Is anyone else feeling like it can’t be Thanksgiving already? I mean we barely finished the last frozen mini Snickers from our Halloween stash and now we are finalizing our Turkey day menus. I haven’t even had a customary pumpkin beverage from my favorite coffee haunt.
Usually by this time I have already indulged my pumpkin loving obsession by partaking in a bevy of treats both savory and sweet; pumpkin raviolis, pumpkin and kale salad, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin bread, pumpkin coconut curry stew…you get the idea.
Of course eating these fabulous gourds is a great way to get dose of antioxidants like vitamins A, C and E , zinc and beta carotene which helps give the skin a healthy glow but even better you can easily whip up a yummy treat that benefits you skin topically as well.
The enzymes in pumpkin are one of the best natural exfoliators around so if you don’t want to spring for that high priced spa treatment you can get similar results at home.
Pumpkin Facial Mask
Mix 1/4 cup pumpkin purée with 1 egg, 1 teaspoon milk.
If you have very dry skin add 1 teaspoon of honey mix well and apply to face.
At home Pumpkin Facial
First cleanse skin with a gentle cleanser that contains no glycolics or exfoliants, use a facial scrub if needed (recipe below) then apply the following mask for 10 – 20 minutes, remove with warm (not hot water) and follow with a mild toner and moisturizer or sunscreen.
Pumpkin Facial Scrub
Mix 1/4 cup pumpkin purée with 3 tablespoons of sugar and 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of pumpkin oil or pumpkin seed oil to create a thick paste. Apply to dry skin and massage gently. Leave on for up to 5 minutes and rinse thoroughly.
Gently pat skin dry.
Pumpkin Body Scrub
Combine 1/4 cup pumpkin purée with 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1-2 tablespoons of pumpkin, almond or jojoba oil. Massage in circular motions on damp skin, rinse well.
The body scrub and facial mask also work well for a DIY pedicure.
Pumpkin Hair Mask
Combine 1/4 cup of pumpkin purée with 1-2 tablespoons of coconut or argan oil, hand whisk or mix in a blender. Apply to freshly washed hair and cover with a shower cap, then a wrap in a towel. Leave on for 10-20 minutes and shampoo thoroughly.
And lastly because of the deep cleansing and exfoliating effects of pumpkin be sure to wear sunscreen for the following 48 hours after your treatment.
