It took me a long time to put avocado on my face. I love eating them so much I couldn’t stand the thought of letting any “go to waste” by putting avocado on my skin rather than in my belly. Then one day a moment of revelation came when I cut into an avocado that looked ripe and felt ripe but lacked nearly all flavor. I was frustrated until I remembered what they can do for lackluster skin. Game on!

Now I don’t hesitate to break off a chunk of avocado for a skin-loving treat. Think about it for a second — we revere natural skincare products that contain nutrient-boosting ingredients like fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants. It doesn’t get much closer to the source than real whole foods. Obviously, we can’t go around wearing food on our faces all the time, (although I imagine my dogs would pay more attention to my words if I did) but we can indulge in little raw food spa treatments that give great results and are fairly inexpensive to create.

This face mask is simple yet bursting with goodness. Avocado oil is often found in skincare products and it is prized for its rich, moisturizing abilities. Avocado is full of healthy fats like omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that help moisturize skin without clogging pores. Avocados also contain 18 of the 22 amino acids (and all 8 essential amino acids) that we need to help build and regenerate healthy skin tissue. Add to that already stacked nutritional profile vitamins A, B-complex, C, E and K plus a host of minerals and you begin to understand why putting an avocado on your face isn’t wasteful at all but rather a wonderful use for one of nature’s best offerings.

This mask also includes plain yogurt and raw honey, which round out the avocado with additional benefits. Plain yogurt contains lactic acid, which gently exfoliates dead skin cells and helps the avocado oil penetrate more deeply. Raw honey is antimicrobial and wonderfully healing, perfect for people who suffer from breakouts. It is also a natural humectant, which means that it helps draw moisture to your skin. You probably have all of these ingredients already, so let’s get started.

 Avocado + Honey Hydrating Face Mask

• ¼ avocado
• 1 teaspoon plain yogurt
• 1 teaspoon raw honey

Mash the avocado in a small bowl. Stir in the yogurt and honey until well blended. Smooth the mask over face and allow to sit for 15-20 minutes. Wipe mask off gently with warm water. Top off with a toner and moisturizer.

Voilá! I can’t stress how simple yet effective this mask is for boosting skin’s moisture content and giving you a nice glow.