6 Ways to use Potatoes for Skin Care

By Aakriti

We all desire flawless skin. While some beauty products do give us temporary results , I for one tend to stay away from chemicals. I prefer to use enzymes and chemicals present in natural foods to address my skin skin care needs.

One such holy grail product in my vanity is potatoes.

Since potatoes grow easily they are cheap as well as most likely to be organically grown. Potatoes are also packed with nourishing nutrients which can help address skin care needs if used in the proper way. Following is why potatoes are beneficial for the skin.

• Potatoes contain potassium which helps to add moisture and hydrate the skin
• They contain calcium which helps in healing dry skin
• Calcium also helps to protect and renew the top layer of the skin
• They contain an enzyme called catecholase which is responsible for reducing acne scars, blemishes and dark spots
• They also contain magnesium which helps to fight free radicals which are responsible for causing wrinkles and fine lines
• Topical application of potatoes provides some mild bleaching by reducing melanine production.

Below I have mentioned ways in which you can incorporate potatoes in your skin care routine-

1. For removing tan and achieving an even complexion

Cut a potato wedge and rub it in a circular motion all over the face. Let the juice sit for 15 minutes before rinsing it off with cold water. Alternatively, one can grate the potato and squeeze the juice. Apply this juice on the face and let it sit for 15 minutes before washing away with cold water.

The best time to do this is when using potatoes for cooking. This way you do not need to remember and prepare specially.

2. For treating dark circles

Grate about 1 tablespoon of potato. Apply the grated potato on the under eye area. Lay back and relax for 10 minutes. Wash with cold water. Regular application of this helps in lightening the dark circles significantly

3. Face mask for treating age spots and tan removal (dry skin)

Grate one potato and squeeze the juice from the grated potato. Mix one tablespoon of potato juice with two tablespoons of honey to prepare a face mask. Apply this evenly on face and neck. Sit back and relax for 20 minutes. You can combine this with the grated potato eye mask to use the entire potato at one time. Rinse away the mask after 20 minutes with cold water.

4. Face mask for treating age spots and tan removal (oily skin)

Grate one potato and squeeze the juice from the grated potato. Mix one tablespoon of potato juice with 1 tablespoon of fuller’s earth and 1 tablespoon of potato pulp to prepare a face mask. Apply this evenly on face and neck. Sit back and relax for 20 minutes. You can combine this with the grated potato eye mask to use the entire potato at one time. Rinse away the mask after 20 minutes with cold water.

5. Face mask for hyper pigmentation and tan removal

Grate one potato and squeeze the juice from the grated potato. Mix one tablespoon of potato juice with two tablespoons of tomato juice to prepare a face mask. Apply this evenly on face and neck. Sit back and relax for 20 minutes. You can combine this with the grated potato eye mask to use the entire potato at one time. Rinse away the mask after 20 minutes with cold water.

6. Face mask for glowing skin

Mix one tablespoon of potato pulp with one tablespoon of cucumber pulp. Add 1/2 a teaspoon of turmeric powder and 1/2 a teaspoon of lemon juice. Add in a few drops of rose water for toning. Apply this mask for a maximum 10 minutes before rinsing off with cold water.

One important point to keep in mind- After using any treatment with potatoes, avoid direct sun exposure for at least 3-4 hours and always apply sunscreen. ( This is because topical application of potatoes leads to mild bleaching of the skin)

Have you tried any of these?

P.S.: Images from Google. I don’t own these