5 Ways to Use Pumpkins in Your Beauty Regimen

Now that it's October, pumpkin season is back in full swing! Pumpkins are one of the most versatile fruits (yes, they're technically fruits), in the food family. We know that they're great for food recipes, fall decor, and Halloween crafts. But here's something I bet you didn't know: Pumpkins are also great for your skin and hair!

Pumpkins are loaded with fruit enzymes and alpha hydroxy acids to help brighten and smooth your skin. The Vitamin A and C can also soften your skin and boost collagen to give you supple, younger-looking skin. They also contain precious fatty acids and Vitamin E, which do wonders to protect, regulate, and moisturize your skin. The Vitamin E and C in pumpkins will strengthen your hair and promote growth.

Here are 5 ways you can incorporate pumpkins into your beauty regimen:

1
Skin Moisturizer
You can use pumpkin puree to make a lovely, effective body butter.
Mix some pumpkin puree with coconut oil and a little bit of cinnamon and you have yourself a beautiful body butter! You can rub it on your skin in the shower since it can get messy. Pop it in the fridge for storage.
2
Body Scrub
Use pumpkin puree with a mix of coconut or jojoba oil, ground coffee, and sugar or Himalayan salt. The pumpkin and oil will moisturize your skin while the coffee, salt and sugar exfoliates your skin.
3
Hair Conditioner
You can mix pumpkin puree, honey, and yogurt to make a deep conditioning hair mask for dry, damaged hair. Now I'll admit, this one makes me a little nervous. But you don't replace your regular conditioner with this. You leave this pumpkin conditioner on your hair under a shower cap before following up with your regular shampoo and conditioning routine.
4
Facial Mask
Mix your pumpkin puree with a little bit of honey and tumeric powder, apply the mixture to you skin and rinse it off after five minutes. This is a simple, 3-ingredient mask that will moisturize and brighten skin. It even calms inflamed skin associated with acne.
5
Peel-off Mask
Combine pumpkin juice, unflavored gelatin, a little tomato juice, and egg whites. Microwave to dissolve the ingredients, and then wait for it to cool before applying two layers to your face. Let it dry, and then peel it off. The tomato juice helps brighten, the gelatin helps you peel it off, and the egg whites will tighten your skin. And of course, the pumpkin uses its many skin-benefiting agents to seal in moisture for a brighter, smoother face.

Source: International Dermal Institute
For more detailed instructions on these easy skin and hair treatments, check out WomensHealth and HuffPost.

Filed Under: beauty, Health, pumpkins

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