Beauty

Pure Pumpkin

I was browsing through a fancy-shmancy spa store the other day and picked up a small jar containing pumpkin facial mask. The ingredients were pretty plain and simple, pumpkin, some extracts, some preservatives. Then I was totally floored when I read the price tag—$27. I couldn’t believe it! I could buy a huge pumpkin for my front porch for the price of this tiny little jar of facial mask. Don’t be fooled. There’s no magic in the jar. The magic is in the pumpkin.

Pumpkin, a jolly member of the gourd family, deserves a lot more respect than the obligatory pie at Thanksgiving or the spooky Jack o’Lantern at Halloween. I love adding canned pumpkin and a dash of pumpkin pie spice to my pancakes or my oatmeal cookies to mix things up a bit. But with all of the health benefits of pumpkin, including anti-oxidants and enzymes, don’t stop with the food. The trick to getting maximum benefits is to use fresh pumpkin, not canned. The canning process kills all of the enzymes that give you a radiant complexion. Try out this recipe for a facial mask that will cost you mere pennies.

Pumpkin Facial Mask
Three Tbsp fresh pumpkin, processed until smooth
1/2 tsp honey
Enough dry milk to thicken it to a facial mask consistency