I can always tell when summer is ending based on how my skin looks and feels. The balmy nights grow cool and dry and that dewy glow I’ve had all summer long begins to fade into something a bit less luminescent. I’m sure you know the feeling!

The only consolation I have is the fact that fall means pumpkin season, and I love pretty much anything pumpkin – especially beauty related recipes that use this unassuming gourd.

One of my favorite ways to use pumpkin this time of year is by using it a various mask recipes that are formulated to help keep my skin soft, supple, and above all, clear! So today, I want to share with you one of my favorite recipes that does just that.

Clarifying Pumpkin Face Mask Recipe

In case you didn’t know, fresh (and even canned) pumpkin puree is known for its high vitamin c, zinc, magnesium, manganese, copper, iron, and potassium content.

The vitamin c in particular is what gives pumpkin its potent free radical fighting properties that are essential for preventing fine lines and wrinkles when the weather starts getting cold and dry.

The zinc in pumpkin puree is another nutrient that helps keep the skin smooth and youthful by encouraging collagen production and increasing cell turnover. This cellular turnover is what will give your skin that fresh and healthy glow you’ve been missing since summer ended!

Pumpkin also contains a lot of B vitamins which are known to boost circulation and skin cell renewal, and who doesn’t want to boost their skin’s glow-factor?

So, as you can see, pumpkin has a few lovely benefits that can really help out your skin when it’s looking tired, dull, and in need of a pick-me-up.

Aside from eating it, the best way to reap the benefits of pumpkin is to apply it directly to the skin as a mask.

I like to add just a couple more ingredients to rev things up a bit in order to get the most bang because I want to treat several things at once - and there’s nothing better than multitasking beauty recipes amiright?

So let’s get into it!

Here’s what you’ll need to make my clarifying pumpkin mask recipe:

• ¼ cup pumpkin puree (either fresh or organic store bought puree)
• 1 teaspoon Manuka honey (at least 16+ UMF/KFactor)
• ¼ teaspoon raw apple cider vinegar
• 1 drop essential oil of choice (look below to see some of my favorites!)

Loving Preparation – Pumpkin Face Mask

1. Simply add all of the ingredients to a small dish and stir well to combine. I like to use a fanned brush for both mixing and application.

2. Next, apply an even layer all over the face, neck, and décolletage as desired and allow the mask to dry completely (15-20minutes) before wiping it away with a warm damp cloth. You can also rinse off the mask in the shower or bath.

3. Repeat twice weekly for best results.

Why These Ingredients Work

Pumpkin

Not only is pumpkin puree incredibly nourishing for the skin, it also acts as a potent exfoliant for dry, clogged, and congested skin. This is what makes pumpkin such a wonderful mask to use for those who suffer from acne, especially those who cannot seem to get a grip on blackhead control.

The gentle enzymes found in pumpkin puree will help slough off dead skin cells and will over time eat away impurities that are trapped in the pores.

It is for this reason that you should not use a pumpkin mask more that 2-3 times weekly, especially if you have sensitive skin.

You will notice after using a pumpkin face mask that your skin is brighter, whiter, and more fresh looking after use.

Manuka Honey

Manuka honey is one of my holy grail skin care ingredients and has been for the past several years.

Bees collect pollen and nectar from the Manuka tree which is a close relative to the tea tree, and we all know how incredibly medicinal tea tree is, so imagine a honey that is infused with all that medicinal goodness.

Just like its cousin tea tree, Manuka honey is incredibly anti-bacterial and will even kill acne causing bacteria on contact. This is what makes this mask clarifying, but you have to make sure to get a potency of at least 16+ in order to reap Manuka’s acne healing properties.

Using Manuka honey in a mask allows it to deeply penetrate the skin, including the pores, and heal existing blemishes while helping to prevent future breakouts. It also brightens and moisturizes the skin because honey has naturally occurring humectant properties.

Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

If you’re looking for the smoothest skin ever, look no further than raw apple cider vinegar. Not only is it a lovely astringent that will help tighten large pores, apple cider vinegar is also known for its ability to plump, brighten, and smooth out the skin.

Make sure you get “raw” apple cider vinegar that includes the “mother” so that your skin gets all those wonderful vitamins and minerals you won’t get in other types of ACV. This is the one I use.

Raw apple cider vinegar also doubles as an excellent post workout astringent for those who are into fitness.

Essential Oils

Essential oils have proven their worth to me time and time again, and this recipe is no different. Not only are EOs versatile, they’re also jam-packed with benefits that go far beyond just beauty.

For this mask, I love to switch out the oil I use based on what my skin needs in that moment.

For instance, if I have any blemishes or are near the time in my cycle when they like to pop up, I will often reach for a clarifying oil like tea tree essential oil to help prevent acne causing bacteria from replicating and causing a breakout.

If my skin is looking a bit red or inflamed, I will reach for lavender, geranium, German chamomile, rose, or rosemary essential oil to help quell redness and sooth irritation.

If I’m dealing with really oily skin, geranium or lemon are my go-to’s to help control sebum production and shrink the pores.

For an anti-aging boost, I reach for frankincense, myrrh, rose, carrot seed, or sandalwood to help diminish fine lines and prevent wrinkles.

The options for choosing your best essential oil for your needs are endless!

I really hope you give this pumpkin face mask a try! It’s really keep this time of year

You may also enjoy reading:

Simple Fruit Masks for Beautiful Skin
Rejuvenating Matcha and Rose Face Mask
Are Papaya Enzymes the Answer to Banishing Red, Splotchy, Uneven Skin Tone?
Is Manuka Honey Better Than Benzoyl Peroxide?
12 Ways to Treat Acne Inside and Out
Essential Oils for Hormonal Acne