‘Tis the Season to buy Pumpkins

Category : Beauty | Written by : victorinekulier

WRITTEN BY VICTORINE KULIER

 

Every season has its special beauty and appeal.  The changing leaves and their vibrant colors, seasonal treats and long walks in the crisp fresh air. But as the weather cools, there’s less moisture in the air and in turn less moisture for your skin. The weather has officially shifted into fall season, and with the season’s change also comes a change to our complexion, our hair and our bodies.

If you’re cooking and baking with pumpkin this season, chances are that you’ll have too much or some parts of the pumpkin left and don’t know what to do with it. We’ve got the perfect home remedies to help improve your appearance, all thanks to the golden magic of this season’s pumpkins. You can use them to make peels, masks, creams and even conditioners for healthy skin and hair. They also have plenty of benefits that we’ll let you know about in case you haven’t heard. All in all, as we’ve always known: pumpkins are sensational!

Beauty Benefits

  • Vitamin E and Zinc

The high amounts of vitamin E, zinc, omega 3- and 6- fatty acids as well as antioxidants found in pumpkin oil have an amazing effect on your skin in retaining moisture. These are all important in supporting your immune system, improving your mood, sleep, eye and skin healthy and insulin regulation. The Vitamin E also helps improve your skin tone, fights acne and helps with skin renewal. Many of the minerals also have anti-aging effects.

 

  • Magnesium and Potassium

One-quarter cup of pumpkin seeds already contains around 190mg of magnesium – almost half of the recommended daily amount! Since magnesium is required for energy production and you might be lacking exactly that during chilly fall-times – boom! What a great way to get your minerals in! Pumpking also contains copper, iron, calcium, manganese, phosphorus, niacin and potassium. One cup of cooked pumpkin has 564 milligrams of potassium – in comparison to a banana, which has 422 mg of potassium per medium banana – that’s quite a lot. That extra potassium is great for us working-out folks since it helps restore the body’s balance of electrolytes after a good workout and keeps muscles functioning at their best.

 

  • Carotenoids

Ever wondered what gives pumpkins their vibrant orange colors? Your body converts three carotenoids, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin, into vitamin A. Thanks to their very high content of carotenoids, pumpkins contain powerful antioxidants which help fight inflammations. They actively help to fight age related diseases, skin disorders and UV rays related problems.

 

Do It Yourself

  • Facial Mask

As your base, you’ll use pumpkin puree – around ¼ cup of pumpkin should do the trick. If you don’t have a fresh one you can use the unsweetened canned variety. Mix it with a tablespoon of almond milk. It helps to thin out the puree a little bit and also adds some Vitamin E, which makes the skin look more vibrant and more youthful. If your hair is dry or even on the dry side, especially during fall times, also add one teaspoon of agave nectar to help moisturize the skin.

Alternatively, you can add a spoon of honey if you don’t have any Agave at home. Now combine all the ingredients, coat your whole face in a thin layer of mixture and leave on for about 10-15 minutes or until dry. Afterwards wash your face with lukewarm water and clean off the rest with a washcloth. You can also use this as an overnight spot-treatment. Just apply a small amount anywhere where you see a pimple forming.

  • Pumpkin Pie Sugar Scrub

To make around 8 ounces of the Pumpkin Pie Sugar Scrub, simply mix together 1 cup of granulated sugar, 1/cup of Women’s Best Coconut Oil, 2 tsp. of pumpkin pie space and 2 tsp. of vanilla extract.

Done. It’s super easy to make but very effective. Apply it to your face, or body and let it sit for a couple of minutes to let it soften dead skin cells, before using your fingers to gently scrub your skin in small circular motions. The dead skin cells will wash away and make your face look fresh and flawless!

 

  • Pumpkin Spice Hair Mask

Dry hair during fall and winter season is pretty common. If you want to get some extra moisture into tired, straw-like hair, all you need to do is this: blend 1 cup of pumpkin puree with ¼ cup of coconut oil. Apply to hair, focus especially on roots and tips and cover it with some aluminum foil or a shower cap. Let it rest for 20-30 minutes, depending on the level of moisture you want to reach, and then rinse it with some shampoo.

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Author:

victorinekulier

Sports and Media Science | English and American Studies | Track and Field Athlete

I’m a total run-fanatic – but I’m easily convinced to try just about any sport there is. I love adventures, traveling and staying fit and want to inspire our readers to discover their own passions!


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