DIY Pumpkin Beauty Recipes

Leftover pumpkins from Halloween can be put to a second use this season...on your face! While pumpkins smell and taste delicious at the Thanksgiving table, they're even more effective as a natural skin care ingredient. While many think the pumpkin is a vegetable, the gourd is actually a fruit because it grows on a vine and has seeds. This autumnal icon comes in various shades of green, yellow, and red, but we most recognize its bold and bright orange hue. Pumpkin pulp naturally contains high levels of beta-carotene, an antioxidant that the body naturally converts into vitamin A. Pumpkin also contains antioxidants and enzymes that speed up cell turnover, revealing brighter, younger-looking skin. And while many spas and skin care companies offer fancy (and pricey!) pumpkin enzyme peels, you can re-create your very own tangerine-tinted treatments with ingredients from your fall pantry.

PUMPKIN PIE FACE MASK

1. 2 Tbsp cooked pumpkin
2. 1 Tbsp raw honey
3. 1/8 tsp cinnamon
4. OPTIONAL: 1/4 tsp heavy whipping cream For dry skin
5. OPTIONAL: 1/4 tsp cranberry juice or apple cider vinegar For oily skin

We know this looks like a Thanksgiving pie recipe at first glance, but we promise this yummy beauty recipe feeds your face, not your mouth. The pumpkin and cinnamon invigorate and exfoliate, while the honey acts as a humectant. First, combine all of your primary ingredients in a small bowl. Then, if you wish, add heavy whipping cream, cranberry juice, or apple cider vinegar depending on your complexion. Blend the mixture gently, then apply a thin layer of it onto your face, avoiding the eye area. Relax for 15 minutes as you enjoy the amazing aroma wafting from your skin. Wash off with lukewarm water and pat dry.

PUREED PUMPKIN SCRUB

1. 1/4 cup cooked pumpkin puree
2. 1/4 cup brown sugar

The enzymes in this simple and delicious sugar scrub will slough dead winter skin off your body. Combine your ingredients in a small bowl, then apply the mixture to your body in the shower. Scrub your skin gently in circular motions, and rinse off with warm water.