Pumpkin & Glycolic Mask
It's Fall and you know what that means- PUMPKIN everything! From your favorite lattes to my favorite face masks, pumpkin is an ingredient we tend to sleep on until this beautiful time of year. In celebration of all things Fall, I created a pumpkin glycolic face mask that is sure to give you a healthy glow!
I chose to use pumpkin in my face mask not only because of the season but because pumpkin is incredibly beneficial for your skin. The lactic acid in pumpkin evens out your skin tone while its collagen-boosting vitamin C replenishes and brightens your skin. Pumpkin also has a high enzyme content which gently removes dead skin. Do you have acne prone or oily skin? Well then, pumpkin is for you because it has a high concentration of zinc. Pumpkin is anti-inflammatory, fades scarring, and minimizes pore size and excess oil. Fun fact: pumpkins molecular structure is so tiny it can penetrate deep into your skin.
The second key ingredient in my face mask is Glycolic Acid. It's a fruit acid that softens and gently removes the top layer of your skin while encouraging new cell and collagen production. When using glycolic acid it's important to keep in mind that depending on the percentage of dilution, it can either be a very strong peel or a slight exfoliation. Glycolic acid over 20% can burn your skin leaving it very red and causing your skin to peel for about a week. The glycolic acid I use is 30% and I have not, and will not, try it on its own. I highly recommend that you dilute it, as I do, in your facial masks.
Manuka honey is one of my all-time favorite ingredients to use in all masks! It contains a ton of medicinal and healing properties. I found mine at Trader Joe’s but it can also be found on Amazon. Manuka honey results from bees foraging on the flowers of the Tea Tree Plant aka manuka plant. It's best known for healing acne and scarring, fighting infections, cleaning pores while gently exfoliating, and moisturizing, softening and rejuvenating skin. It is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and extremely high in antioxidants.
Last but not least we have Bergamot Essential Oil which is a sweet smelling essential oil that is derived from a tropical citrus fruit. It has quickly become one of the essential oils I use every day. Whenever I'm working on a creative project like a blog post or newsletter, I take 4-5 deep breaths of it and it truly gets my creative juices flowing. But Bergamot is amazing for more than a little inspiration. It is known for improving blood circulation, fading scars and acne marks, and evening skin tone.
Now that you know all of the amazing properties of my Pumpkin Glycolic face mask, let's make it!
Pumpkin Glycolic Face Mask Recipe
- 1 Tablespoon ORGANIC Pumpkin
- 2 Teaspoon Manuka Honey
- 1/2 Teaspoon Glycolic Acid
- 5 drops of Bergamot Essential Oil
How to Apply Mask
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Mix well until combined.
- Wash your hands and apply it to a clean face with a brush or the back of a spoon.
- Leave the mask on for 10-15 minutes.
- Rinse off gently with 8 ounces of water with 2 tbsp. of baking soda.
PRO TIPS:
- The mask might sting a bit and that is perfectly normal! However, if at any point the stinging is painful, remove it immediately with the baking soda- water combination mentioned above. I also recommend you try the mask on your arm for a few minutes before applying to your face.
- This mask yields about two servings and should be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.
- If your face is in serious need of exfoliation or you have really sensitive skin, you might experience redness and peeling after using this mask. This is normal but be sure to rinse thoroughly.
- It's always crucial to wash, tone and moisturize your face whenever you apply a face mask. My favorites are the SunKiss Organics Carrotseed Serum (moisturizer/cleanser duo) and SunKiss Organics Aloe Rose Toner.
This mask leaves my skin so soft, smooth and glowing! Totally worth the price of the glycolic acid and manuka honey. I use these ingredients regularly and have more D.I.Y. face mask recipes including them coming your way. So tell me, have you tried a face mask with glycolic acid before? How about with pumpkin? Tell me in the comments below.
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