Several Ways to Slice a Pumpkin
I get it, Halloween is over and so is Thanksgiving. You’re ready to move past pumpkin spice lattes and onto peppermint things. BUT! Don’t be so quick to toss those left-over cans of pumpkin puree just yet! They’re jam packed with incredible enzymes, vitamins and minerals to keep your skin healthy, hydrated and full of holiday cheer. This time of year, between parties, travel and social obligations, it can be really hard to find the time for much of anything else. But in the spirit of giving, be sure to carve out a little you time with the gift of self-care.
Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice | Pumpkin Sugar Scrub
3 cups of raw turbinado sugar
2 cups of coconut oil
1/4 cup of pumpkin puree
1/2 tsp of ground ginger
1/2 tsp of cinnamon
TO MAKE // 1) Heat coconut oil on the stove on low, until it is nice and melted. 2) Add in the ginger and cinnamon and stir until they’re combined. 3) Mix in pumpkin puree and whisk to combine. 4) Once all of these ingredients are nice and smooth and friendly with each other, pour them slowly into the bowl of turbinado sugar. TA-DA!
TO USE // Apply to wet skin, scrub, rinse off!
Extra tips: Because the turbinado sugar crystals are large, I don’t recommend this sugar scrub for your face as it is a bit too rough. Think of this more like a body scrub. I like to keep my jar in the shower with me because the heat helps to keep the coconut oil soft and ready for scrubbing.
THE GOODS:
Pumpkin: Vitamins C (promotes collagen which keeps that skin looking young, reverses UV damage, reduces wrinkles , promotes elasticity, hydrating) + Vitamin B (good for circulation, treating acne, and renewal of skin)
Coconut Oil: Vitamin E (moisturizes, protects skin cells) + anti-fungal (prevents zits and break-outs, helps old scars and encourages tissue renewal, zaps zits)
Ginger: Antioxidants (helps with scaring, fights pre-mature aging of the skin, protects from free-radicals) + anti-inflammatory (tightens pores, smoothes skin, reduces inflammation and redness) + natural exfoliant
Cinnamon: anti-fungal/anti-bacterial (prevents zits and break-outs, helps old scars and encourages tissue renewal, zaps zits) + anti-inflammatory (tightens pores, smoothes skin, reduces inflammation and redness) + antiseptic (heals wounds) + promotes and stimulates collagen
You Can’t Zit with Us | Pumpkin Mask
5 tbsp pumpkin puree
4 tbsp greek yogurt
1 tsp of honey
1/4 tsp activated charcoal (or approx. 2 tablets)
1/8 tsp cinnamon
TO MAKE // Put all ingredients in a bowl and stir until they’re combined. Keep in the fridge for up to 7 days.
TO USE // Wash face and blot it dry to prep the skin. Apply a thin layer of the mask on your face and neck and allow it to dry. Wash off with warm water.
THE GOODS
Pumpkin: Vitamins C (promotes collagen which keeps that skin looking young, reverses UV damage, reduces wrinkles and promotes elasticity and hydrating) + Vitamin B (good for circulation, treating acne, and renewal of skin)
Greek Yogurt: Lactic Acid (tightens pores, dissolves dead skin cells for easy exfoliation) + vitamin B (good for circulation, treating acne, and renewal of skin) + anti-fungal/anti-bacterial properties (zaps zits) + protein (helps rejuvenate skin, nourish and repair skin cells) + zinc (mild astringent)
Honey: Antioxidants (slow and reverse signs of aging) + anti-bacterial ( prevents zits and break-outs, helps old scars and encourages tissue renewal) + it’s a humectant (which basically means it’s deeply hydrating) + packed with enzymes that cleans out pores and clarifies skin
Activated Charcoal: anti-inflammatory (tightens pores, smoothes skin, reduces inflammation and redness) + highly absorbent (sucks toxins out of pores) + anti-bacterial ( prevents zits and break-outs, helps old scars and encourages tissue renewal)
Cinnamon: anti-fungal/anti-bacterial ( prevents zits and break-outs, helps old scars and encourages tissue renewal, zaps zits) + anti-inflammatory (tightens pores, smoothes skin, reduces inflammation and redness) + antiseptic (heals wounds) + promotes and stimulates collagen
The Smoking Pumpkin | Mezcal Cocktail
3 oz mezcal
1.5 oz pumpkin spice simple syrup (recipe below)
1.5 oz apple juice
1 tbsp pumpkin butter (I love this recipe on Minimalist Baker)
TO MAKE // Add all ingredients to a shaker and give ‘er a shake. Pour over ice. Serve.
Extra tips: If you’re not drinking, it’s just as tasty to sub sparkling water for the mezcal!
PUMPKIN SPICE SIMPLE SYRUP
2 cups of sugar
2 cups of water
2 sticks of cinnamon
1 little nub of sliced ginger
1/2 tbsp of cloves
2 sticks of cinnamon
TO MAKE // 1) Combine sugar and water in a pot on medium heat and stir until dissolved. 2) Add spices and turn heat down to low for 5 minutes. 3) Remove from burner and allow contents to cool. 4) Pour through a strainer and store in the fridge for 7-10 days.
