DIY skincare with leftover food

If you have an avocado languishing at the back of the fridge, or some honey that’s no longer runny, why not use it to give your skin a boost?

Banana

Overripe bananas are great for your skin.

• Mash one banana up and massage it into your feet. It sounds a bit strange I know, but can really help add moisture and prevent cracked heels.
• Mash it up with an avocado and one teaspoon of olive oil, and use it as a hair mask.
• Mix it with a teaspoon of honey and an avocado to use as a face mask.

Avocado

Avocado goes from under-ripe to overripe so quickly. If you’ve missed the moment and now have a blacked avocado to contend with…

• Mix it with some ground rice, or fine porridge oats, and a teaspoon of olive oil or honey, for a really nourishing face scrub.
• Dab a little around the eye area to use as an eye mask. Just cover with a damp muslin cloth and sit back for ten minutes.
• Mash it up with a banana and some honey, to use as a face mask, as mentioned above.

Yoghurt

If you have some natural, unsweetened yoghurt that’s a little past its best before date, try using it on your skin. The lactic acid acts as a natural exfoliator.

• Massage it into your skin and leaving for ten minutes before washing off, for an exfoliating deep cleanse.
• Mix it with a little honey and some porridge oats to use as a face or body scrub.
• Apply a few dabs under the eyes, and gently wash off after 10 minutes. This can help to reduce dark circles.

Honey

Honey often gets thrown away when it starts to crystallise. If you’ve tried melting it in a bowl of hot water with no success…

• Mix it with brown sugar to use as face scrub.
• Use it in a face mask, with banana and avocado, as above.
• Mix half a tablespoon with a tablespoon of lemon juice and one egg white for a refreshing face mask.