4 Ways To Get Pretty With Pumpkin
Who doesn't love pumpkin?! Pumpkins are everywhere this month, from delicious spiced lattes and baked goodies to jack-o-lanterns. But did you know that pumpkin is a superhero in beauty treatments too?
1. Get buttery soft skin
Pumpkin is a miracle worker for skin - full of essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and exfoliating enzymes. Add a bit of pumpkin puree to a basic brown sugar body scrub for an extra boost. Take this exfoliating scrub into the shower and come out silky soft and smooth.
Pumpkin Brown Sugar Body Scrub
You'll need:
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
Dash of cinnamon
Mix all the ingredients together, head into in the shower and scrub gently. Then shower as usual. For extra exfoliation (and a little anti-cellulite pick-me-up) you can add 1/4 cup coffee grounds (leftover is fine) to the mixture.
2. Get Glowing
Pumpkin has lots of antioxidants and alpha hydroxy acids that gently exfoliate and moisturize at the same time while brightening your skin and giving you that special glow. And apples - another amazing fall ingredients - have natural fruit acids that dissolve old skin cells. Milk's lactic acid also softens and removes dead skin cells, helping to de-clog pores. Finally, the cinnamon isn't just for smell; the spice stimulates blood flow for a glowing complexion plus has antiseptic properties.
Pumpkin Apple Face Mask
You'll need:
1/2 green apple
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
1 -2 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon honey
Dash of cinnamon
Peel and chop the apple, and add it to a blender with the rest of the ingredients. Blend until smooth, then pat the mixture evenly over your face and leave it on for 15 minutes. At this point you'll probably want to lick yourself, which is perfectly fine and tasty. Use a warm, wet washcloth to remove.
3. Get Shiny Hair
Pumpkins have so many benefits - rich in vitamins A and C, beta-carotene, potassium and zinc, it's wonderful for treating dry or damaged hair, especially combined with moisturizing coconut oil and honey.
Pumpkin Honey Hair Mask
You'll need:
1 cup pumpkin puree, canned or cooked
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
Melt the coconut oil. Mix into the pumpkin and honey. Evenly cover your hair from roots to ends. You'll probably want to cover this pumpkin goo with saran wrap or a shower cap while you let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Rinse well, shampoo as usual to remove remaining hair mask.
4. Get lathered up
Try our new fall seasonal Pumpkin Cinnamon soap for ALL of the skin benefits of pumpkin we've mentioned above, in just the time it takes to have a quick sudsing in your shower. Pumpkin puree (real, and organic) makes this bar feel so silky and luscious, plus it's a rich source of gently exfoliating enzymes, antioxidants, beta carotene and many other vitamins and minerals beneficial to mature, dry, or honestly any kind of skin type. Pumpkin contains Vitamins A, B1, B2 and K. It's high in natural alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) which is thought to help brighten and refresh the skin. It also protects skin with it's high levels of phytochemicals that are thought to help fight cancer and filter UV rays.
Pumpkin seed oil provides even more moisturizing due to its high levels of Omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids. The oil also is packed with Vitamins A, E, C and K, plus minerals of manganese, magnesium, calcium and phosphorous.
So if you've got a little left over canned pumpkin - and frankly who doesn't this time of year - then whip yourself up a little beauty treatment and get your skin glowing and beautiful this autumn. Everyone will want to know your secret!