DIY

Ingredient Spotlight: Pumpkin for Healthy Skin

Saturday, October 31st, 2015

Posted By Susannah Compton

pumpkin

No doubt about it, pumpkin and pumpkin seeds are a healthy dietary choice—but did you realize that pumpkin has incredible benefits when applied to the skin?

I love to eat pumpkin seeds on salads and as a snack. They are rich in tryptophan, a mood-boosting amino acid that helps increase serotonin levels and contributes to sound sleep. Pumpkin seeds are also a good source of minerals like iron, zinc, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and magnesium, plus vitamins including A, B, E, and K. While all of this adds up to superfood status in my book, this nutritional profile is the main reason why pumpkin enhances the health of your skin when applied topically.

Pumpkin oil is an ingredient you may have seen in some of your skincare products, and if you aren’t currently using a product that contains pumpkin oil then consider incorporating one because pumpkin seed oil has some impressive benefits. This anti-inflammatory ingredient soothes and calms redness and deeply moisturizes thanks to the essential fatty acids, which have a balancing effect on the skin. Antioxidants like vitamin E protect the skin from free radical damage and help promote a youthful appearance, while vitamin C helps boost collagen production and keeps skin firm and smooth. Pumpkin oil is unique in that it is rich in zinc, a mineral that helps stave off acne and enhances the skin’s ability to heal. This adds up to an ingredient that all skin types can truly benefit from, so choose pumpkin for healthy skin.

Finally, pumpkin enzymes have the ability to gently exfoliate, allowing skin cells to turn over and reveal fresh radiant skin. You can make a DIY pumpkin mask by combining 2 tablespoons of pureed pumpkin and a teaspoon of raw honey. Mix and leave on your face for 20 minutes to reap the lovely benefits of this gentle skin rejuvenator.

Be sure to include pumpkin in your routine for healthy, glowing skin. The following products are a great source…

 

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About Susannah Compton

Susannah Compton is the founder and formulator behind Florescent, a line of 100% botanical perfumes she blends in small batches from organic and wild crafted aromatics. Plant-based skincare and cosmetics are a way of life for Susannah, who writes about clean beauty and the benefits of botanical ingredients for No More Dirty Looks, Thoughtfully Magazine and Integrity Botanicals. Florescent, however, is Susannah’s personal expression of healthy beauty. Susannah has been working with botanical aromatics for years, blending first for therapeutic purposes before delving into the art of perfumery. Having rarely experienced the depth and complexity of true botanicals in conventional perfume, she learned the art of blending and created what her heart desired — a scent that would move her the way perfume should. In search of those elevating, ethereal bouquets of scent, Susannah honed her skills behind the perfume bench. She launched Florescent in the spring of 2015 to share the lush experience and pleasing ritual of real perfume.