Pumpkin skincare. Photos by Megan Swiertz
For two months every year, a fad becomes so popular that it doesn’t just take over one area of interest, but basically every single food, drink, decoration and festive activity one can conjure. Yes, we’re talking about the ever-so-trendy pumpkin. From pumpkin spice lattes to jack-o’-lanterns outside of apartments, pumpkins overtake the fall season. But there’s a useful aspect of this craze that most people don’t know about: skin care benefits.
Pumpkins are high in vitamin A, which heals skin, and vitamin C, which is an antioxidant. Pumpkins sooth and moisturize skin, making it beautiful, healthy and well nourished. The pumpkin trend is truly a fashion statement for this time of year, so why not go even further by using it to help your skin? Here are three easy recipes to make pumpkin skin care products that will not only brighten your skin, but also get you in that Halloween and Thanksgiving spirit.
Pumpkin Facial Mask: A classic skin care treatment, face masks help your skin by adding moisture while allowing you to feel relaxed. The enzymes will work to hydrate your face, leaving it healthy and gorgeously glowing. Pamper yourself to this home spa treatment, and your face will be left completely moisturized and smelling like a warm pumpkin spice latte.
Pumpkin skincare. Photos by Megan Swiertz
Ingredients:
2 cups of pureed or canned pumpkin
4 tablespoons unflavored yogurt
4 tablespoons honey
1/3 cup ground almonds
1/4 teaspoons olive oil
Directions:
1. Begin by mixing the pumpkin puree or canned pumpkin
2. Add the unflavored yogurt, honey, almonds and olive oil into the bowl
3. Stir all the ingredients together until completely mixed
4. Apply to moist skin
5. Let sit for five to 10 minutes
6. Remove mask with a clean wash cloth
7. Use all of the mixture within one week’s time
Pumpkin foot and hand scrub: With constant walking and writing on campus, our hands and feet could use a little extra care. This scrub will clean away any dry or rough skin while simultaneously softening and moisturizing it. With an array of beneficial ingredients, the scrub has an absolutely wonderful scent. Applying the scrub is like wrapping your feet and hands in an autumn blanket of nourishment.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup pureed pumpkin
2 tablespoons organic cane sugar
3 tablespoons oil (use jojoba, grapeseed, almond, or olive oil)
1 pinch cinnamon
1 drop natural vanilla extract
Directions:
1. Put the pumpkin puree, organic cane sugar, oil, cinnamon and vanilla extract in a bowl
2. Mix ingredients
3. Over a large sheet of paper or in a shower or bathtub (in order to prevent mess), massage the scrub into feet and hands
4. Thoroughly rub into rough or dry areas
5. Keep the scrub on skin for 15 to 20 minutes
6. Rinse off with warm water
Pumpkin body butter: As the weather gets colder, skin gets drier. There’s no better way to hydrate skin than with a tub of homemade body butter. With pure ingredients, this pumpkin body butter will bathe your skin in natural enzymes and antioxidants that are sure to fully moisturize it. Indulge your body in this luscious and seasonal skin care product.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup solids from a can of coconut milk
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions:
1. Place the pumpkin puree, coconut milk and cinnamon in a bowl
2. Stir until ingredients are well blended
3. Apply to chosen areas of skin
4. Gently massage the body butter in order to fully get into the skin
5. Allow about ten minutes for the body butter to sit on skin
6. Rinse with warm water and pat dry