Go Bananas for Beauty

Bananas and other ingredients to create DIY body care products.

Bananas: More Than Just a Flavorful Fruit

Bananas are a fun food. Most of us were introduced to bananas as babies.

This yummy potassium- and magnesium-rich food also contains 33 percent of your daily intake of vitamin C. It’s inexpensive, and easy to pack in your purse or gym bag, and snack on when needed.

Bananas are also great for DIY organic beauty treatments this time of year as the seasons change.

Potassium, the main nutrient in bananas, hydrates cells and helps moisturize hair and skin.

I encourage you to take a personal day off for beauty, and just go bananas.

DIY Body Care Products Made With Bananas

Here are a few fun, simple DIY recipes that you can try for hair, face and body.

Moisturizing Banana Hair Mask

This hair mask is perfect for dry and/or curly hair.

Ingredients

  • ½  banana
  • ½ cup coconut milk
  • 2 teaspoon of avocado

Directions

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender until creamy.
  2. Rub into hair, and leave on for 15 to 30 minutes, even up to an hour.

Note: For a more intense moisturizing experience, place a shower cap over your hair.

Moisturizing and Exfoliating Banana Body Scrub

This banana exfoliator will slough off dead skin. The result will be soft, glowing skin that’s smooth to the touch.

Ingredients

  • 2 brown bananas
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • olive oil (as needed)

Directions

  1. Mash 2 brown bananas with 1 cup of brown sugar, add olive oil as need to help in blending.
  2. Use this body scrub in the shower.

Note: Need extra exfoliation? I suggest using dry-brushing beforehand.

Moisturizing Face Mask

I also like to use this as a foot mask sometimes.

Ingredients

  • ½ banana
  • 1 tablespoon of honey
  • 1 tablespoon of coconut oil

Directions

  1. Mash all ingredients and leave on skin for 5-15 min.
  2. Rub this on your feet and cover with plastic bags for 5 minutes, after your body scrub.

Contributor

Karim Orange

Karim Orange is a two-time Emmy-nominated makeup artist and green beauty expert, specializing in clean beauty, makeup, and skincare. She is an active urban farmer who advocates for quality food, regardless of social economics. She enjoys traveling cross-country by train and sharing stories with others along the way. Follow her blog at thatgirlorange.com.