Orange You Lovely!

Growing up, our beloved OJ was always the answer after getting sick. “Remember to drink tons of fluids like orange juice and get lots of rest,” Dr. Patton would tell my dad and then five-year old me. For all my five-year old self knew, OJ was a life saver and the perfect way to wash away the gross after-taste of the medicine I had to take twice a day. Little did I know then that an orange was a powerhouse of Vitamin C and the secret to radiant skin!

Did you know?

Beyond boosting your immunity, Vitamin C is also a stimulator for collagen production. Collagen keeps your skin firm but as we age, our skin starts to produce less – resulting in wrinkles. Vitamin C is required in the production of collagen, so move over Botox – a new natural remedy is here!

Vitamin C is also amazing for blemish prone skin. Citrus essential oils packed with Vitamin C mixed with tea tree oil has been a proven way to purify the skin. I love using it for an overnight acne treatment. It’s magical and you wake up to clear skin.

Still not convinced? Since it’s summer, here is a fun fact: Vitamin C slows down the production of melanin in your skin. Melanin is what your skin produces when damaged by sun rays (better known as “getting a tan”) and is also the culprit behind skin cancer!

Below are two amazing beauty D.I.Y ways to use an orange (though it can also be replaced by any other citrus fruit).

Orange and Brown Sugar Body Scrub

• 1 cup of pure cane sugar (or any kind you have, I prefer the texture of pure cane or brown sugar)
• 1.5 tablespoon of honey
• 3 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil (you can also use coconut oil, jojoba oil, almond oil, etc)
• a few drops of orange essential oil and orange zest
• an airtight container – will last up to one month if properly stored

Mix everything together and voila! An easy, simple scrub packed with Vitamin C.

Orange and Honey Face Mask

An easy mix for a firming, soothing, and energizing facial. You will need:

• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1 tablespoon of yogurt
• Pulp of half an orange

Mix well into a paste-like consistency and apply to a cleansed face. Leave on for ten minutes and wash off with lukewarm water. A great pick-me-up if you need some re-energizing after staring at your computer for days.

Bonus for the home: Orange Air Freshener

Super simple way to freshen up your home.

• 1 pot of boiling hot water
• Orange peels (recycled from your yummy snack!)

Put the orange peels in the boiling water and let it boil. The essential oils in the orange peel will invigorate your home instantly.

I hope this post gives you all a reason to smile hugely. We’re so lucky that nature provides us the answer to every beauty need we will ever ask for!

Kirby Koo is a French-speaking Chinese-American girl living in Hong Kong who is an avid lover of all things timeless and beautiful. She has worked at Estee Lauder, L’Occitane, and Sephora so she knows the value of living well and looking good and she wants to share her beauty secrets with you. You can also find her at www.kirby-koo.com.