Pumpkin season is here!
As summer fades and we start trading bathing suits and sunglasses for sweaters and scarves, most of us are going to be lining up for those pumpkin spice lattes and pumpkin cream cold brews. But did you know that pumpkin is good for more than just flavoring your favorite seasonal treat? It’s also a great skincare ingredient!
With a whole host of vitamins like A, C, and E, antioxidants, zinc, and potassium, pumpkin is a perfect choice for natural, DIY skincare. It can help fight sun damage and wrinkles, promote exfoliation, combat redness, and keep your skin plump and moisturized. With that in mind, we’ve developed three natural skincare products that you can make in your kitchen to help you get in the spirit of pumpkin spice season!
DIY Pumpkin Body Scrub
You will need:
- 1 tbsp oil – coconut or olive
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/8 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1 mixing bowl
Combine all ingredients in a bowl, stir until well mixed, and use immediately.
Exfoliating once a week keeps your skin smooth, can reduce unsightly blemishes like ingrown hairs and cellulite, and is a great way to ensure your skin absorbs the products you use. It’s not just for your face, either – scrubs are for the whole body! That’s why we want to start our pumpkin DIYs with this simple exfoliating body scrub.
The brown sugar and pumpkin work together in this scrub, with alpha-hydroxy acids in the pumpkin helping the brown sugar be a more effective exfoliant than it would on its own. The small amounts of cinnamon and nutmeg will act as an anti-inflammatory and treatment for oily or acne-prone skin, although they’re present in such small amounts that if you have normal to dry skin and just like the smell you can leave them in!
Customizable Pumpkin Face Mask
You will need:
- 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 tsp coffee grounds
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1 egg white (yolk optional)
- 1 tablespoon raw honey/apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
- 1 mixing bowl
This face mask is a multitasking superhero, and it is fully customizable to your skin type. We’re going to start with a small bowl, into which we add a pumpkin base and our coffee grounds and brown sugar. These are both exfoliants, and the caffeine in the coffee grounds will act to reduce puffiness and inflammation.
Then, add some wrinkle-fighting egg white, and leave the yolk in if you have dry skin. Those with normal to dry skin can also add some honey for moisture, or if you have oily skin, apple cider vinegar can help keep it clear. Those with oily or acne-prone skin can also add some cinnamon since it has drying properties that are useful against acne.
Put on an old t-shirt and apply the mask with the back of a spoon, and let it sit for fifteen minutes. After fifteen minutes, rub it away with a clean washcloth, then wash your face and apply skincare products as normal.
Pumpkin Pie Lip Balm
Pumpkin’s moisturizing properties are the star here! This chapstick will keep your lips moist in blustery fall weather, and bonus – it smells like a dream!
You will need:
- 3 tablespoons of coconut oil
- 5 tablespoons of beeswax pellets
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice
- 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin puree
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 glass measuring cup
- 1 pot
- Lip balm tins, pots, or tubes (you can find these at craft stores!)
This recipe will keep your lips safe when the wind starts to pick up! Start by bringing some water to a simmer in the pot. While it’s heating up, add the coconut oil, wax pellets, pumpkin puree, and vanilla extract to the glass measuring cup. Carefully place the glass measuring cup in the simmering water, and allow all the ingredients to melt, stirring occasionally.
When the mixture is smooth, you can stir in the pumpkin spice. Remove from heat and pour into tubes or tins, and allow to harden. This makes 2-3 containers of lip balm!
Are you enjoying pumpkin spice season? We certainly are! Use these recipes to have a special fall-themed self-care night, or even get together with your friends to try them out! If you do, be sure to take photos and tag us on Instagram @advanceddermatology!