Thao Uyen

We know that Japanese women are famous for using natural ingredients to take care of their skin. One of their favorite ingredients must be red beans. They have been using red beans for skincare for more than a thousand years. Why do they love this particular bean so much?
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Red beans are packed with vitamins and minerals:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B1, B6
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin C
• Magnesium
• Calcium
• Zinc
• Potassium
• Phosphorus
• Iron 
• Copper
• Fiber
• ...

 And because of that, red beans aid digestion and the body’s immune system. The minerals found in adzuki beans provide great energy level and keep stress at bay. They also help in repair and renew cells, maintain bone health, aid body’s detoxification and weight loss. And last but not least, red beans are the antioxidant hero which leads us to their skincare benefits.

As skincare ingredient red beans give the skin a shiny and radiant glow. They make the skin firm and silky, they’re especially beneficial for oily skin.
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Of course Japanese people don’t just use the whole beans, they grind them into powder and mix with milk to wash their face or make them into face masks. You can buy red bean powder on the market or you can make it yourself. I will tell you how to grind red beans with your robot.
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First rinse your red beans and let them dry completely. Then put a thin layer of beans in a saucepan and use the smallest level of heat to toast the beans. Toast may not be the right word here since you won’t burn the beans but help them getting dry deeply and therefore more easy to make into powder. Your dried beans will be good for use after 10 - 15 minutes of gentle toasting. This method is used in Chinese medicine to preserve ingredients without losing their benefits, so don’t be worry that your toasted red beans will be less beneficial than the raw ones. 

Grind them with your robot until they’re smooth. Store the red bean powder in a glass jar at room temperature. Voilà! It is now ready to be made into the face mask which is also a gentle face scrub. You’ll need:

• Red bean powder
• Coconut oil (about 1 teaspoon for your face and neck)
• Your favorite floral water (my skin is oily and witch hazel water works best for me, rose water is also a great option)

Make those ingredients into a mixture that’s not runny or too thick. 

Gently massage this face mask on your dry skin for 5 minutes, then keep it on your face for 3 minutes more. After this, rinse it off with warm water and pat the skin dry.

Your skin will be as good as new. It will feel so soft and silky, you’ll simply love it. As soon as the second use of this face mask, you will notice that your skin is brighter, the skin tone more even and the spots (if you have acne) are less noticeable.

I recommend that you use this face mask only once a week because it exfoliates your skin and if being used too often, it can make your skin too sensitive to sunlight.

You can preserve the red bean powder for months at room temperature so don’t hesitate to make a big batch and enjoy your red beans face mask whenever you want.