Unlock the Benefits Of Papaya For Radiant Skin

We’re not the ones to pick favourites, but if you asked us about the one fruit we would never give up, it would have to be the grand ol’ Papaya. And boy, oh boy, do we have reasons for it. It’s not only delicious, but it’s also exploding with benefits. We’re talking antioxidants, anti-ageing, skin-brightening, and healthy vitamins (especially B and C!) to name a few. Not to mention, it smells like a vacation in the tropics! But if you think that you’re going to have to eat a whole papaya in a single sitting for visible results, think again. Simply mashing it up and slathering it onto your face can work wonders too. And if that isn’t your cup of tea either, here’s a list of our favourite papaya-infused products.

But before we get into our favourite products let’s look into the benefits of papaya fruit for the skin and how you can use it for your skin. Our grandparents and parents have all fed us papaya time and again, but do we really know it benefits us? If you are like me and just eat fruit for its soft, sweet taste then it's time we learn the advantages it has to offer for our body and skin.

General Benefits Of Papaya

This tropical fruit is packed with essential vitamins and minerals that offer numerous benefits for the skin and body. Let’s look at some of the benefits it offers for the body:

Rich In Vitamins:

Papayas are full of vitamins A, C, and E that help boost our immune system and overall health.

Healthy Enzymes:

Due to its high fibre content and healthy enzymes, it clears any digestive issues that can cause bloating, indigestion, and constipation leading to a healthier gut.

Antioxidant-Rich:

Papaya skin is full of antioxidants and incorporating it into your skincare routine has several other benefits. Let’s look at how it benefits your skin in detail below.

Papaya Benefits For Skin

1. Natural Exfoliation:

   Papaya contains a naturally occurring exfoliant called papain that helps remove dead skin cells by gently exfoliating the skin. It removes dead skin cells, impurities, dirt, and dust, and unclogs pores for a smooth skin texture.

2. Illuminates Skin:

   Papaya has natural bleaching properties and is also full of vitamin C which aids in reducing pigmentation, dark spots, dullness, and acne scars. It also evens out skin tone and helps you achieve naturally glowing skin.

3. Helps Acne-Prone Skin:

   Papaya also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which help reduce fungal growth that leads to acne, pimples, and other blemishes. The papain enzyme also unclogs pores which causes breakouts.

4. Reduces Signs Of Ageing:

   Papaya is full of vitamin A which is a great anti-ageing substance. This vitamin helps combat signs of ageing such as fine lines and wrinkles and leaves your skin feeling softer, younger, and smoother.

5. Hydrates

   Papaya has a high water content that helps hydrate dull, dry, and dehydrated skin when applied topically. It increases moisture levels and leaves your skin feeling plump, velvety smooth, and glowing.

6. Improves Skin Elasticity:

   The vitamins A and C contribute to collagen production by creating a suitable environment. This enables the skin to increase the pace of new cell regeneration and tighten pores faster. This makes your skin firm and youthful.

7. Detoxifies Skin:

   The essential enzymes in papaya help neutralise the radical particles from the skin and also detoxify any pollutants from the surface. It clears out the skin, improves clarity, and offers an overall radiance.

8. Heals Wounds:

   Papaya seeds and skin can really increase the process of healing minor burns and wounds when applied topically. It can also reduce the healing time for cuts, bruises, and sunburns

How To Use Papaya For Your Skin

There are several ways of using papaya for your skin:

Papaya Face Mask: You can mash a few pieces of ripe papaya and create a smooth paste. Add it directly to the freshly cleansed face and leave it for 15–20 minutes. Rinse it off with some warm water and apply some moisturiser to lock in the benefits. This will help you exfoliate any dead skin cells, unclog pores, and brighten your skin tone.

Papaya Face Scrub: Take some pieces of ripe papaya and make it into a pulp. To create that scrub-like coarse texture add some oatmeal flour, sugar, and coffee to the pulp. Mix it up well to create a homemade scrub. Gently scrub your face with this concoction and wait for a few minutes before rinsing it off. This will improve your skin texture, exfoliate the dead skin cells, and offer a natural glow.

Papaya-Infused Products: There are several papaya-infused products such as face washes, face masks, face creams, and scrubs that you can use to reap the benefits of papaya.

Best Papaya-Infused Products

1. Biotique Bio Papaya Tan Removal Scrub

We’re truly grateful for all the sunshine we get, but NOTHING, and we mean nothing, can prepare us for a horrendous tan. Lucky for us, Biotique has a pretty stellar remedy for it. This scrub comes in a cute little tube and contains Papaya enzymes, which gently dissolve the damaged surface cells to reveal supple, glowing and plump skin. The formula is effective to the T - you can see the difference in just the first application! You might want to stock up on this product before summer rolls in every year.

2. Nykaa Skin Secrets Gooseberry + Papaya Sheet Mask

Whether it’s a result of your bout with acne or the after-effects of Aunt Flo’s recent visit, blemishes can be a real pest, and fading them can take a full-blown arsenal of products. But don’t raid your vanity cupboard just yet. This sheet mask is literally the solution in a packet. It’s packed with Papaya extracts, which when combined with Gooseberry, go three layers deep to reduce the appearance of scars and bring out a clear, bright complexion. Get set to get the glow that you’ve always wanted.

3. Khadi Natural Saffron Papaya Anti-Wrinkle Cream

We’re all for ageing gracefully, and we definitely think that you should embrace turning older in all its wrinkled glory. But what’s the harm in pushing the appearance of your first wrinkle to a little later, right? We’re complete fans of this cream for how natural it is. You already know that Papaya contains a chock full of antioxidants. So alongside purifying your skin, this cream is also going to plump it up, fade dark spots, reduce the appearance of fine lines and protect it from sun damage. Not to mention, it’s so natural that you won’t even have to hesitate to use it even before you turn 30!

4. VLCC Papaya Fruit Single Facial Kit

The unfortunate truth is that, as brown-skinned beauties, our skin is quite prone to pigmentation. But achieving even-toned skin doesn’t have to be a distant dream, it’s only a facial away. This facial kit unleashes the goodness of Papaya enzymes to slough off the dull patches of skin, revealing fresher and more even-toned skin. And, and, and… this can be achieved in only a few steps.

5. Vedic Line Papaya Massage Gel

Whether it’s on your upper arms or under the chin, we don’t think we can make our peace with saggy skin. And despite slaving away on the treadmill or picking up weights heavier than yourself, it barely tightens up in a short amount of time. This is why you NEED the Vedic Line Papaya Massage Gel. It’s packed into a beautiful (and very exquisite, if we may say!) jar, and is brimming with Vitamin A. All you have to do is massage it into your skin to increase the circulation of blood underneath. It’s also soothing to the skin, which is why you need to add it to your summer skincare regime.

Parting Thoughts

Papaya is not only a super-fruit that’s yummy and good for your gut health but it is also a great ingredient for your skin. When used topically, it hydrates your skin, reduces inflammation, improves your skin texture, brightens the skin, and gently exfoliates. If you are one to DIY there are actually a lot of products on Nykaa that you can incorporate into your skincare routine for healthy, glowing, and youthful skin.

FAQs

1. What are some benefits of papaya fruit for the skin?

   Papaya helps radiate, hydrate, and exfoliate the skin. It also detoxifies, reduces inflammation, heals minor burns, cuts, and wounds, and brightens and evens out your complexion.

2. How to use papaya for skin?

   You can use papaya for your skin as a face mask, a cleanser, a serum, or even a moisturiser. Although there are several DIY face masks you can make, we recommend using papaya-infused products that offer targeted benefits.

3. Who should not use papaya on the skin?

   Papaya is a natural exfoliant, illuminator, and moisturiser, but there are some people who should not use it on their skin. People with allergies, especially latex allergies should avoid applying papaya topically.

4. Can I reduce acne by using papaya?

   The best way to reduce acne is to use salicylic acid but papaya also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce acne. We recommend consulting a doctor before using any product if you have severe acne.

5. Can papaya brighten my skin tone?

   Yes, papaya has an essential enzyme called papain and it's also full of vitamin C and antioxidants that help brighten the skin tone. It reduces dullness, dark spots, acne marks, and uneven skin tone to offer that natural glow.