Garlic is a common ingredient found in most kitchens, known for its pungent aroma and ability to add depth and flavor to many dishes.
But what most people don’t know is that garlic skin, the papery outer layer often discarded, has some very surprising benefits for your skin.
What Makes Garlic Skin Beneficial for Our Skin?
Garlic skin contains many of the same compounds (ref) found in garlic cloves that provide health and skin benefits, such as:
Allicin
This sulfur compound gives garlic its characteristic odor and has potent antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.
Antioxidants
Garlic skin is rich in antioxidants like vitamin C and polyphenols that protect the skin from free radical damage and premature aging.
Minerals
The skin of garlic contains minerals like zinc and selenium which are important for skin health and healing.
When applied topically, these beneficial compounds in garlic skin can help address various skin concerns and improve the overall appearance of your complexion.
Using Garlic Skin in Skincare
So how can you incorporate this surprising ingredient into your skincare routine?
One easy way is to add garlic skin to homemade face masks and scrubs. The texture of the skin acts as a gentle exfoliant, sloughing off dead cells and revealing smoother, brighter skin underneath.
You can also infuse oils with garlic skin to extract its beneficial compounds. Simply place dried garlic skins in a jar, cover with your oil of choice, and let it sit for a few weeks. The infused oil can then be used in DIY skincare recipes or applied directly to skin.
Another option is to grind garlic skin into a fine powder using a spice grinder or mortar and pestle. This nutrient-rich powder can be mixed into masks, scrubs, and other skincare concoctions to boost their effectiveness.
You can even strain garlic skin-infused water and use it as a toner or face mist for an extra dose of antioxidants.
How to Make a Garlic Skin Scrub
Ready to try garlic skin in your skincare routine?
Here’s a simple recipe for a nourishing garlic skin scrub:
- Remove and collect garlic skins, then dry them out completely. You can let them air dry or use a dehydrator if you have one.
- Once the skins are completely dry and brittle, grind them into a fine powder using a spice grinder or mortar and pestle.
- In a bowl, mix the garlic skin powder with other exfoliating ingredients like sugar or coffee grounds. Add in nourishing ingredients like honey, oil, or yogurt to create a paste.
- To use, gently massage the scrub onto damp skin in circular motions, avoiding the eye area. Rinse off with warm water and pat dry.
- Follow up with your favorite moisturizer to lock in hydration. The combination of garlic skin nutrients and physical exfoliation will leave your skin feeling soft, smooth, and glowing.
Precautions When Using Garlic Skin
While garlic skin is generally safe for most people, there are a few precautions to keep in mind.
Applying garlic directly to skin can cause irritation for some, so it’s important to do a patch test on a small area first.
Avoid getting garlic in open wounds or near your eyes, as it can sting and cause discomfort. It’s also best not to use garlic skin scrubs more than 1-2 times per week, as over-exfoliation can damage the skin barrier.
If you have sensitive skin or a pre-existing skin condition, talk to your dermatologist before incorporating garlic skin into your routine. And of course, discontinue use if you experience any adverse reactions like redness, itching, or burning.
The Best Part: You Can Grow an Endless Supply of Garlic Forever for Free (Once Started)
Having a continuous supply of fresh, homegrown garlic throughout the year is achievable with a few clever gardening hacks.
- Check Out: How to Grow Garlic for a Never-Ending Supply
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Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.