3 Times a Week Banana Anti-Aging Mask More Skin Care Solutions  
This excerpt is from Anti-Wrinkle Treatments for Perfect Skin, by Pierre Jean Cousin.
Bananas are one of the most nourishing fruits available because they contain large quantities of magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, iodine, and vitamins A, B (folic acid), E, and F.
Here they are teamed with heavy cream (traditionally used to prevent wrinkles) and organic honey in a recipe crammed full of nutrients.

INGREDIENTS
1 small banana
2 tablespoons fresh heavy cream
1 tablespoon organic honey
1 tablespoon oat flour
bottled or spring water
rose hydrosol (see "Note," below, about hydrosols.

METHOD
Mash the banana, using the back of a fork, and then add cream, honey, and flour. Stir to mix well. You may need to add a little more cream or flour to obtain the consistency of thick cream of yogurt.

Apply mask to the clean face, including the area around the eyes and the neck, and leave on for 30 minutes. Rinse off with bottled or spring water and cotton pads, and dab on a little rose hydrosol, allowing to dry naturally.

Effect: nourishes - Skin types: dry, aging - Frequency of use: 3 times a week -Shelf life: 6 hours in refrigerator
Preparation time: 5 minutes - Treatment time: 30 minutes

Note about hydrosols: Also known as floral waters (but not flower waters), hydrosols are a byproduct of steam distillation, created while extracting essential oil. Hydrosols have properties similar to those of their related essential oils, although inevitably in a less concentrated form, but they are enriched with various water-soluble active ingredients. Their gentleness makes them an excellent way to tone, hydrate, and rebalance the pH of the skin, so they are frequently recommended as final cleansers/toners after cleansing or nourishing masks.


Banana Moon Facial Mask- recipe More Skin Care Solutions  
Adapted from Making Aromatherapy Creams and Lotions by Donna Maria (Storey Books, 2000).
This fabulous recipe reflects a wealth of age-old wisdom, and will leave any type of skin feeling refreshed and pampered. There’s just nothing like giving yourself this easy-to-make facial using ingredients that are likely to be in your kitchen year-round.

The ingredients will nourish, soothe, and gently exfoliate your skin. And they sound good enough to eat!

INGREDIENTS

1 banana, just ripe
1 tablespoon honey
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon wheat germ oil
1 tablespoon finely powdered oats
1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional, if mask will not be used immediately)
1 drop each rose and Melissa essential oils (optional)

1. Peel and mash banana. Add honey, egg yolk, wheat germ oil, oats, and lemon juice, if used, and mash further to form a smooth, creamy paste.

2. If mask is too thick, add a bit of distilled water, and stir until smooth.

3. Add essential oils last, and stir to mix well.

4. To use, apply to clean face and neck, avoiding eye and mouth areas. Rest for 10 minutes, or longer if your skin is very dry. Rinse with warm water, and follow with toner and moisturizer, if desired. Use mask within a few hours of making.

I love babana and I think I would rather eat it than put it on my face!