Natural DIY Cures for Dry Skin

Photo Credit: doozzle via Compfight cc

Fruit is a true winter-weather-fighter. In last weeks blog, we made it clear how beneficial getting your 5-a-day can be when it comes to looking and feeling your best during the cold, rainy months. 

But the vitamins and antioxidants found in fruit aren't just miracle workers once they've been eaten - they also work their natural magic when slathered outside the body too!

Fruit face masks will not only make your skin feel soft and look incredible, they're also simple to make and are naturally free from chemicals, perfumes and artificial ingredients.

So, as it's Friday, treat yourself by taking home the remnants (if there are any left!) of your office fruit delivery and have a right natural pampering before heading out on the town to show off your new, glowing complexion (and those amazing dance moves)


Papaya Pamper

Gentle exfoliation is a must if you're suffering from dry, peeling and flaky skin. Buff away dead skin with one half of this mixture then leave the other half on the face for 5-10 minutes for added moisture.

• 2tbsp Natural or Greek Yoghurt
• 3tbsp Mashed Papaya

Anti-Aging Avocado

Avocados are packed full of vitamins K, B and E as well as monounsaturated fats that are all amazing at keeping the skin plump, soft and youthful. Just gently coat your face in this green goodness and leave to work for 5-10 minutes. Also, the added honey in this mask also provides antibacterial action - perfect for keeping away all the germ-filled nasties this winter!

• 3tbsp Mashed Avocado
• 2tbsp Good Quality Honey

Strawberry & Cream Dream

You might need to make enough of this to eat after it's done on your face! Sweet, succulent strawberries and soft, milky yoghurt combine together to become a dream team that moisturises the skin whilst the strawberry seeds exfoliate dry patches. This mix will also fade dark patches and leave your complexion brighter so that not everything has to be grey this winter!

• 5 Fresh Strawberries
• 1tbsp Natural or Greek Yoghurt (Add more if your skin is very dry)

Porridge Power

This breakfast blend is great for both dry and sensitive skin as the oats gently exfoliate the skin without leaving redness and the honey helps to reduce inflammation - red cheeks being a common winter skin complaint. The banana in this mask doesn't just smell amazing, it helps to moisturise and improve skin tone - this mask proves why breakfast is the most important meal of the day!

• Half a Ripe Banana
• 1tbsp Good Quality Honey
• 2tbsp Oats (More or less depending on exfoliation desired)
• Mineral Water - add a tsp at a time until mixture is creamy enough

Tweet us @office_fruit to let us know what your favourite treat for thirsty winter skin is and let us know how you got on with our masks!

Disclaimer! Just because your tastebuds enjoy these ingredients, doesn't mean your skin will! Always do a patch test before applying to make sure any of these masks won't cause an allergic reaction.

#FashionableFruitFriday - Natural DIY Lip Sugar Scrubs Recipes

Photo Credit: .craig via Compfight cc

Cold weather can be a real pain in the peaches. Winter is a beauty battlefield and dry hair, dry skin and, of course, dry lips are the casualties. It can be hard traversing the makeup counters and pharmacies in the rainy, bitter months for a lip product that ticks all your boxes: moisturising, hydrating, cheap, long-lasting, exfoliating, natural - to name a few.

However, if you can see your office fruit box from across the room; it's sweet, delicious, natural treats just crying out to be eaten then you may be in luck - and be saving yourself from an expensive trek to the lip care aisle.

The restorative, beauty-enhancing effects of fruit have long been embraced - especially by us here at Fruit For The Office HQ! - so why shouldn't you be using them to keep dry, chapped lips at bay?


Edible Lip Sugar Scrub Recipe

• brown or white sugar
• extra virgin coconut oil
• fruit, essential oils or natural flavourings of your choice
• small airtight container to store it in

- Take whatever size container you want to store your lip scrub in and fill it halfway up with your sugar to measure.

- Remove the sugar then transfer to a mixing bowl

- Measure the coconut oil in the container as well, ensuring it also fills up to halway to get a 1:1 ratio of sugar to oil

- Transfer the measured oil to the mixing bowl then add your selected fruit, essential oils or natural flavourings at this point 

- Gently combine the sugar, oil and added ingredients together, making sure not to let the sugar granules dissolves by mixing for too long

- Spoon the scrub into your chosen container and refrigerate to keep it fresh for around 2-3 weeks, remove  from fridge five minutes before use to let soften

Flavour Ideas:

• Freshly squeezed Orange or Lemon juice and Honey 

The sweet combination of vitamin-packed citrus and soothing honey will have your lips kiss ready in no time

• Pumpkin puree and Cinnamon

Not only will your lip scrub taste like a winter dessert, pumpkin is full of skin saving Vitamin E! However, if using pumpkin puree, use it instead of the coconut oil in the recipe.

• Cranberry and Vanilla

Finely chopped dried cranberries are easy to order from your office fruit supplier and taste amazing combined with natural vanilla flavouring - just be sure not to eat the entire batch before your lips have had a pampering!



Tweet us @office_fruit and let us know your favourite winter dry skin remedies or leave them in the comments below!

As always, be sure to do a 48-hour patch test for all of these ingredients and recipes because although it's all natural, it doesn't mean it will have the same effect on everyone's skin!

#FashionableFruitFriday - Easy DIY Hair Mask Recipes for Dry, Winter-Damaged Hair

If you're anything like us, nothing makes you feel better than a luscious head of hair. No matter how fit you've become with our help, dried and damaged tresses will make you look and feel unhealthy! But rather than shelling out your hard earned cash on a professional treatment or a bottle full of who-knows-what-chemicals, head for the kitchen and go all-natural! Fruit for the Office have dived hair first into the internet to bring you the best DIY hair treatments that you can make with any leftover fruit from your favourite office fruit supplier!

Banana Hair Mask

• 2 bananas
• 1 egg white
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons natural yoghurt
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Mash the bananas making sure to leave no chunks or even better - use a blender! Whisk the egg white then mix in thoroughly with the banana along with the remaining ingredients.

Wash, shampoo and towel dry hair. Make sure you're prepared for the mess with old towels and clothes! Cover you hair all over in the mask paying careful attention to the driest areas i.e. the ends. Once covered, put on a shower cap to avoid dripping and to add warmth. 

Leave on for at least 30 minutes or longer depending on how much your hair resembles straw! Wash out thoroughly until every last trace is washed away - using a small amount of shampoo - then dry and style as normal!

Strawberry Hair Mask

• Medium punnet of strawberries
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Mash or preferably blend the strawberries until a puree. Whisk the egg then mix in with the strawberries and olive oil.

Wash, shampoo and towel dry hair. Cover you hair all over in the mask from root to tip. Once covered, put on a shower cap to avoid dripping and to add warmth. 

Leave on for around 20 mins then wash out thoroughly using a small amount of shampoo. Dry and style as normal!

Let us know which of these all-natural intensive hair treatments worked best for you and any recipes you use yourself at home. Also, make sure to send us photos of your pampered locks @office_fruit - just be careful they don't blind us with their new shine!


Photo Credit: sanberdoo via Compfight cc

Recipe Sources: | Thoughts in Little Boxes | Daily Glow |

P.S. Before using, we advise our readers to do a patch test 48 hours before to avoid any adverse reactions. All recipes are used at own risk.

DIY Fresh Fruit Face Masks for Healthy Skin

Tomáš Obšívač - ToOb on Flickr

Fruit isn't just beneficial when eaten, it's also great for the skin. Different fruits are great for different skin types and are not only a lot cheaper than buying a face mask, they're also simple to make and naturally free from chemicals, perfumes and artificial ingredients. So, when you're full up from your office fruit delivery, why not use the leftovers to give your face a treat too?

Lemon and Honey Face Mask 

• Tightens + unclogs pores
• Fades acne scars and aging spots
• Honey's natural antibacterial properties stops spots and blemishes
• Brightens skin tone
• Leaves the face glowing and radiant

How to Make:

Squeeze half a lemon into a bowl, add 2 tbsp of organic honey and mix until combined. Apply over a clean face, avoiding the eye area. Leave on for 10-15 mins, rinse away and apply moisturiser.

Strawberry and Yogurt/Cream Face Mask

• Moisturises skin
• Seeds exfoliate
• Brightens skin tone
• Fades acne scars 
• Leaves skin smoother
• Can be made for either oily or dry skin

How to Make:

Mash 5 fresh strawberries with a fork, in a bowl, until smooth. Add 1/2 tbsp of yogurt and 2 tsp of honey (for oily skin) or 1/2 tbsp of heavy cream and mix until combined. Apply mask to clean face, avoiding the eye area and leave on for 10-15 minutes. Rinse away and apply moisturiser. 

Banana and Oats Facial Mask

• Great for dry and sensitive skin
• Oats exfoliate
• Anti-aging effects
• Moistures and improves skin tone
• Smoothes skin and reduces inflammation

How to Make:

Mash 1 ripe banana with a fork in a bowl then mix in 1 tbsp of natural honey. Stir in 4 tbsp of ground oats and then add small amounts of mineral water until the mixture has a creamy consistency. Apply the mask to clean skin and leave on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing away and applying moisturiser.