Fruits and vegetables have been traditionally used for beauty care. Nutritionally speaking, of course, fruits and vegetables are imperative for good health. They contain valuable vitamins, minerals, enzymes and trace elements, which keep the body healthy and free from disease. They are not only beneficial for health, but also for beauty care. Fruits and vegetables can be externally applied on the skin, for their beneficial and healing actions. The vitamins and minerals nourish the skin, while enzymes help to cleanse the skin of dead cells. This has a renewing and revitalizing effect. Vegetables and fruits also contain antioxidants, apart from their healing properties. Antioxidants help to fight oxidation damage by free radicals, thus delaying the manifestation of ageing signs on the skin. Vegetables and fruit extracts have been used in formulations for skin and hair care. This is because they have particular benefits for the skin and hair.
For instance, cucumber is a powerful skin toner, helping to refine the pores and refresh the skin. It is also a natural coolant. This too has a refreshing effect and also soothes the skin. It helps to soothe sun damaged skin too. In fact, cucumber improves the skin’s ability to retain moisture. Cucumber has been used in skin toners and also in products for the delicate skin around the eyes. It helps dark circles, as it lightens skin colour over a period of time. We have formulated eye pads containing cucumber.
Potato is particularly beneficial for the delicate skin around the eyes. It helps to revitalize the skin, remove puffiness and dark circles and prevent blemishes.
Carrot and cabbage are rich in Vitamins A and E. They are extremely nourishing for the skin and also keep the skin soft and firm. Vitamin E helps to improve the regeneration of new skin cells and reverse oxidation damage. They are also rich in minerals and protect the skin from rashes, eruptions and sensitivity. We have formulated Shalife Nourishing Cream with carrot seed and cabbage. In fact, it is our fastest moving product.
One can also make a hair oil containing amla at home. Take a handful of dry amla. Grind coarsely and add it to 100 ml pure coconut oil. Keep it in a glass bottle and keep the bottle in the sun daily for about 15 days. Then strain the oil and store. The oil can be used to apply on the hair. Amla protects the hair and restores the normal balance. It is also good for dry hair.
While apple cider vinegar is very useful for hair care and hair care products, while vegetable extracts have been combined with other extracts like mint, basil, neem, lemon, honey etc., to formulate products for the skin and hair.
Apricot is a fruit that has been used in cosmetics. In fact, apricot kernel oil is extremely nourishing. We have incorporated Apricot in hand cream and also in a peel-off pack, as apricot has a toning and tightening effect on the skin. Lemon is also a powerful natural toner and cleanser. It can be infused in cleansing creams and gels. Combined with turmeric, it has been formulated into an effective skin softening body care cream. Like lemon, amla is rich in Vitamin C. In fact, amla has traditionally been used in products for hair care. It nourishes and restores the normal acid-alkaline balance. It also keeps the skin and scalp healthy. Amla based hair oils have been available for years in India. We have also formulated amla based hair cleansers, as well as hair conditioning powders and packs.
Nature, in fact, is not only the best chemist, but also an expert cosmetologist.
