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Pomegranates are wildly popular little superfoods. They’re packed with antioxidants – in the form of vitamin C and E, and polyphenols – so they help protect the body against toxins, carcinogens, and inflammation. And by eliminating toxins and keeping the digestive system happen, it can reflect positively on your skin too!
But did you know that this miracle fruit can be just as – if not more – beneficial when applied directly to the skin?
Turns out, almost every part of the pomegranate fruit is packed with vitamins and nutrients – from its arils and seeds, to its peel and juice. Apply a paste of one or more to your skin, and it will deliver a huge dose of antioxidants, which can help delay signs of aging (like fine lines and wrinkles), fight acne breakouts, and reduce skin inflammation. Pomegranates can also boost the skin’s ability to protect itself from the sun and naturally lighten dark spots caused by UV rays or even acne scars. And to top it off, the seed, arils, and peel make a natural exfoliant when ground up.
Wondering how to incorporate pomegranate into your skincare routine? Keep reading for three of my personal favorite pomegranate face mask recipes!
Making Your Own Pomegranate Face Masks
For each of the recipes below, I started off by making a pomegranate paste. There are actually a few different ways to make it. The most common way is to grind up the seeds and/or arils. This will create an exfoliating scrub (just make sure to thoroughly grind up the seeds so that they aren’t too rough on your skin!). Alternatively, you can mash up the peel and use some of the juice to create a gentler, smoother texture that’s great for sensitive skin. Or, you can blend together all four parts of the pomegranate – it’s up to!
What I personally like to do is grind up freeze-dried pomegranate arils in a blender. The arils are rich in vitamin C, vitamin K, and a variety of phytonutrient compounds, so they provide lots of benefits for the skin just on their own. I’ll blend them for about 10-20 seconds until they form a fine powder (it will feel almost like damp sand if you’re using freeze-dried arils). A mortar and pestle would also work just as well!
Next, I’ll combine the pomegranate paste with a superfood powder for extra benefits. Lately, I’ve been using California Gold Nutrition‘s powders, which you can find in their superfood section here. Everything I’ve tried from them so far has been amazing quality and super fresh – perfect for skincare (and smoothies too)!
From there, you can add in other natural, skin-loving ingredients like honey, yogurt, or lemon juice, depending on what skin concerns you’re looking to address. This will also give the mixture a paste-like texture so that it can stick to your skin and work its magic. Alternatively, if you don’t have any of these ingredients laying around, you can drizzle in some water and mix until it reaches the right consistency.
Now onto the recipes!
3 DIY Pomegranate Face Mask Recipes
Cacao & Pomegranate Anti-Aging Face Mask
The Benefits:
Cacao powder and pomegranate provide anti-aging benefits as they’re both rich in antioxidants. Cacao also boosts hydration, which is a must for a younger looking skin, plus it’s enriched with minerals and vitamins including vitamin C, magnesium and omega 6 fatty acids, which help increase blood flow and cellular healing. This in turn creates a more youthful, glowing complexion!
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon pomegranate powder
- 1 tablespoon cacao powder
- water (add until the mixture forms a thick paste)
Matcha & Pomegranate Acne-Fighting Face Mask
The Benefits:
Green tea, honey, and pomegranate are all excellent sources of antioxidants. Green tea in particular has anti-inflammatory properties, so it can help reduce irritation, redness, and swelling associated with acne. It also contains polyphenols which can damage bacterial membranes and fight against infection, making them great for treating and preventing acne-causing bacterial growth. And finally, green tea is packed with Vitamin B2 and Vitamin E, which are essential for skin health maintenance and recovery post-acne.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon pomegranate powder
- 1 tablespoon matcha green tea powder (or, you can substitute this out for a packet of green tea – simply cut the tea bag open and sprinkle the loose leaves in your bowl)
- 1 tablespoon greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon Manuka honey
Camu Camu & Pomegranate Brightening Face Mask
The Benefits:
Vitamin C is the ultimate skin brightener, and Camu Camu – a tiny put powerful rainforest fruit – is packed with it! The vitamin C in Camu Camu can help lighten dark spots and pigmentation, plus it helps remove dead skin cells for a fresher, more glowing complexion. Combined with flavanoids, camu camu provides antioxidant defense against damaging UV rays, and it also shields against pollution and pollen, which an lead to dry, itchy and irritated skin.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon pomegranate powder
- 1 tablespoon camu camu powder
- 1 tablespoon greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon Manuka honey
Face Mask How-To
Follow the below steps to make and apply each mask:
- Take a bowl and mix all the ingredients together. If the texture is too dry, add more of the wet ingredients like water or yogurt until it reaches a paste-like consistency.
- Apply it to your face, then relax and let the mask work it’s magic for at least 5-10 minutes, up to 30 minutes.
- To remove, gradually re-wet the mask by splashing your face with water. (I’d recommend washing off at the kitchen sink to avoid clogging any drains if your mask has larger bits!).
- Gently massage the mask to loosen it up. This will also exfoliate your skin and increase blood flow for a fresher-looking complexion!
- Use a washcloth and cool water to remove any leftover mixture.
These masks are fairly gentle, so as long as your skin isn’t too sensitive, I’d recommend using them once or twice a week for the best results. Or, simply whip one up whenever you have some downtime – even a once a month treatment can have its benefits!
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Have you tried a pomegranate face mask? What’s your favorite natural face mask to whip up at home?
