, apples have been an integral part of our lives as a basic food source and beauty ingredient. Apples are 85 percent water and high in vitamins A and C, and potassium but their seeds contain toxins and should always be removed. Apple pectin is a natural thickener and is often used in recipes as an alternative to gelatin. When applied as a facial toner, pectin is soothing and refreshing and can be used by all skin types.

Ingredients:

1 apple, cut up with peel, seeds removed (the color of the peel will give the toner a hint of color; red apples create a pretty pink toner.

1 /2 cup water

1 /4 cup witch hazel

Directions:

Place the cut-up apple in a small saucepan with the water. Bring the mixture to a boil and remove from the heat. Allow the mixture to cool completely, the strain out the apple pieces. Stir in the witch hazel and pour into a clean container. To use: Spray or apply to your skin using a clean cotton pad or spray bottle.

Yield: 6 ounces

Fresh Apple Body Scrub

After a summer spent outdoors and in the sun using a good all over body scrub is a good idea for freshening and cleansing your skin. Clean skin will look healthier and retain more moisture. This is a simple combination of fresh apples, sugar and almond oil that will gently exfoliate and cleanse your skin and can be used by all skin types. You can control the amount of oil added when mixing up the scrub.

Ingredients:

1 fresh apple, quartered and cored (leave peel on)

1 /4 cup raw sugar

1 Tablespoon fresh lemon balm or mint

2 tablespoons to 1 /4 cup almond oil

Directions:

In a food processor or blender finely chop the fresh apple and lemon balm. In a bowl mix together the chopped apple, lemon balm, sugar, sugar and 2 Tablespoons of almond oil. Add more oil if needed depending on skin type. To use: In the shower or bath gently massage into damp skin and rinse with warm water. Be careful as the oil may make your shower slippery so you may want to stand on a towel or bath mat.

Yield: 4 ounces

Fresh Apple Mouth Rinse

Parsley and mint combined with fresh apple juice help kill bacteria and keep your mouth fresh and clean. They also help hydrate your mouth and gums helping to combat bad breath. Use this mouth rinse throughout the day to keep your mouth healthy and clean. It is also useful after drinking teeth staining drinks such as coffee, black tea or red wine.

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons fresh parsley leaves

2 Tablespoons fresh mint leaves

1 /2 cup distilled water

1 /2 cup fresh apple juice (unsweetened)

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a blender on high until well blended. Strain out any solids into a clean bottle or jar. To use: Pour about 4 teaspoons into a glass and rinse your mouth for 30 seconds. Store in the refrigerator for longer shelf life.

Yield: 8 ounces

Natural Beauty for All Seasons Book basket

For more DIY beauty recipes using apples and other fall favorites check out my book "Natural Beauty for All Seasons" Use code APPLE for 20% off until the end of October. You are beautiful!!!

xoxo Janice