ETCETERAS: homemade pomegranate facial scrub

I was so excited to see Pomegranates at the market. I have to admit the taste of pomegranates is a bit tart for me but there are a host of things you can do with the seeds besides eating them straight from the fruit.

Recipes for salads, juice, tea, desserts, sauces and more are just a click away if you do an Internet search for pomegranate recipes. During the pomegranate season, which is October through January here in California, I plan on sharing more ideas for this beautiful fruit.

Pomegranates have been cultivated since ancient times, and science has found surprising benefits for this amazing fruit. Research shows that the seeds may slow aging, halt the spread of cancer and improve heart health. What’s more, this tasty treat is low in calories (only around 105 for an average-sized fruit) in addition to being loaded with nutrients. High in vitamin C and potassium, the bright red fruit also boasts high levels of antioxidants. And if you eat the seeds rather than drinking the tangy juice, you’ll have added fiber in your diet as well.  Source: Yahoo Health

If you don’t like the taste of pomegranate seeds you can still reap the benefits of it’s anti-aging properties by making a facial scrub. The oil from the seeds helps strengthen the outer layer of your skin which reduces or delays wrinkles. Source: Yahoo Lifestyle

I found several ideas for pomegranate scrubs but in the end, made up my own recipe. Here’s what I included:

• 2-3 tablespoons of honey
• 1/2 cup crushed pomegranate seeds with the juice
• 1/2 cup white sugar

Start by cutting open the fruit. Make a slit with a sharp knife and then pry the halves open. You can do this in the sink or in a bowl of water to prevent the deep dark red juice from splattering and potentially staining your clothes or counter. Once the fruit is open, start picking the seeds off. Again, you can do this while the fruit is submerged in a bowl of water. The seeds will sink and the white fleshy part floats making it easy to separate.
Pour the honey into a bowl and add the seeds. Crush the seeds with a wooden spoon. I lightly covered the top of my bowl with a paper towel because juice was spraying as I crushed the seeds. Add the sugar and stir. You can use more sugar if you want a thicker scrub.

You can either leave the crushed seeds in the scrub or remove them after you’ve juice them. I left mine in to add more texture to the scrub.

I am now in love with pomegranates. The natural color is sensational.

And the pomegranate facial scrub looks good enough to eat. I bet you could eat it like jam. Honey, sugar and pomegranates – all natural and yummy. Could this be the fountain of youth? I’ll keep you posted on my antioxidant | anti wrinkle situation.

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Look for this project in The Ultimate List of Mason Jar Gifts from Crafts with Jars.