I love pumpkin. Not necessarily the pie. And certainly not the fatty, chemical-filled latte drink everyone gets so excited about this time of year. I’m talking about real pumpkin, the vegetable. In my oatmeal. In my pasta. And…on my face. Yep, you read that correctly, I actually will scoop out the insides of a pumpkin as I am carving it and save it for several really amazing DIY beauty recipes that make my skin positively glow. This isn’t crazy talk; pumpkin is rich in alpha-hydroxy acids, loaded with antioxidants, beta-carotene, vitamins A and C; packed with anti-inflammatory benefits and even boast of natural UV protectors – making it skin-tastic! Some of these recipes I saw on my favorite health TV show and others I’ve just kind of stumbled upon on my own. All you need is some basic ingredients and the willingness to try something new!
Pumpkin Pie Scrub (excellent for exfoliating!)
2-3 Tbsp. pumpkin puree or cooked, mashed pumpkin
2Tbsp. plain unsweetened yogurt
1 Tbsp. ground oats or almonds
Apply to face and then let sit for a few minutes, then gently exfoliate and rinse.
Pumpkin Body Mask (soften your body from head to toe)
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup extra-virgin coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Apply to clean skin and let absorb for 10 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
Pumpkin Honey Facial Mask (perfect for acne-prone skin)
2-3 Tbsp. pumpkin puree
1 whipped egg white
1 Tbsp. plain yogurt
1 Tbsp. honey
Apply to entire face, avoiding the eye area, and leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing.