Pumpkin Hair & Face Mask

Pumpkin Hair and Face Mask

This is the time of year that there’s so much canned and fresh pumpkin readily available and for discounted prices to boot. So how can you take advantage? Well here’s a couple homemade face and hair masks for you to give a try! :) 

Pumpkin has natural anti-aging antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and E, and B-complex. It can help to heal and protect the skin from free radicals, and dissolve dead skin cells. If you choose to add egg to your face mask it’ll help bind the concoction and nourish and lift the skin or act as a mild protein for hair. rich in enzymes and antioxidants that will help to brighten your skin and condition your locks in just 20 minutes.Pumpkin can help skin to retain its elasticity and slow the visible signs of aging, as it soothes and moisturizes, while helping the additional mask ingredients to absorb deeper into the skin and hair follicle, intensifying the results - leaving you with healthy glowing skin and hair.

Recipes and Directions after the jump! :) 

Optional Additional Ingredients: 

Yogurt: Plain, live culture yogurt (Greek Yogurt works best) is rich in alpha hydroxy and lactic acid which helps dissolve impurities while deeply cleansing and tightening pores.

Honey: This natural humectant draws moisture to it therefore it is an excellent moisturizer and has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory with cell regenerative properties, which helps to even skin tone and calm skin conditions such as acne and rosacea. (Great for dry skin or hair)

Cranberry Juice or Apple Cider Vinegar: a splash or either of these will add the effects of an astringent (Great for oily skin)

PUMPKIN FACE MASK

1/4 cup cooked and mashed pumpkin (if not available you can use canned pumpkin puree)

1 tablespoon honey (warm to liquefy, if needed)

2 tablespoons plain yogurt, (Greek yogurt if possible) room temperature

• Mix honey into pumpkin puree, then stir in plain yogurt. 
• Allow to sit for 3 mins, then apply to face using mask brush or clean fingers, avoiding eye area.  
• Relax and let the mask work approximately 20 minutes. Wipe off using a warm wet cloth and rinse face with warm water, apply your moisturizer (this will help to lock in the beneficial effects of the mask).

*Repeat this weekly treatment to protect your skin from the drying effects of winter. Left over mask can be kept in the fridge for up to a week.

PUMPKIN PRE-POO HAIR MASK

This recipe can be used to create a deep conditioning hair mask:

•  add 4 Tbsp of virgin olive oil to the above mixture and apply to dry hair
• cover with shower cap for 30 minutes
• wash out with shampoo - condition and style.