Edible Skincare: Turmeric-Pumpkin Face Mask
By Abigail Hueber
Pumpkins are aplenty this time of year, but don’t overlook them simply as a decorative Halloween item. Pumpkins are a fruit (yes a fruit!) that are packed with some serious nutrients, so don’t let their ghoulish grins deceive you!
At the peak of their season, pumpkins are the perfect pick-me-up to our skins’ transition into the cooler autumn weather. Loaded with vitamin A and alpha hydroxyl acids (AHAs), pumpkin promotes cell turnover and collagen growth for bright, fresh and youthful looking skin, while vitamin C, a potent antioxidant works to smooth and soften for a radiant glow. Mother Nature just knows best.
Roast your pumpkin, scoop out the flesh and whip it up for a thick, creamy and luxurious face mask. Sugar pumpkins are smaller and sweeter than the large carving pumpkins and best for eating and face treating! But all varieties will do the trick.
Pumpkin alone in a face mask works wonders for your skin or up the ante and mix in some additional skin super foods such as those found in our featured Sweet Turmeric-Pumpkin Face Mask for a super star autumn skin boost!
Super food face mask additions: Egg whites create a tightening effect which helps to reduce pore size, decrease redness and create a mini-facelift feel. Hello new favorite face treatment. Turmeric makes this face mask an antioxidant heavy weight, helping to combat our skins exposure to any unfriendly environment elements such as UVA/UVB rays and wind. All gently and luxuriously coated in sweet honey for a final seal of moisture.
Turmeric-Pumpkin Face Mask
Ingredients:
1/2 cup/100 g. pumpkin flesh
1 tsp. honey
1 egg white
1/2 tsp. ground turmeric
Directions:
1. Preheat oven 350 F/177 C.
2. Slice the top stem off the pumpkin then slice the pumpkin in half. Scoop out the seeds and SAVE them to roast later for a delicious snack!
3. Place pumpkin halves face down on a baking sheet and roast for 35-45 minutes until skin is easily pierced with a fork.
4. Remove from oven and let cool. Scoop flesh out from pumpkin halves.
5. In a blender or food processor, combine pumpkin flesh, honey, egg white and turmeric into a uniform paste.
6. Wash your face. Evenly spread pumpkin mask over face and neck.
7. Leave the face mask on for 15-20 minutes. Sit quietly, close your eyes, breath deep and spend this time in a way that cares for you.
8. Gently rinse off face mask with warm water and a wash cloth. Then enjoy the fresh, beautiful face looking back at you.
Need ideas for what to do with your extra pumpkin and seeds? Check out Pumpkin Everything.