Macadamia, Olive Leaf, Aloe and Avocado Face Mask

There is a little bit of science to this.

Besides zinc and Vitamin E, which are both good for your skin anyway, macadamias have really high levels of palmitoleic acid, which is is the key ingredient in many anti-ageing products and what used to make hunting sperm whales so lucrative.  Olive leaf extract has an antioxidant called oleuropein which is the latest magic product in the kind of cosmetics that sell for hundreds of dollars for a tiny tub.  Avocados have had a longer pedigree in skin care cosmetics. Avocado oil is renowned for being able to penetrate skin and carry moisturising as well as a range of vitamins and minerals down to deeper layers.  And of course aloe vera has long been used in cosmetics.

It has an extra ingredient though, that I think is the one that actually works.  You look so gloriously green gloopy with it on, that you can’t do anything but potter around the house, sit in the sun with a good book, chat and drink tea (or champagne) with friends similarly glooped up.

And with all the ingredients now in season here, it costs almost nothing even if they aren’t home-grown.

The Recipe:

For a single face mask, use a mortar and pestle to mash together:

• 5 or 6 roughly chopped olive leaves
• 2 or 3 fresh cracked macadamia nuts
• one-eighth of a ripe avocado
• a thumb-sized piece of aloe vera gel

Slather it on and leave for an hour or so, then rinse off with warm water.

After that, you won’t need any convincing, but just so you can feel both
good and good: