Pumpkins in all of their glory

Everyone loves the fall season. Thanksgiving is around the corner and everyone is now making plans and even preparing their bellies for the amount of food they will eat. On more of a serious note, however, with this time of the year the weather is changing and so must our regimen in order to keep our skin in top condition.

Cold weather leaves your skin feeling parched and dull. Fortunately for us, this fall season is not only good for decorating our houses with pumpkins but these vitamin packed mega squashes can protect our delicate skin from premature again, clogged pores, and an uneven complexion.

Pumpkins are enriched with many vitamins and anti-oxidants that can boost the elasticity of our skin. So after carving those pumpkins don’t throw out all the puree instead we are going to put it to good use.

As a side note… In order for these benefits to last make sure you apply a moisturizer after you have rinsed off each scrub/mask. This will not only enhance the benefits of each treatment but will prolong the effects.

An easy moisturizer for your skin is olive oil. Yes, I said that correctly. Take a little bit onto your fingertips and apply it after you have rinsed and dried your skin. This will lock in the moisture.

So, to keep with the holiday theme here are some scrubs and masks to keep every area of our body in top shape. After all with the holidays come family photos, which you want to look your best for.

Pumpkin Body Scrub:

This body scrub will gently and effectively exfoliate your skin giving your skin a healthy glow.

Combine, in a small bowl:

1 Cup Pureed Pumpkin

1 Cup Sugar

1/8 Teaspoon of Cinnamon

Now that you have all of these ingredients in a bowl, mix it with a spoon until it is blended. Apply it to your body and gently scrub in circular motions (using your finger-tips is the best way). Rinse off with warm water and you are set, see the difference?

Pumpkin Facial Scrub:

This will no doubt cleanse your skin, removing excess dirt and leaving your skin feeling clean and soft, while improving the texture of your skin giving it a lift.

Combine these ingredients in a small bowl:

½ Cup of Pureed Pumpkin

3 Tablespoons of Sugar

½ Teaspoon of Pumpkin Seed Oil

¼ Teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon

Mix them together. This will give you a thick paste. Massage this scrub into your skin in circular motions. Let this soak into your skin for a few minutes before rinsing off with warm water. It is that easy!

Purifying Facial Mask:

This facial mask will help to give your skin a natural glow, aiding in moisturizing your skin.

In a small bowl, combine these items:

2 Tablespoons of Pureed Pumpkin

2 Teaspoons of Honey

1 Egg Yolk, beaten (until you see little bubbles)

Buttermilk (add just enough to reach a spread-able consistency)

Cleanse your skin before you apply this mask. Spread this mask onto your skin and relax, read a magazine, or entertain yourself with your phone while you allow this mask to do its job for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water, moisturize, and enjoy smooth skin.

Now, you either have oily skin or dry skin. You know who you are. Here is a mask for each of you, to help you get through this season.

Face Mask for Oily Skin:

Add all of these ingredients together and blend.

¼ Cup of Fresh Pumpkin

1 Teaspoon of Pumpkin Seed Oil

1 Tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar

1 Egg Yolk

Apply this to your face and leave it on for 20 minutes. Wash off with warm water and enjoy. This will help you control the shine.

Face Mask for Dry Skin:

The milk/creamy consistency is amazing for dry skin. It will moisturizer and nourish your skin.

Mix together:

¼ Cup of Fresh Pumpkin

1 Teaspoon of Pumpkin Seed Oil

1 Teaspoon of Almond Oil

Milk; add just enough to get a creamy consistency (you can also use whipping cream)

Apply this mixture to your face and leave it on your skin for 20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and moisturize right after to lock in the effects.

Pumpkin Pie Foot/Hand Scrub:

If you are like me your feet crack and your hands become ruff when the weather outside starts to become cold. This foot and hand scrub will help exfoliate off the rough skin, leaving your skin soft and moisturized.

In a small bowl, add all of these items together:

¼ Cup of Pureed Pumpkin

2 Tablespoons of Sugar

2 Tablespoons of an Essential Oil (jojoba, grape-seed, almond, or olive oil)

1 Teaspoon of Cinnamon

1 Drop of Vanilla Extract

Over a large bowl or the old-fashion way of sitting on the edge of the tub, massage this mixture into your feet or hands. Focus on the rough areas and cuticles. To enhance the benefits, allow this mixture to remain on your skin for 10 minutes, and then rinse off with warm water.

Pumpkin Hair Mask:

Yes, we are even going to put pumpkin in our hair. Pumpkin is an excellent conditioner for dry hair, as it is packed with vitamins that aid in softening. This recipe promises to make your hair shiny and soft which is the ultimate goal, right?  

Combine in a bowl:

½ Cup of Pureed Pumpkin

¼ Cup of Plain Yogurt

2 Tablespoons of Honey

Apply the mask to your entire head (it doesn’t matter if you have dry or oily hair. If your hair tends to be very oily, simply avoid adding this mask to your roots). Once your hair is fully saturated, you can either put on one of those old-fashion shower caps or you can wrap your hair in plastic wrap. This allows your hair to soak in the full benefits of the mask. Leave this on for 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water (you can either wash your hair as normal or just rinse the mask out well). This will also help tame the little strands of hair that tend to dance on the top of our heads. Enjoy!

Did you ever think you could use pumpkin for so many different things besides cooking? You are now taking the use of a pumpkin to a whole new level.

Each one of these mixtures will help you keep every area of your body in check with a healthy glow and soft feel. Who knew these mega squashes could be so useful for beauty? 

Hopefully, these masks and scrubs will help you radiate in those family photos and help you make it through this holiday with ease.