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Jennifer Chung

DIY Pumpkin Recipes for Healthy Skin


“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”

Amongst the pumpkin spice lattes and cozy, oversized sweaters, Fall brings a sense of calmness to our lives. We catch ourselves excited for the colder temperatures and refreshing breeze after a long, humid summer. But with colder and drier air, our skin can fall victim to dull and dehydrated conditions if we don’t prep it for the coming months. A good moisturizer and healthy water consumption can certainly do the trick. However, individuals with dry skin may be more susceptible to flaking, irritation, or uncomfortable tightness to the skin. There are many skin care products to help relieve dryness but let’s keep it fun this fall with some DIY fall beauty recipes!

Pumpkins are a must for fall beauty recipes because they’re accessible, cheap, and natural. From invigorating face masks to delicious body scrubs (You can actually eat it), indulge yourself this fall with a few of our favorite DIY pumpkin beauty recipes discovered through the web. Pumpkins are rich in vitamins and minerals which help promote healthy and radiant skin. Natural enzymes found in pumpkins also hydrate and softens skin by gently removing dead skin cells. There are plenty more pumpkin beauty benefits too, learn more here.

Pumpkin Face Mask Use once a week to keep skin hydrated and prevent irritation from the cold weather.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons organic canned pumpkin puree or 1 small pumpkin (beat to a creamy pulp if using fresh pumpkin)

1/2 teaspoons organic honey

1/2 teaspoons milk (or a milk substitute such as almond or soy milk)

Directions:

  1. Combine pumpkin puree, honey, and milk in a small bowl. Mix well.

  2. On cleansed skin, apply the mask using your fingers or brush. Avoid getting the mixture close to the eyes.

  3. Allow the mask to set for 15-20 minutes.

  4. Gently rinse the mask off a warm, damp washcloth.

  5. Follow with your usual skincare routine.

 

Pumpkin Pie Lip Balm/Lip Scrub

Dry, chapped lips? Using lip balm throughout the day is important in keeping lips lusciously moisturized. Also try a lip scrub 2-3 times a week to exfoliate away any dead skin buildup around the lips. Hint: This is an excellent DIY gift for friends this Thanksgiving!

Ingredients for Lip Scrub:

2 tablespoons coconut oil

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Covered container

Directions:

  1. Combine ingredients together in a small bowl. Mix well.

  2. Transfer to a covered container to save and use throughout fall.

  3. To use, apply an appropriate amount onto lips and gently rub back and forth. Rinse and follow with lip balm!

Ingredients for Lip Balm:

2 tablespoons sweet almond oil

1 teaspoon beeswax

1 teaspoon honey

¼ teaspoon pumpkin spice mix

Directions:

  1. In a double boiler, combine almond oil and beeswax until melted together

  2. Remove from heat and stir in the honey and pumpkin spice. Mix well.

  3. Transfer to a lip balm tube or container (Find affordable jars or tubes on Amazon)

  4. Let cool and harden. Enjoy!

For a chai-flavored lip balm, check out this recipe.

 

Pumpkin Pie Body Scrub

Promoting cell turnover starts with a good body exfoliator. Aside from the relaxing home-spa experience, using body scrubs help to maintain smooth, healthy skin. Gently massaging body scrubs on your body also removes dead skin buildup while increasing blood flow throughout your body. Use a body scrub 2-3 times a week if your skin is healthy and firm. If you have sensitive or thin skin, use a body scrub once a week to avoid irritation. Be mindful not to over scrub and always moisturize afterwards so your skin can soak up all the goodness.

Ingredients:

2 cups brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

3 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice

1 cup coconut oil

Covered jar

Directions:

  1. Simply combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Be sure to mix well.

  2. Transfer to a jar. Use during your shower routine by gently scrubbing in circular motions around the entire body. Rinse off and don’t forget to moisturize afterwards!

 

Pumpkin Spice Facial Scrub

Dead skin, makeup, and oils can build up overtime and prevent our skin from achieving maximum radiance. Using a facial exfoliator 1-2 times a week during the winter can buff off dead skin cells and allow your daily skin care regime to soak in more effectively.

Ingredients

1 cup fine brown sugar

1/2 cup jojoba oil for oily skin, or 1/2 cup coconut oil for dry/normal skin

1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Oil from 3 Vitamin E capsules

Directions:

  1. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Mix well.

  2. Apply an appropriate amount onto skin with warm water.

  3. Using light pressure, gently move the scrub around in circular motions around your face and neck, avoiding the eye area.

  4. Rinse with warm water after a few rotations over entire face and neck. Follow with mask or hydrating moisturizer.

 

Pumpkin Spice Lotion

1/4 cup cocoa butter (Full of impressive nutrients for skin)

2 tablespoons almond oil (Soothes irritation from cold temperatures)

2 tablespoons coconut oil (Provides deep hydration for skin)

1 teaspoon beeswax (Protects skin against free radicals, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial)

1/8-1/4 teaspoon paprika (For orange color, because it’s fall)

For scent, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial purposes

10 drops cinnamon essential oil

7 drops ginger essential oil

5 drops nutmeg essential oil

2 drops allspice essential oil

2 drops clove essential oil

Directions:

  1. Over double boiler, combine cocoa butter, coconut oil, almond oil, and beeswax. Stir until ingredients are melted and combined.

  2. Add paprika, adjust according how deep you want the color to be. Let paprika seep for about ten minutes on heat.

  3. Place mixing bowl in the fridge to cool. Once it’s almost solid, remove from fridge and add essential oils using a handheld mixer for about a minute.

  4. Transfer to a jar with a tight-fitting lid. (Reuse an old lotion bottle!)

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Jennifer "Nhu Thy" Chung

Editor

Jennifer is a skincare and fashion executive in Silicon Valley. Deeply involved with the Vietnamese-American Community, she is passionate about culture, community and family. She hopes to make the world a beautiful place and to influence and encourage others to dream by sharing her own experiences and goals.

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