The crisp air and crunchy leaves of fall signal a new season! Just as the colors change, so do our skin and appetites. Autumn’s bounty of crisp and crunchy apples are the star ingredient for this “wear it or bake it (or both!)” beauty article.
Presenting the “Apple Crumble Scrub”!
All photos by Evi Abeler
It’s a decadently delicious dish and exfoliating treatment to help your skin look amazing and support your beauty from the inside, all while satisfying your taste buds.
Gather up the ingredients listed below, grab a friend and have some fun making this dual-purpose treatment for two.
Making the Scrub
Great for all skin types, particularly those with breakouts, because this is a gentle exfoliator with naturally antibacterial properties.
Ingredients: (makes enough for two faces)
Half an apple, any variety, roughly chopped
1/2 cup oatmeal
3 tablespoons crushed walnuts
2 teaspoons raw honey
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Juice from 1/4 lemon
2 teaspoons raw turbinado sugar
The best way to mix this up is in a food processor. Toss in the apple, oatmeal, walnuts, raw honey, cinnamon and lemon juice.* Pulse a few times until the mixture blends to a thick paste.
Prepare your skin by cleansing it gently and putting a warm (not hot) washcloth on your face for 2 to 5 minutes to help expand the pores.
Just before applying the exfoliator paste, add in the raw turbinado sugar. Spread the apple-oatmeal-sugar-yumminess over your face like a mask. You’ll get more benefit from this treatment if you leave it on for 10-20 minutes. (Resist the urge to lick!)
Once time’s up, start gently scrubbing the paste in circular upward motions all over the face.
Rinse with lukewarm water, pat dry with a towel and follow with your preferred moisturizer.
*If your skin is very sensitive, leave out the cinnamon and lemon.
Making the Apple Crumble
Ingredients: (makes enough for 2 servings)
4 apples, any variety
1/4 lemon, wedge
1/3 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup crushed walnuts
1/2 tablespoon raw turbinado sugar
1 teaspoon raw honey
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled
This treat is a healthier version of the traditional crumble recipes because it’s fairly low in sugar, has lots of fiber from the apples and oatmeal, and features walnuts rich in omega 3 fatty acids.
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Core (but don’t peel) 4 apples and them cut into 1/2 inch slices.
Put the apples into a medium sauce pan with water to cover. Cook on low heat for 10 minutes. Add water by the tablespoon if it starts to dry.
Transfer the cooked apples into a small ovenproof dish and squeeze a large wedge of lemon (about 1/4 lemon) over the top.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine oatmeal, crushed walnuts, raw turbinado sugar, raw honey and cinnamon. Cut the butter into small cubes and add to the rest of the ingredients. Mix everything with your fingertips until reaches a nice crumbly texture. (Bonus: you’ll notice your hands will feel very smooth after this step!)
Cover the dish of cooked apples with the crumble mixture. Bake for approximately 20 minutes until the crumble turns golden-brown.
For all you multi-taskers: While the apple crumble is baking, you can put on the exfoliating scrub, sit back and allow it to work its magic.
The Yummy Benefits
Apples - Contain vitamin C, and delivers antioxidants, which are said to help protect skin. Eating apples is also a wonderful way to get fiber.
Raw honey - Can help skin retain moisture when used topically (good news for those with dry skin).
Cinnamon – Cinnamon tingles and stimulates when applied to the face, which might bring a radiant glow with it. However, if you have super sensitive or reactive skin, use this ingredient sparingly or avoid entirely.
Walnuts – Just a quarter of a cup offers over 2500 milligrams of Omega 3 fatty acids. Walnuts are full magnesium, manganese and copper. Topically, they act as a mild exfoliator.
Oatmeal – For the skin, oatmeal is gentle and soothing exfoliator which may help moisturize too. When eaten, oatmeal’s soluble fiber can aid digestion.
Lemon - Mildly exfoliating fruit acid helps keep pores clear and may lighten skin.
Raw turbinado sugar –Sugar works topically as a mild yet effective exfoliator due to the texture of the grains.
Are you glowing with fall goodness yet? What natural beauty remedies do you reach for when the weather turns chilly? Let me know in the comments below.
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