Hydrate your hands with this easy, two-ingredient papaya and banana hand mask. At a fraction of the cost at a spa, your hands will feel moisturized and ready for anything. It only takes a few minutes, and it’s made completely with whole produce. You’ll always want this on hand.

Winter is the worst time of year for dry skin. 

And if you have a skin condition, forget it! It’s even worse. 

Although we love eating papaya and bananas, we also love putting it on our skin. 

It’s just as hydrating as getting an expensive cream, and you can make it at home with your kids. 

Only two ingredients and 15 minutes to make, your hands will feel smooth and hydrated.

We promise.

What’s a Hand Mask?

Just like a face mask, hand masks are designed to go specifically on your hands. Papaya and banana work together to lock in moisture to hydrate and nourish your hands. They can even strengthen the barrier on the skin by developing a protective layer to prevent dry, cracked hands during the winter. 

We recommend using a hand mask once a month. But if you live in a severely cold area or are often exposed to shivering winter elements, it won’t hurt to use a hand mask more frequently. 

Simply apply the hand mask and wear gloves for ten to twenty minutes to let the skin absorb the moisture. Then, remove the gloves and use your fingers to rub in any excess hand mask that is left over.  

Ingredients

We love using fresh produce in our skincare routine, and it’s no different when it comes to our hands. We’ll use two easy, accessible, and affordable ingredients to give your hands moisture all winter long, even when it’s freezing outside.

Papaya

Bright orange in color, papaya has many helpful properties when it comes to taking care of your skin. Whether you want to moisturize, combat acne and dark circles, or counter symptoms of aging, papaya does it all. Since you’re on the hunt for an all-natural way to moisturize your hands, this is the secret ingredient that’s going to get you there. 

Just a note of caution: if you are allergic to latex, you may have to swap the papaya for another fruit or veggie with moisturizing properties. There may be a cross allergy where you can develop an allergy to papaya as well. 

Look for papaya in the produce section. It shouldn’t be too far away from the bananas.

Bananas

Before you start wondering why bananas are part of the ingredient list, hear us out. The pulp in bananas contains an acid that acts as a natural exfoliant by removing dead skin cells. Banana pulp is often used in skincare products for hydrating and moisturizing the skin. 

Bananas have even been called nature’s natural botox. When mixed with specific ingredients, like papaya, you can gently nourish, exfoliate, and protect your skin with this hand mask recipe. Last but most certainly not least, bananas have vitamins and antioxidants that help promote the skin’s natural ability to protect itself from the sun.   

Look for ripe yellow bananas in the produce aisle of your local grocery store.

How to Make Papaya and Banana Hand Mask

Step 1: Use a knife to cut the papaya in half. Scoop out the black seeds with a spoon and put them on a plate for later.

Step 2: Use a knife to peel the papaya. Then, cut the papaya half into slices and then into cubes. 

Step 3: Add the papaya cubes and the seeds to a high-powered blender and blend for 30 seconds.

Step 4: Cut the bananas with a knife, add them to the blender, and blend the papaya and banana until smooth. 

Step 5: Transfer the papaya and banana hand mask to a jar or airtight container and use once a month.

How to Select Papaya

Unripe papayas are green and slowly turn yellow as they ripen. The best papayas should be almost all yellow and have a little give from gentle pressure with your fingertips. You can also do a scent test on the papaya to see if it smells rich and floral, like a ripe papaya. If it meets all three of these standards, you’ve got a good one!

How to Store Papaya

We’re only using half of the papaya for this hand mask recipe. So you can either make a double batch to use the whole papaya or store it and use it in another recipe like pina coladas, fajitas, or fruit salad. If you choose to store your papaya for later, put it in an airtight container. Be sure to eat it within two days while it’s still firm and not mushy. If you want to make another batch of your hand mask later, be sure to use the papaya within a week because flavor won’t matter.

How to Select Bananas

Since you won’t be eating the bananas, we don’t have to worry so much about the flavor and freshness. However, we want to use overripe bananas to maximize the benefits of your hand mask. At the very least, your bananas should be yellow, but it’s even better if they have a few brown spots. 

If you buy bananas that are green or bright yellow all over, leave them on the counter to ripen before making your hand mask.

More Natural Skin Care Recipes

• Banana Hair Mask — hydrate your hair and scalp
• Celery Hair Mask — revitalize your locks naturally
• DIY Lemon Foot Scrub — smooth and soften your feet
• Avocado Face Mask — a DIY home day spa treatment