The Surprising Beauty Ingredient You Already Have In Your Fridge

Don’t toss the
peel when you're done eating that orange.

There may be a dearth of fresh berries and other delicious, warm-weather fruits, but citrus is in season, and this fruit group is good for more than just noshing. An orange rind can be a valuable, natural beauty treatment that
helps fade dark spots, brighten complexions, and heal acne. Oranges may indeed be the OG of skin brighteners, so consider the abundance of citrus as a silver lining to the harsh winter months.  

While we patiently await higher temperatures and more hours of sunlight, now is a great time to work on making your complexion spring-break ready. Read on for five ways that you can incorporate orange peels into your
skin-care routine. Before you whip up any of these brightening skin-care products, you’ll first need to prepare the main
ingredient: orange peel powder. I promise it's not complicated; all you need is two oranges and a blender (or a lot of elbow grease). 

Orange Peel Powder 

Instructions
1. Wash two oranges with hot water. It’s important to use unwaxed and organic oranges, because
they haven't been exposed to the usual toxic mix of fertilizers, pesticides, and
insecticides that isn't good for your body or your skin. 

2. Peel the rind off the oranges, making sure the sections of
skin are about the size of a quarter. Bake the peels in a glass baking pan for
25 minutes at 200°F to dry them out. If they are still damp after 25 minutes, you can leave
them in the oven for an extra 5 minutes or so. 

3. Once the peels are dry, pop them into your food processor,
blender, Ninja, or favorite mixer and pulse until they are ground into a
powdery consistency. If your blender doesn't break down the
peels completely, you can always try hand-grinding them with a mortar and pestle.

4. Strain the powder through a fine-mesh sieve; you only want to collect the smallest granules. The
orange peel powder can be stored in an airtight glass container for up to three months, if it is  kept out of
direct sunlight. 

Anti-Aging Citrus
Wash Ingredients
1 tbsp orange peel powder
1 cup coconut water

Instructions
Mix the ingredients together and saturate a clean washcloth
with the solution. Massage face with cloth, then rinse skin with warm water.
Vitamin C (found in the orange peel) boosts collagen production and improves skin’s
elasticity, while the coconut water provides the ultimate hydration and oxygenation
of the skin. The result? A smoother, more youthful-looking appearance.

Instructions
Soothe anxiety while cleansing skin by blending orange peel
powder and sandalwood essential oil in a running bath. The aromatic soak will
leave you with calmed senses — and a glowing complexion. 

Orange & Turmeric
Mask 

Ingredients
1 tsp orange peel powder
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp organic honey

Instructions
This super-blend helps treat acne-prone skin and
clear blackheads. Orange peel powder contains natural fruit acids that
exfoliate without stripping skin, while turmeric and honey have antioxidant and
antibacterial properties to combat signs of aging. Mix the ingredients into a
paste, brush on with a large makeup brush, and leave on for 10 minutes before
rinsing with warm water. You’ll feel refreshed and radiant. 

Vanilla Citrus Body
Oil Ingredients
3 drops vanilla extract
1 tsp orange peel powder
1/2 cup jojoba oil

Instructions
This
DIY moisturizer packs major benefits: The orange peel powder contains
d-Limonene, which is a potent anti-carcinogenic that helps fight free
radical
damage to keep your skin healthy and protected. For maximum
moisture, mix
ingredients and apply from head to toe.

Instructions
Blend ingredients, pour into ice cube trays, and freeze
overnight. Once they're frozen, massage the cooling cubes over skin to help lighten
dark spots and acne scars, soothe sunburn, and firm complexion.