BLUEBERRIES

Remember that girl from Willy Wonka who turned into a blueberry? While she may have turned a little hefty, she must have also gained a beautiful complexion with healthier skin! With blueberries being more highly cultivated in the U.S. and Europe, they’re an extremely accessible and delicious fruit that do more than cause your fingers to turn blue. That’s right- blueberries actually work wonders for the skin! Beyond simply toning your skin, blueberries also have beneficial nutrients and vitamins that work to fight off the signs of aging and acne, and help return your complexion to the radiant, acne-clear state you love.

The Tiny Berry that Packs a Punch

If you are someone who is even mildly health-conscious, you may be aware of the presence of “free radicals,” which are tiny volatile atoms that build up naturally in your cells over time and slowly damage the physical appearance and health of your body, causing you to age. Thankfully, blueberries are basically flooding to the brim with phytochemicals (what makes a blueberry blue) and antioxidants that help calm these free radicals down by neutralizing them, thereby preventing and reversing any free radical damage.

Blueberries are also known to be highly rich in fiber, as well as vitamins A and C. In a most basic sense, this helps the skin remain tight and firm due to the extra supply of fiber, while vitamins A and C help increase the ability of your skins sells to both receive nutrients and block harmful free radicals. The extra fiber can also be used to heal broken capillaries causing spider veins under the skin by strengthening blood vessels, as well as give your skin a healthier glow by regulating proper digestion of food within the body. Vitamins A and C, on the other hand, can be used to fend away acne, as well as serve as a mask for anti-aging and toning. The best part of it all is that these berries are also low in sodium, cholesterol, and saturated fat, so that you don’t end up actually turning into a blueberry!

While this makes blueberries the obvious solution to skin troubles, you may be wondering how it should be applied to the skin. Let us show you one of the many recipes you can use to create a facial mask to absorb all those free-radical fighting nutrients your skin needs.

Creating a Blueberry Skin Mask

1. Using one package of blueberries, mash up enough blueberries for a ¼ cup container.

2. Mix 1 tsp of lime juice with the ground up berries.

3. Add 1 tbsp of oatmeal, making sure to mix as you are adding to ensure all the ingredients are evenly and thoroughly blended.

4. Wash your face gently with soap or other preferred facial cleansers before applying the paste.

5. Apply the paste to your skin, and relax for about 15-20 minutes, or until you feel satisfied.

By repeating these steps twice a week or more, you will not only increase protection against free radicals, but experience a noticeable change in your facial skin (or other skin, depending on where you apply the mask). Of course, one of the best (and tastiest) ways of getting these benefits is eating them! So whether it’s as a jam on your toast for breakfast or in a healthy fruit salad snack, make sure to add blueberries to your regular diet as well to ensure that the anti-aging benefits to your skin last!