Fall is Here! 5 Home Beauty Uses for Pumpkin

Desserts, lattes, lotions, decorations, even beer… when it comes to pumpkin, there’s no limits. It’s become insidious. From its stunning orange hue to its yummy taste to its heavenly smell, the pumpkins’ marketing game is strong.

In addition to serving as a canvas for Jack O’Lanterns and being harvested for their seedy treats, pumpkins contain a lot of nutritional benefits that make them good for you and for your beauty routine. Rich in vitamins, this fruit (yep, it’s a fruit) is an ideal natural ingredient to add to your beauty routine.

1. Facial masks

Because it’s beneficial to all skin types, pumpkin is an ideal ingredient in all kinds of facial masks. It is rich in vitamin A (soothes and softens skin) and vitamin C (an antioxidant that combats skin damage) and nourishes your skin by promoting the absorption of nutrients.

Plus, if you suffer from blemishes, pumpkin contains natural ingredients like vitamin E and T (or torulitine) that will help fight the temporary redness and excess oil!

If you are interested in trying your own pumpkin facial mask, here are two recipes that are easy as pie (get it?) and are great for your skin.

For all skin types

1 cup of pureed pumpkin (canned is fine)
2 tbsp of brown sugar
1 tbsp of honey
½ cup plain yogurt

As an added bonus to this nourishing and moisturizing mask, the yogurt and brown sugar will gently exfoliate the dry, dead skin cells, leaving your face softer and ready to absorb the benefits of the pumpkin.

For blemish-prone skin

½ cup of pureed pumpkin (canned is fine)
1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar
3-5 tbsp of brown sugar

Mix, apply to face and allow to dry about 10 minutes. The apple cider vinegar will help reduce redness and swelling. The brown sugar gently exfoliates and the pumpkin moisturizes and enriches your skin.

2. Moisturizer

Along with all of the beneficial vitamins that pumpkin contains, it is also packed with natural enzymes that help to dissolve dry skin cells. And because it’s natural and safe, pumpkin can be used from head to toe (with a few exceptions… don’t jam the stuff in your eye, of course!)

Here is a great recipe to try—throw in some nutmeg for extra scent!

Pumpkin body butter

1 cup coconut oil
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 tsp cinnamon

Mix until smooth and creamy. Rub into skin and let sit for 10-15 minutes and rinse off. Keep refrigerated. Leaves your skin smelling good enough to nibble!

3. Lip exfoliator

With Fall comes gorgeous leaves and decadent smells, but windy, dry air that can chap your skin and lips follows. This officially marks the beginning of constant lip balm application for the next few months to keep your lips from drying up like a prune.

If you want to be proactive or if you just like a soft pucker, here’s a recipe where the star of our show (pumpkin!) can help exfoliate your lips and keep them sumptuously moist all year.

Pumpkin lip scrub

1⁄4 cup pureed pumpkin
2 tbsp of brown sugar
1 tbsp of olive oil (or sub coconut oil)

Mix very well. Apply generously to your lips in small circles. The sugar will work away the dry, dead skin while the oil moisturizes and the pumpkin provides your lips with nutrients. Rinse clean with warm water.

4. Pedicure prep

Your tootsies love being pampered for the summer sandals and sandy beaches, but come fall they are ready for some rest and relaxation therapy. Pumpkin is an extra special treat for those hardworking feet! If you want to give yourself a nice at-home pedicure, try these recipes for prepping to paint!

Pumpkin foot masque

1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1 egg
Splash of milk (optional)
1 tsp honey (optional)

Mix ingredients together and apply the pumpkin masque to feet and calves. Wrap in plastic bags. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes and then rinse with warm water.

Foot treatment

2 tbsp pumpkin puree
2 tbsp natural Vaseline-alternative

Apply nightly to your feet and cover with cotton socks.

5. conditioner

Like your skin and lips, your hair is equally as prone to the dry air this time of year. It can leave your hair damaged and looking lackluster. Ya’ know what helps? You guessed it! PUMPKIN! Try this DIY pumpkin hair treatment to give your locks some love this fall.

Pumpkin hair mask

1 cup pureed pumpkin
½ cup yogurt
2 tbsp honey
1 tsp Coconut Oil (optional)

Mix well. Apply to hair from root to tip. Cover with shower cap and let sit for 15 – 20 minutes. Wash thoroughly and follow up with shampoo and conditioner.

Not everyone loves the taste of pumpkin, but with so many versatile uses, it’s hard to argue that pumpkin is anything but an incredible fruit! Try these 5 pumpkin beauty treatments this fall or anytime to experience the range of uses for that grinning Jack-o-Lantern!

Sources:
http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/moisturizing/products/pumpkin-recipes-beauty2.htm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/15/pumpkin-beauty-benefits_n_4097301.html
http://wendyshat.com/2014/10/pumpkin-pie-lip-scrub.html
http://www.coupons.com/thegoodstuff/make-a-diy-pumpkin-face-mask-with-thanksgiving-leftovers/
https://www.self.com/story/diy-pumpkin-spice-pedicure