avocado face hair maskI love avocados. In salads or on a sandwich -- yum, they are so good! The mushy green fruit is also good for homemade beauty recipes. When I asked readers to share their favorite DIY concoctions, CafeMom FIVEHAPPYHEARTS said an avocado face mask was hers because it made her skin feel soft and fresh.

I could use some softness and freshness for my face! Not only is avocado great to help with dry skin, but also has vitamin C and E -- nature's very own anti-oxidant and anti-age serum. And it can also "feed" your hair. This fruit helps to nourish and moisturize dry locks. I've got some recipes!

Avocado Face Mask

You will need:

  • 1 ripe avocado
  • 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice (squeezed from lemon)

How to prepare:

Scoop out avocado into bowl and mash well. Add 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice and blend vigorously. You can add in a full teaspoon if you have oily skin -- lemon juice helps to clean pores and remove dead skin. Once mixed, apply to face, steering clear of eyes and eye area. Leave on for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off and finish with a splash or two of cold water to close pores.


Avocado Hair Mask

You will need:

  • 1 ripe avocado
  • 1 tablespoon of honey
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil

Scoop out avocado into bowl and mash well. Add honey and olive oil and stir together until well blended. Honey has humectants that help keep the hair moisturized. Olive oil does too and helps tame frizzies. Start application at the ends. If the crown and hair closest to the scalp tends to get oily, you may want to apply to ends only. Otherwise, apply from bottom up, saturating strands. Leave on for 30 minutes, then shampoo and condition as usual. Your hair will more silky and shiny.