Don’t wish to wind up with egg in your face? What about banana?
Ashton Corridor — a health influencer and self-styled life coach — lately went viral for sharing his seemingly insane morning routine, which features a 4 a.m. wake-up name, mouth tape, dunking his face right into a bowl of Saratoga ice chilly water and — maybe most bizarrely — rubbing a banana peel on his face.
And he’s not the one influencer to tout to advertise the supposed skincare trick.
It was a submit that launched a thousand parody movies — however Corridor is in no way the primary to offer himself a fruit facial.
Influencers have been doing these DIY “banana peel scrubs” for a while now, touting them as “pure Botox” that tightens and brightens up their pores and skin.
And now, because of Corridor, different TikTokers are going bananas for this skincare ritual.
The professional-banana contingent
However as a-peel-ing as it’s, does it really work? Or is that this stylish fad simply one other slippery slope?
“What makes the banana peel helpful for pores and skin is its excessive nutrient content material,” stated Benjamin Bunting, a sports activities nutritionist and the founding father of BeForm Vitamin.
“Banana peels comprise antioxidants and numerous B nutritional vitamins which will hydrate and shield pores and skin when utilized straight to it. The within of a banana peel additionally has gentle exfoliating properties, serving to to do away with any useless pores and skin cells.”
To get the complete results, he recommends rubbing the within of a ripe banana peel in your face utilizing round motions, leaving it on for quarter-hour after which rinsing with cool water.
It’s easy and — maybe extra importantly on this financial system — free.
“What we’re seeing is extra folks eager to embrace pure and inexpensive wellness regimes that they’ll simply add to their day by day routine,” he stated.
And the anti-banana argument
However not everyone seems to be as fast to leap on this banana boat.
Dr. Kate Jameson, a beauty physician and founding father of Youth Lab Australia, acknowledges that bananas are full of vitamins that might provide some advantages — however she’s a bit skeptical that this development is greater than skin-deep.
“Banana peel accommodates antioxidants equivalent to vitamin C, vitamin E and lutein, that are identified to have anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties,” she stated.
“For some, making use of the within of the peel to the pores and skin could assist calm gentle irritation or present a short-term soothing impact, particularly on dry patches.”
Nevertheless, there are limitations and potential downsides.
“There’s little or no scientific proof to again up its effectiveness as a skincare remedy, and in contrast to professionally formulated merchandise, banana peel is just not stabilized or designed for topical use,” she stated.
“There’s additionally a threat of pores and skin irritation or bacterial contamination, significantly for these with delicate or damaged pores and skin.”
Jameson notes that banana peels have been used as pure dwelling cures for different points — equivalent to warts — however even that could possibly be an previous wives’ story.
“Some imagine the enzymes within the peel may help soften and break down the tissue of a wart over time,” she stated. “However once more, the proof is solely anecdotal. If somebody is battling warts or different pores and skin issues, it’s finest to talk with a certified practitioner somewhat than depend on viral developments.”
And, typically, she encourages folks to deal with these TikTok developments with warning.
“Pure doesn’t at all times imply protected or efficient — and what works for one particular person on-line could not work for others, particularly in relation to pores and skin well being.”
