Just Peachy Hydrating Facial Spa

There is nothing better than when you get that first perfect peach of the season. When you first pierce the skin with your knife and it slides right under the peel, you know it's gonna be good! This week I have a big, beautiful bowl of peaches, fresh from a local farm, and they are incredible. I have to limit myself to one a day, so I don't overdo it. I was thinking as I sliced one into my bowl this morning how good my hands look and feel after I slice one. You can feel the soothing and hydrating benefits right away. Peach is one of the gentlest of the fruits to digest and is tolerated by all but the most sensitive skin when applied topically. Peach is high in antioxidants and is both exfoliating and hydrating, while also imparting moisture and vibrancy and gently toning the skin. Sounds like a perfect facial to me, so I decided to put a few recipes together and have myself a peachy spa facial treatment. I'll detail each step below.

When making homemade skin care, it's really important to start with clean utensils and bowls. Wash your hands and your utensils with warm soapy water before you begin. I always love a layered facial treatment. Each step just adds another luxurious and perfecting layer of goodness. The cleansing is a prep step in this treatment and then I layer three peachy skin treatments together for a full facial experience. After the gentle cleanse I like to use a very gentle exfoliant to prep the skin and start softening the upper layer of skin to be removed. Normally I like to use cane sugar that I grind finer in my mortar and pestle, but I also like the polishing effect of a bit of baking soda, too. In this treatment the peach is also acting as a chemical exfoliant so you can go very lightly on the manual exfoliation of a scrub.

After the scrub, the mask comes next. I've got a few options here depending on your skin needs. Oatmeal is great for sensitive skin and also sun parched summer skin. Yogurt adds another layer of exfoliation with gentle lactic acid. I like to up the probiotic factor in mine by adding kefir. I also use the chilled whey mixed with rose or lavender water as a toner in between each step...because I love it, and it is super indulgent to me. The whey is an added layer of hydration, toning and probiotic goodness. Honey masks are fantastic humectants, meaning they bind moisture molecules to the skin and help to draw it in. You could easily make any combination you like or even add all of the above to the peach puree. Give them all a try while you've got fresh peaches around.

Lastly is the hydration treatment. This is one of my favorite little tips for a fabulous at home facial...steam towels. You can wet a small hand towel and put it in the crockpot or microwave to heat it up. Just make sure it's very warm, not actually hot. If you prefer a cool towel instead (which is really invigorating and reduces redness) then keep the damp towel in the fridge. Honey, as I said before is one of my favorite skin care products because it delivers so many benefits. Hydration and reduced inflammation and irritation are at the very top of the list. A light application of honey to the face that is cocooned with a moist warm or cool towel will instantly hydrate, soothe and plump the skin. Adding the fresh peach juice just makes it that much more divine. I like to apply the hydration layer and then loosely wrap my face with the towel and relax on the couch for about 10-15 minutes.

Once you've completed all the steps for your facial treatment, then proceed with your favorite mists, serums or moisturizing oils or creams. Sometimes just getting your face washed for the day is all you can muster, and I get that. On this day that you choose to prepare your own facial spa treatment, make it extra special. Invite a friend to share in the fun, brew some of your favorite tea or maybe even a glass of bubbly with a splash of fresh peach juice for a delicious bellini. You deserve a little pampering now and then so enjoy every last second of it. Your skin and your senses will thank you for it!

Good For You Ingredients

• Peaches- High in vitamin C, gentle AHA's to exfoliate, lighten dark spots, reduces redness, improves collagen production, softens scars, improves cell turnover, a natural astringent to tone skin and control surface oil without stripping skin.

• Oats- Moisturizing, cooling, soothing, reduces inflammation and irritation, humectant and protective to the skin barrier.

• Yogurt or Kefir (or Whey)- Rich in probiotics to help restore the proper microbiome on skin's surface, reduces inflammation, gentle lactic acid exfoliation, improves moisture content of skin, calms, brightens and evens skin tone and slows aging of skin.

• Organic (Raw) Honey- A natural humectant and loaded with antibacterial properties. Helps heal acne, soothing to irritated skin, healing to damaged skin, lightens dark spots, super hydrating, gentle natural exfoliant, reduces redness and promotes a healthy toned glow.

Fresh Peach Facial Puree

In your Ninja blender cup puree one peeled, fresh sliced peach with 1-2 tablespoons of water until a thick puree comes together. You can also do this with the back of a spoon in a bowl. Just mash until there are no lumps and just a nice peachy mush is left.

Sweet Peach Facial Scrub

1 teaspoon fresh peach puree

1-2 teaspoon finely ground cane sugar or

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon honey

Blend in a small bowl until just spreadable. Add more sugar if the peach is extra juicy. Wet your face with toner, water or whey and then using fingertips, very gently massage the scrub all over face and neck. Avoid the eye area as it is too delicate. Polish in small circular motions until you have exfoliated the face and neck well. Just one gentle pass over the skin is enough. You don't need to scrub and scrub as this only irritates the skin. Your next two steps will give the refinement you are looking for. Rince with luke warm or cool water, pat dry and apply toner, hydrosol or whey and proceed to the next step. If this is your stand-alone treat for the day then rinse, apply toner and proceed with moisturizers.

Fresh Peach Smoothing Mask

1-2 teaspoon peach puree

1 teaspoon yogurt or kefir (plain, unsweetened)

1/2 teaspoon honey

Blend in small bowl until thick and creamy. Add more yogurt if needed. To a cleansed and exfoliated face apply mask with fingers or small fan brush. Cover entire face and neck. Be careful around eyes and don't get too close. Lie back and relax or sip some tea for about 15-20 minutes and then rinse with cool water. Pat dry, apply toner, hydrosol or whey and go to the next step... or apply serums and moisturizer for the day.

Fresh Peach Soothing Mask

2 teaspoon peach puree

1 teaspoon colloidal oats or oats ground to fine powder in blender

1/2 teaspoon of rose or lavender water or coconut milk

Blend in small bowl adding more liquid if needed. When you have a creamy, thick mask, apply as per the directions above.

Juicy Peach Glow Mask

1/2 teaspoon peach puree

1 teaspoon honey

Blend in small bowl and use fingers to pat all over a cleansed and prepped face. To stimulate the skin a bit, use fingertips in a press-snap motion to create a tapotement effect. The mask will get stickier. Do this for 20-30 seconds and then wrap the face in a warm or cool towel and relax for 15-20 minutes. Remove the mask with cool towels and tone the skin. You are ready for your serums, potions and facial oils.

Hopefully you have some fresh peaches coming in right now where you live, too. You can absolutely make these treatments with frozen peaches, but the benefit of fresh ones will have you summer lovin' your skin. Peaches are such a great cooling, hydrating and delicious treat for the body and the skin care benefits are better than whipped cream on top. Happy peach season, happy late summer and happy new moon tomorrow. I hope there's a peachy keen spa day in your very near future.