10 beauty benefits of papaya
Deliciously tangy-sweet with a host of beauty and health benefits, papaya has a huge fan following, including Christopher Columbus who legend says called it the Fruit of the Angels. It’s a natural source for a whole host of healthy vitamins, nutrients, enzymes, and minerals, including calcium, iron, vitamins A, C, E and K, magnesium, bioflavonoids, and the powerful enzyme papain. Here are some of the beauty benefits of this humble fruit.
- Moisturises and hydrates your skin
Papaya is a great natural remedy for those dealing with flaky skin. It’s packed with vitamin A and the papain enzyme that help exfoliate dry skin cells, while its high water content hydrates your skin keeping it soft and supple. Mash a ripe papaya with some honey and apply the paste over the affected area as a homemade mask.
2 Reduces signs of ageing
Papaya is rich in carotenoids, antioxidants that protect your cells from free radicals, calm inflammation, and protect the skin from damaged caused by the sun. Antioxidants are key in reversing the signs of ageing, helping reduce crow’s feet and wrinkles.
3 Brightens skin
This fruit is well known for lightening and cleansing skin naturally. It contains enzymes and vitamins A and C that help lighten your complexion, while the enzyme papain and alpha-hydroxy acids exfoliate the skin getting rid of dead skin cells. To brighten your skin, mash a ripe papaya and add some lime juice to create a face mask. Leave on for 10 minutes and then wash off with cold water. Do this a few times a month for glowing skin.
4 Gets rid of pigmentation/tan
Struggling with under-eye dark circles or a dark tan? Give papaya a try. The fruit has enzymes and phytochemicals that have skin lightening and bleaching properties that help even your complexion. For clear skin, blend a cup of raw papaya to create a paste. Add a tablespoon of honey and a tablespoon of freshly squeezed lime juice. Mix together to create a face/body mask. Apply where needed, including dark spots like elbows and knees, as well as tan lines. Wash off after 20 minutes.
5 Controls acne
The papain enzyme in papaya is effective in treating acne and helps prevent future breakouts. The skin and seeds of the papaya also have enzymes that help reduce blemishes and scars, making this fruit a must-have in your skincare kit. Juice a raw papaya and dab the juice onto the acne-affected area. This will reduce the inflammation. Leave on for about 10 minutes and rinse off. You can also apply the pulp of a ripe papaya as a face mask to control acne.
6 Removes unwanted facial hair
Raw papaya has enzymes that help you get rid of facial hair by weakening hair follicles. If used regularly, a papaya facial pack can also prevent the hair from growing back. Sounds like a much better alternative to waxing and plucking! To create the face pack blend a cup of raw papaya into a paste. Add a pinch of turmeric for its antibacterial properties. Apply the paste where needed and let it dry. Once dry, scrub off the mask and the unwanted hair.
7 Heals cracked heels
Papaya is also known for its healing benefits. It soothes sensitive skin and promotes a speedy recovery, which makes this a great way to deal with painful, peeling, cracked heels. Unripe papaya is full of the papain enzyme, which promotes healing. So mash up one cup of unripe papaya into a paste. Apply the paste to your heels and wash off after 20 min. Then apply some olive oil to the area to further nourish the skin. If your skin is highly allergic, then use ripe papaya for the paste.
8 Nourishes your hair
Rich in minerals, vitamins, and enzymes, papaya also makes for a great natural conditioner. It nourishes your hair, making it smoother, while also adding thickness and shine. A papaya hair pack is also a great idea to control split ends. Blend equal amounts of papaya and coconut milk into a paste. Add a few drops of honey into the mix. Apply all over your hair and wash off after 20 min.
9 Promotes hair growth
This is one power-packed fruit that’s also good for your hair. Papaya is chock full of vitamins, enzymes, minerals, and folic acid that promote hair growth by improving blood circulation to the follicles, thereby also controlling balding.
10 Controls dandruff
The enzymes in papaya are also helpful in controlling the excessive build-up of chemicals and oil on your scalp. So the fruit can be used as a natural remedy to control dandruff and treat a flaky scalp. A papaya hair mask works best for this. Blend equal amounts of papaya and yogurt into a paste. Apply all over your hair from the roots till the tips. Leave on for 20 min and then wash off.
