We've all been minorly obsessed with drinking acai juice for a few years now, but lately the pricey ingredient has become highly coveted in natural skin and hair products. Though this vibrantly colored fruit is pretty much only found in Amazon rain forests, you don't need to pay top shelf prices to get the benefits of acai berry for beauty. Instead of snagging store-bought creams and serums, you can make your own DIY products for a fraction of the cost. Bonus: You get to control all the ingredients that go into your natural remedy catering to your own natural beauty.
Acai berry started making a huge name for itself adround 2009 when Oprah and Dr. Oz jumped on board. Duh — isn't everyone at least slightly more likely to try something Oprah-approved? I can't claim that acai berry helps you lose weight or combat depression because I personally haven't tried it, but what it does for my hair is nothing short of a miracle. The fresh berries are not always at my fingertips. I even once starting searching desperately on Craiglist for cheap rentals in the Amazon rain forest; before my meager budget, lack of survival skills, and fetal-like separation anxiety from my mother could become a problem, I was lucky enough to find acai berry powder a comparable substitute.
One of the main skin and hair benefits of acai berries is the antioxidants which are known to be an aging beauty's partner in crime. It's rich in vitamins A, B, C, and E so it's going to revive your skin, heal damaged skin cells, and restore moisture. According to sources at Style Craze, acai berry's anti-inflammatory properties make it great for those suffering from acne, it may not be nature's number one acne cure, but it's always helpful to have an anti-aging ingredient that also won't irritate adult acne outbreaks.
My favorite way to use acai berry is in hair rinses. Acai berry contains zinc which helps strengthens hair from the root and the rich natural color of the fruit gives my hair a soft tint just in time for summer. According to sources at KisforKinky, the omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids are hard to find all in one fruit and all these vitamins and minerals helps keep our locks strong and keep hair thinning at bay. Yes, acai berry's anti-aging qualities are not just skin deep, they can keep your hair looking and feeling young. Which definitely keeps us acting young.
Before you run to Rite Aid to purchase some acai berry on the cheap, remember that if you really want to use this fruit to heal or cure anything you'll need to purchase acai berry in the realist form, which means spending some real cash. Don't worry though, these recipes below will make it all worth it.
1. Acai Tinted Hair Rinse
No matter your hair type or curl pattern, you can get yourself a temporary rouge tint while actually cleaning and restoring your hair's natural pH balance. This is one of my favorite hair rinses to make. Mix one part apple cider vinegar, one part rose water, and one part freshly brewed green tea. Next, add a heaping teaspoon of organic, pure acai berry. Shake your mixture up in a sealed container before adding your preferred essential oils (I personally like jasmine and eucalyptus with my acai berry). Get your hair nice and drenched before adding your rinse. Leave on for 15 minutes and rinse well before conditioning and styling.
2. A Berry Anti-Aging Mask
Personally, I love a thick mask that restores my natural complexion and soothes fine lines. This mask won't cause breakouts and it is great for hyper-pigmentation woes. Start by tossing a quarter of a of fresh avocado, three blackberries, and one teaspoon of acai berry into a blender. Add six drops of jasmine essential oil and apply on make-up free skin. According to sources at Style Craze, avocado and acai berry are a natural remedy for fighting hyper pigmentation, and I can definitely attest that my skin was incredibly soft after wearing this mask for about five minutes.
3. Acai Tinted Lip Balm
I've discovered a way to make my dream lip balm, which means I never have to worry that the drug store won't have my color when I run out. I mix two tablespoons of beeswax, two tablespoons of mango butter, and half a tablespoon of coconut oil together and then add acai berry to make a tinted balm. You can add more acai berry depending on how rich you want your color.
Image: Kristin Collins Jackson , Giphy
