No one has ever questioned the versatility of the humble potato. He sure pulls his weight when it comes to the variety of edible forms he can take on.
Roast him, mash, boil, bake; he’ll be a chip, a wedge, a hashbrown, a tato gem, vodka, hell, even a bowl of gnocchi.
But now – he can be your next skincare secret.
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Esthetician Joanna Czech sat down for @diorskincare in a recent IGTV interview with @livvperez host of the ‘Friend Of A Friend’ podcast. During the chat she revealed her anti-inflammatory and anti-redness secret weapon: a potato face mask.
And well, it’s safe to say our interests peeked.
With 30 years experience in the skincare industry, and recently serving as the Global Skincare Advisor for La Mer, Joanna isn’t one to make false skin claims. And with a huge list of celeb clients including Cate Blanchett, Kate Winslet, Candice Swanepoel and Jennifer Aniston, if she says to put a potato on our face, we’re putting a potato on our face.
But just to be safe, we dug a little further…
What are some of the skin care benefits of potato?
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is no stranger to the essential skin ingredients list that all top facialists are recommending. Popular for its skin brightening benefits, it can also protect us from visible impacts of environmental stressors, making it one of the top anti-ageing ingredients. It also stimulates the growth of collagen, which in turn, protects the skin from fine lines and wrinkles.
According to Joanna, 100 grams of potato contains 32 per cent of vitamin C.
Magnesium
Magnesium plays an important role in reducing acne and breakouts. It also boosts collagen function, which helps with skin elasticity and moisture, keeping wrinkles at bay.
Zinc
Zinc is renowned for its anti-inflammatory and skin regeneration properties, specifically wound healing. So it’s a hugely important part in treating and preventing inflammatory acne and scarring.
Does it matter what kind of potato?
In short, no. And don’t try to take this one step further by using a sweet potato. Just a regular potato is all you need.
How do we make the potato face mask?
- Pop the potato into the fridge to keep it chilled
- Cut it into slices
- Place the cold, thin slices onto your face (make sure you’re laying down!)
How long do we leave it on for?
20 minutes.
And voila, YOUTH!
Future shopping lists = ‘3x potatoes for dinner and 2x potatoes for face’.
You can check out the interview here: Joanna Czech Interview
Main image credit: @aimeesong
What kitchen ingredients do you work into your skincare regime? Would you give the potato mask a try?
Mmmm. I think I`ll give this a miss.
Grated raw potato on the skin is supposed to be good for burns.
May need to patch test this first. Wouldn’t mind trying it.
I’d blend it into a smoothie and apply to face. Seems you’ll get more benefits that way rather than slices of potato?
I don’t get it, how do you put a potato on your face? Like mash it or what?
I can’t resist trying this! Will report back the effect!
Just making potato wedges with smoked paprika…to smash into my belly after a few kilos of fruit . Not on the face, have skincare for that =D
Something to try while in isolation.
I think I will still prefer potato chips in my stomach more 😀 😀
I’ve heard that as well. I remember when I was younger I burned my arm and my mum put a cold, sliced potato on it and I was so confused
That’s supposed to just stick onto your face?
Never heard of this before. I’d consider giving it a try perhaps. But right now I need to go and put potatoes in the Weber BBQ to roast.
That is so random and I’m the queen of random! No way I’d do it though.
Well, I’ve previously used cucumber and oatmeal on my face, so this is not that much of a stretch.
Love eating potatoes. Might consider this.
looks great
My German Grandmother used to make potato poultices that she would tie onto our various limbs with strips of material to ease pain and inflammation …LOL and it worked!!
Wow now I want them
Nope. I don’t like homemade skincare products, I doubt their efficacy. I like specially formulated products to suit my particular skin concerns.
I think I will stick with ,y sheet mask collection for the moment thanks.
I don’t need this for skincare but I’ll consider the healing properties when I next have a small burn to deal with.
Nah – didn’t really do anything at least with cold slices. Maybe over time, and repeated. But who has time to lay down with potato slices on the face? I prefer a softer mask I can move around in.
I am wondering what is meant by anti-redness. From sunburn, chemical burn or rosacea.
Only if you are down. I think we are supposed to be resting whilst it does it’s magic. Who knows. We need more info.
I remember putting a potato slice over my eyes haha! It works somehow.. or maybie it was just the resting of the eyes.
Worth a try again I suppose
I’ve never put anything edible on my face.
Something to try – love a natural face mask!
I love a good face mask will be giving the potato mask a try. Easy to slice a spud and stick it on your face.
Never tried that before but will give it a try prefer to eat potatoes in all there forms delicious.
Wow this is interesting, did not know potatoes contain vitamin c. Have used cucumber over the eyes, unsure about using potato on the face though
Loved the video on Instagram, I’m totally going to try this
Not sure I’d try this, I do like eating potatoes, though 🙂
Might try this at some point, maybe after Covid 19 crisis when I feel a little better about wasting a few potatoes
I am pretty sure that my grandmother used to do something like this, but for her feet not her face…
“According to Joanna, 100 grams of potato contains 32 per cent of vitamin C.”
NO WAY! That would mean a potato is almost one third vitamin C! It’s more likely that 100g of potato contains 32% OF OUR RECOMMENDED DAILY INTAKE of vitamin C.
I have heard that potato is good for the skin, but I’m one of those rare people who never buy them. Gimme pumpkin or sweet potato any day!
Potatoes have been said to be amazing for the skin for a very long time and people have been using them on the face for a while. I just dont think much research was made on it to validate the truth behind how great it can be for the skin
I think potatoes are great for skin, just remember to rinse. I fell asleep with potato slices on my face, and woke up to an allergy! Face was red and itchy for about 2 days, but after that I had the most radiant and smooth skin, for a while
Wow will definitely be trying this!!
Dont think I will try this but interesting.
I have never heard of this! At least it would be cheap!
Love to hear all the old remedies coming back, so simple and effective but we all prefer a nice smelling cream don’t we? Trouble is with potato you have to find the time to lie down and relax, or while having a bath.
It’s being very impressive and nice article to have the remedy of useing potatos for your skin looks marvelous and very useful I would lvoe to used it … for cosmetic and plastic surgery you can get more information from elixir hair transplant center Islamabad …..
….and by yourself for 20 minutes…!
It sounds easy enough. Would try it this weekend.