Idaho® Potato Spud Spa
A trip to the spa is like a mini vacation, a restorative, calming break from the hustle and stress of everyday life. If you love the nourished, pampered feeling you get after leaving the spa, we have good news: With a few clever DIY preparations, you can set up your own spa day at home!
The best part? You can craft lavish skin and hair treatments with a natural, affordable ingredient we bet you’ve already got in your pantry: Idaho® russet potatoes! As much as we love baking, frying, roasting and eating them, these versatile and nutritious veggies are loaded with important vitamins and minerals like potassium and Vitamin C that benefit your body inside and out.
Potatoes are incredibly effective for softening, brightening, and reviving your skin. In fact, potatoes have been prized for their skin-soothing properties for centuries in a number of global cultures, including India and indigenous communities in the Andes mountains.
The main benefits of potatoes for skin and hair health:
- Potassium: Did you know that potatoes contain more potassium than bananas? It’s true! One medium potato contains up to 25% of your daily recommended potassium. Skin and hair love potassium! Though this mineral/electrolyte can’t be absorbed through the skin, topically it can improve your skin’s moisture content and texture.
- Vitamin C: Potatoes are loaded with Vitamin C; approximately 42 grams are in a medium-size potato. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that can dramatically improve skin’s natural radiance and boost collagen production. It can brighten skin, lighten hyperpigmentation and acne scars, and smooth out skin tone.
- Catecholase: A naturally occurring enzyme in potatoes that many people believe helps lighten dark and sun spots.
- Anti-inflammatory properties: The starch, fiber and anthocyanins (flavor compounds) in potatoes can help soothe stressed out and inflamed skin.
Welcome to the Idaho® Spud Spa
Ready to make your own Idaho Potato Spa Day? Grab your fluffiest robe, cue a chill playlist, light a candle and treat yourself to one (or all) of these luxurious treatments, you deserve it!
Welcome to the Idaho® Spud Spa*
Brightening Potato Honey Face Mask
Brightening Potato Honey Face Mask:There’s no need to splurge on expensive, chemical-laden masks from the drugstore when you can make one from common kitchen ingredients! This creamy combination will give skin a lovely glow, while gently exfoliating and tightening pores.
How-To:
- Using an electric juicer, juice 1 raw medium-sized Idaho® russet potato with the skin on. If you don’t have a juicer, cut the potato into cubes and place it in a blender with a few tablespoons of water. Blend on high, then pour the mix through a fine mesh strainer to remove any remaining fibers. Then, pour the potato juice in a bowl and stir in 1 teaspoon each of lemon juice and honey, and 2 tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt until fully combined.
- Refrigerate the mixture for 1 hour.
- Using a cosmetic brush or your hands, apply a thick layer of the mask to your face and allow it to rest for up to 30 minutes.
- Rinse-off the mask gently with cold water, avoiding mixture to get into the eyes.
Brightening Potato Face Mask
Potato Puffy-Eyes Treatment
Potato Puffy-Eyes Treatment: Cucumbers might be the “spa day” cliche, but potatoes are an equally potent tool to reduce dark circles, brighten skin and soothe that under-eye puffiness!
How-To:
- Slice two thin rounds from a medium-sized Idaho® russet potato and place in a small dish. Put in the freezer for 20 or 30 minutes to chill.
- When you’re ready to relax, place one slice over each eye (including your under-eye area) for 15 minutes.
- Another option: Save some potato juice from your brightening mask, and soak two cotton pads in it and place in freezer until cool (about half an hour). Place the cotton balls over your eyes for 15 minutes.
Puffy Eye Potato Treatment
Nourishing Potato Hand Mask
Nourishing Potato Hand Mask: Cold weather, frequent hand washing and sanitizing, along with harsh chemical products can take their toll on our hands. Redness, irritation and dry skin will all be soothed with this luxurious 2-ingredient potato hand mask.
How-To:
- Peel, cut up and boil 1 medium-size Idaho® russet potato.
- Drain the potato and allow it to slightly cool. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and mash the potato until smooth.
- Massage the potato onto hands using a circular motion. Allow to sit for 15 minutes then wash the mask off with warm water.
Nourishing Potato Hand Mask
Moisturizing Potato Aloe Hair Treatment
Moisturizing Potato Aloe Hair Treatment: The same nutritional properties in potatoes that benefit skin can also work wonders for your hair! Add a dose of cleansing moisture to your scalp and shine to your tresses with this gentle, effective treatment.
How-To:
- In a small bowl, combine 3 tablespoons of potato juice (using either of the juicing techniques listed in the face mask instructions above), 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel and 1 tablespoon of honey then mix thoroughly until consistent.
- Brush the mixture onto your scalp and massage it in with your fingertips. Comb the mixture through your hair to the ends. (You can place a shower cap over your hair during this time or a towel under head on shoulders to keep mixture from dripping.
- Allow the mask to sit for 1 hour then rinse hair thoroughly with warm water.
Moisturizing Potato Hair Treatment
More Idaho® Potato Recipes
The next time you need to unwind and enjoy an afternoon of self-care, try these treatments from the comfort of your own home! You might get a little hungry after a day at the home-spa, so be sure to check out our amazing database for nutritious, seasonally inspired Idaho® potato recipes.
Where to Buy Famous Idaho® Potatoes
Make sure you’re buying genuine Idaho® potatoes, and always look for the “Grown in Idaho®” seal.
Search here for your local retailer: Where to Buy Idaho® Potatoes
