Fall is the season of pumpkins, and there are so many uses for them. From decorating your stoop to making your favorite Thanksgiving pies, pumpkins rule everywhere!
However, did you realize that this signature fall squash is full of vitamins, minerals, and all the other essential nutrients that work wonders for your skin? Pumpkins have far more uses than just cooking and decorating!
Thanks to high levels of beta carotene and vitamin C and E, pumpkin protects your skin against UV damage, free radicals, and premature wrinkles and sagging.
Also, studies have shown that the yellow-orange pigments, called carotenoids, lend a natural glow to the skin. The acids work together to increase cell turnover and encourage the growth of new skin that imparts a radiant glow.
Moreover, vitamins A and C in pumpkin help encourage the production of collagen that prevents signs of aging in the skin.
If pumpkin is the secret to enhancing and maintaining a glowing visage, we’ll take it...
So this season, why limit yourself to pumpkin lattes and pies when there are oodles of other amazing benefits it has to offer?
Try some of these interesting remedies and give your skin a glow with the amazingly beneficial pumpkin.
Contents
Method 1: Use a Pumpkin-Honey Face Mask
Things you’ll need:
- Pumpkin puree (with no added preservatives) – 1 teaspoon
- Honey (natural humectant and antioxidant) – 1 teaspoon
- Fuller’s earth (natural absorbent and cleanser)– 1 teaspoon
- Cinnamon powder (natural antiseptic) (optional) – ½ teaspoon
Step 1. Add all the ingredients in a bowl
- Start with 1 teaspoon of fresh pumpkin puree in a bowl. You may also use canned puree, but make sure it is free of preservatives.
- Add 1 teaspoon each of raw honey and fuller’s earth to the puree.
- Blend in the richness of cinnamon with ½ teaspoon. The cinnamon is optional. Do not use it if you have sensitive skin or if you have rosacea, as cinnamon tends to cause irritation or a burning sensation.
Step 2. Mix and massage your skin with the blend
- Mix all the ingredients thoroughly to form a smooth paste.
- Apply this on your face.
- Allow the mask to dry on its own (about 15 minutes), then massage in gentle, circular motions for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Wash it off using lukewarm water.
Use this mask once every week for softer and glowing skin.
Method 2: Use a Pumpkin Body Scrub
This recipe includes sugar, which is gentle enough to use on your face. If you want to use it all over your body, you’ll need to make a larger batch.
Things you’ll need:
- Fresh pumpkin puree – 2 tablespoons
- Sugar (natural exfoliant) – 2 tablespoons
- Cinnamon powder (optional) – 1 teaspoon
Step 1. Take pumpkin puree, sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl
- Put 2 tablespoons each of pumpkin puree and sugar into a bowl.
- Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder to the puree. This is an optional ingredient. Do not add cinnamon if you have sensitive skin or if you have rosacea, as cinnamon tends to cause irritation or a burning sensation.
Step 2. Mix and gently scrub it over your skin
- Mix all the ingredients together to form a paste.
- Apply this on your skin for 10 min. Scrub your skin with the paste for a few minutes. Do not rub too hard.
- Rinse it off with lukewarm water.
Use this body scrub once or twice every week for effective results.
Method 3: Use a Pumpkin Spice Lotion
Things you’ll need:
- Pumpkin puree – 1 tablespoon
- Pumpkin pie spice – 1 tablespoon
- Shea butter – 1 tablespoon
- Coconut oil – 2 tablespoons
- Vanilla essence – ½ teaspoon
- Vitamin E oil – 1 teaspoon
- Cinnamon powder (optional) – 1 teaspoon
Step 1. Put shea butter and coconut oil in a bowl
- Put 1 tablespoon of shea butter in a bowl.
- Add 2 tablespoons of coconut oil to the butter.
Step 2. Add the pumpkin puree
- Add 1 tablespoon of pumpkin puree to the butter and oil mixture.
Step 3. Spice it up!
- Spice up your mixture with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder and 1 tablespoon of pumpkin spice powder.
However, if you have sensitive skin or rosacea, skip the cinnamon powder. It can cause irritation or a burning sensation on your skin.
Step 4. Blend in the liquids
- Add 1 teaspoon of vitamin E oil and ½ teaspoon of vanilla essential oil to the mixture.
Step 5. Beat the mixture until smooth and store
- Beat the mixture thoroughly for 3 to 4 minutes or until it becomes smooth, light and fluffy.
- Transfer it to a jar with a tight lid and use every day as you would anybody lotion.
You can store it in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks.
Additional Tips
- You can also use pumpkin seeds, as they are rich in vitamin E and minerals like zinc that together help in cell repair, preventing acne, reducing signs of aging and boosting your immunity.
- For those with oily skin, pumpkin combined with apple cider vinegar acts as a natural exfoliating agent and offers relief from your skin’s excess oil.
Summary of How to Use Pumpkin for Glowing Skin
Download this infographic.