We've reached September, and though it may still be quite toasty in some corners of the country, the dwindling temperatures tell us that Autumn is upon us. I don't know about you, but one of the first things that comes to mind when thinking of the Fall is apples. It must be due to growing up in New England. Every year my family and friends would make the trek to some nearby orchard to pick our own apples. These days were played out against the backdrop of a clear blue sky, and a setting of small, twisted trees, laden with brightly colored apples. For every few picked, one was inevitably bitten into. The cool, crisp taste of a fresh picked apple is something truly special, a moment that you and your mouth may cherish forever, or at least until next year.
So it is easy to admit your love for apples. What may surprise you is their ability to love you back. Apples contain a bounty of natural enzymes, antioxidants, and nutrients that promote beauty. Whether they are used fresh, or processed into ingredients, apples make pretty.
When used fresh, apples can help to brighten your skin, giving you a fresher, more lively appearance. Try pureeing fresh apple in a food processor than adding it to your favorite mask or cleanser recipe. Apples can also be distilled into teas, herbal infusions, or tonics to create skin birghtening toners or facial wetting agents.
Apple Cider Vinegar presents a wildly different set of attributes for use in beauty recipes. This fermented liquid has a knack for balancing the ph of skin and hair. It is often used in hair rinses and treatments to cleanse buildup from other products, refreshing and rejuvenating tired locks. Using Apple Cider Vinegar as a regular hair rinse can help with dandruff and irritated scalps. Some even claim that it can help slow hair loss. On the skin, it can also be used as a tonic for everything from bruising to acne. Try using Apple Cider to soothe bug bites, sun burns, or rashes.
Here are some recipes that include apple ingredients. Use these as inspiration to create your own apple based skin and hair care products!
