Yo! Raise a Spoon to a Tart and Lovely Beauty Treat

Remember those old TV commercials featuring cavorting Russian peasants who claimed that they owed their century-plus life spans to heaping helpings of yogurt? Well, it turns out they weren’t so far off the mark. While eating yogurt may not guarantee that you’ll live well into your hundreds, you probably know that study after study has shown that a serving or two of yogurt a day can boost your immune system, help fend off colds and allergies, lift your spirits, lower bad cholesterol levels—and the list goes on.

Here’s the exciting thing about yogurt that you might not know: Yogurt can also delay or reduce signs of aging such as fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots! Thanks to its potent load of lactic acid, yogurt can dissolve dead skin cells that clog your pores and make your complexion look dull.

To turn on this fountain of youth, apply a thick layer of plain whole-milk yogurt to your face, leave it on for 20 minutes or so, and rinse it off with lukewarm water. Repeat the process at least once a week—more often if you have the time.

And if you want to soothe skin that’s irritated from exposure to winter weather, try this mask:

Puree ½ cup of plain whole-milk yogurt, 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel, 1 tablespoon of raw honey, half a chopped cucumber, and 3 drops of chamomile essential oil in a blender. Spread the mixture over your freshly washed face, and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse the mask off with lukewarm water, pat dry, and apply your favorite moisturizer. Ahhh…that feels better!