While Amla, also known as Amalaki or Indian Gooseberry, has been cherished for centuries for its nutritional content, outside of India, few know that this superfood also offers significant skincare benefits. Amla’s anti-aging benefits have been confirmed by modern science. One study showed that topical Amla application increased pro-collagen, the skin’s precursor to collagen, and its high levels of bioavailable Vitamin C can help fight signs of aging such as hyperpigmentation, promoting even skin tone.

Photo courtesy of Organic India

The experts at Organic India share how you can use this superfood in a DIY facial mask:

What You’ll Need

• 4 Tablespoons organic plain yogurt
• 3 Capsules ORGANIC INDIA Amla

You may add any additional ingredients you like to this simple mask recipe, such as aloe vera or honey, but you’ll get plenty of anti-aging benefits with amla and yogurt alone, especially if you add it to your skincare routine a couple of times a week.

Instructions

1. Place the yogurt in a small bowl. Open the Amla capsules and empty them into the yogurt, then mix well.
2. Smooth the yogurt paste generously onto freshly cleaned skin, then relax for 15 to 20 minutes and let the magic happen. Rinse well with lukewarm water — we suggest splashing water on the face at least 8 times to encourage blood circulation and hydration.

References:

Amla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) extract promotes procollagen production and inhibits matrix metalloproteinase-1 in human skin fibroblasts

This blog post originally appears here by Organic India.