Strawberry Body Smoothie

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This rejuvenating recipe works as a quadruple alpha-beta-hydroxy acid body scrub. Strawberries contain salicylic acid - a beta-hydroxy acid that helps clean away surface dirt so the stronger alpha-hydroxy acids of the other fruits can access pores and get rid of dead skin cells. This recipe contains three kinds of alpha hydroxy acid: malic acid in apples, citric acid in orange juice, and tartaric acid in grapes - all of which have exfoliating properties.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups fresh strawberries, halved
• 1 cup grapes
• 1 apple, unpeeled, cored and chopped
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 3 tablespoons honey

Directions:

Blend ingredients together, adding more orange juice to liquefy or honey to thicken as needed. Apply the mixture to your face and body allowing it to set for 20 minutes. Rinse off thoroughly.

Unless you want to be a real strawberry blonde, be careful to avoid getting the mixture in your hair, particularly if chemically treated, as acidic strawberries may affect color.

While the fruit acids chemically remove dull, dead skin cells, the strawberry seeds exfoliate the skin physically. Thus, this peel is a dual exfoliator providing added skin benefits. The honey is a natural antimicrobial agent that has been used for thousands of years to treat skin disorders, cuts and burns. Enzymes contained in honey encourage the growth of new skin cells, while moisturizing by drawing water to the skin's surface.