Tag: face mask

Pumpkin Seed Oil Will Take Your Fall Beauty Routine to the Next Level

It’s that time of year again… all pumpkin everything. I’m not complaining. While I might take a pass on those pumpkin lattes, you’ll definitely find me snacking on pumpkin seeds, eating this divine pumpkin beer sharp cheddar gnocchi soup, and slathering my skin in this amazing pumpkin based face mask all season long. Pumpkins are amazing, y’all.

Every year I try to incorporate at least one seasonal beauty recipe into my routine. This year, I’m totally crushing on Pumpkin Seed Oil. Pumpkin Seed Oil is rich in vitamin E, zinc, omega 3- and 6- fatty acids, and antioxidants. The high amounts of zinc and vitamin E improve skin tone, help wounds heal more rapidly, fight acne and help with skin renewal. Even better, many of the minerals and vitamins in Pumpkin Seed Oil have anti-aging effects as well. This versatile carrier oil is the perfect addition to your fall beauty routine. Use it as a cleanser. Use it as a toner. This stuff does it all! Check out these Pumpkin Seed Oil beauty recipes that are sure to become your Fall beauty routine faves!

Pumpkin Seed Oil Daily Face Cleanser

Ingredients

  • ½ c raw honey
  • 1 tbsp pumpkin seed oil (find it here)
  • 1 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 3-5 drops tea tree oil

Directions

Mix ingredients together and apply to damp skin. Massage your face and neck in a circular motion and rinse off with warm water.

Pumpkin Seed Oil Toner

This is an easy one. If you love witch hazel and you often use it as a toner then you know that it can quickly dry out your skin as the weather gets colder. Pumpkin Seed Oil will be your new best friend. Simply add equal parts Pumpkin Seed Oil and witch hazel to keep your skin both toned and moisturized. You may need to play with the proportions a bit to suit your specific skin care needs.

Pumpkin Seed Rosewater Face Mask

We all know how incredibly detoxifying a good clay mask can be. They pull out toxins, reduce oil, help get out blackheads, and even minimize the appearance of pores. With so many types of clay to choose from, I’ve even taken up the art of multi-masking to reap the variety of benefits in one application. The only drawback of clay-based face masks is that they can be incredibly drying. Not so bueno for cold weather skin care.

Autumn is in the air, and with it comes that familiar wind chill that sucks the moisture right out of our faces. Don’t despair. Imagine a clay mask that is as hydrating as it is detoxifying. This pumpkin seed rosewater face mask delivers just that. It has all the detox power of your favorite clay mask, but will leave your skin feeling moisturized. Honey is a natural humectant, while pumpkin seeds are chock full of skin friendly vitamins and minerals like zinc, Vitamin E, and Vitamin C.

Pumpkin Seed Rosewater Face Mask

Ingredients

  • 1/4 c pumpkin seeds
  • 1/3 cup rosewater
  • 1 tablespoon clay
  • 1 tablespoon honey

Directions

  • Combine the pumpkin seeds and rosewater in a lidded container and place in the fridge to soak overnight.
  • The next morning, add the soaked pumpkin seeds and rosewater to a high speed blender along with the honey. Blend until smooth.
  • Transfer to a non-metal dish and stir in the clay using a non-metal utensil.
  • To use, simply smooth the mask over your face in a generous layer, avoiding your eye area.
  • Allow the mask to dry (this mask takes a little bit longer to dry out than others- about 30 minutes)
  • Wash off with warm water and enjoy your new glow!

***this mask must be stored in the fridge and will last over a week there in an airtight container.

Source: Catching Seeds

DIY Aloe Vera Face Masks for Summer

These DIY aloe vera face masks will revitalize your skin just in time for Summer!

I’m kind of a nerd… not the Star Trek/ Star Wars/ Lord of the Rings variety of nerd… more like the sacred geometry, Fibonacci sequence, Aristotelian kind of nerd. My particular brand of nerd will tell you how beautiful the Aloe Vera plant is, but will take that fact and turn it into a nerdy conversation about the Golden Ratio in nature and cosmic spirals. I won’t take you on that journey in this post, but I do want to share these aloe vera beauty recipes with you. Just remember, you heard it here first, the universe unfolds in a pattern that spirals toward these face masks. It’s science, you guys. Science.

b a n a n a + A l m o n d O i l + A l o e V e r a

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp aloe vera gel
  • 3 tsp almond oil
  • 1 small banana

directions

  • in a small bowl mash your banana
  • add aloe vera gel and stir until well combined
  • mix in almond oil
  • apply this mixture to your face in a thick layer and allow it to dry (about 15-20 minutes)
  • rinse with warm water

c u c u m b e r + r o s e w a t e r + a l o e v e r a

ingredients

  • ½ cucumber
  • 1 tsp rose water
  • 2 tbsp aloe vera gel

directions

  • in a blender, puree the cucumber
  • transfer pureed cucumber to a small bowl
  • add rose water and aloe vera
  • mix well
  • using a small circular motion, apply the mixture to your skin
Image: Kumaravel

s h e a b u t t e r + o l i v e o i l + a l o e v e r a

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp aloe vera gel
  • 2 tbsp shea butter
  • 2 tbsp olive oil

directions

  • in a small bowl, combine your aloe vera gel with olive oil
  • spoon in softened shea butter and mix until well blended
  • apply a generous layer of the mixture to your face
  • allow the mask to set for about 15 minutes
  • rinse your face with warm water
  • you may need to use a soft wash cloth to gently remove any excess mask

Just Add Water DIY Face Masks

These pre-made DIY face masks are the perfect no-hassle addition to your spa days at home!

I’ll be the first to admit that DIY beauty treatments can get a little bit complicated. Measuring spoons, glass bowls, and a ton of ingredients…I swear, sometimes my kitchen looks like a meth lab. So I was super excited to stumble upon Juice Generation and BeeCause, two companies that totally take the guess work out of clean beauty recipes. How convenient is it that these face masks come fully mixed and ready to go?!

Juice Generation Beauty Blends Face Masks

Apply a little with a face brush and drink the rest! These beauty blends work from the inside out and the outside in.

  • Papaya Avocado Papaya and lemon naturally slough away dulling dead skin cells for a brighter complexion; while avocado deeply moisturizes.
  • Watermelon Hibiscus Antioxidant-heavy hibiscus acts as an anti-inflammatory to combat stressed skin, while replenishing watermelon and soothing rosewater deliver a radiant complexion. Each sip is floral and slightly sweet.
  • Aloe Greens Your skin will drink in the calming blend of aloe vera, nopal cactus and cucumber, while the combination of pear, spinach, and avocado provides a hit of free radical-fighting antioxidants.

BeeCause Face Masks

These come pre-mixed so you don’t even have to add water!

  • Banana & Oatmeal This smoothing mask hydrates and moisturizes dehydrated skin with nutrient filled bananas. Zinc filled whole oats and oat powder gently removes dirt and oils while effectively reducing inflammation and acne-causing bacteria.
  • Green Tea & Seaweed Made with green clay, seaweed, green tea, and tea tree oil, this absorbing mask helps to remove excess oil and dirt.
  • Honey & Blueberry This ultra conditioning and antioxidant-rich formula is filled with real blueberries and raw honey. The combination of Argan nut oil helps to fully hydrate and nourish the skin, a necessity in preventing aging skin.

Also available at Thrive Market

Blueberry Beauty—Spa Days at Home

I watched Willy Wonka over the weekend. Not that newer Tim Burton mess. Nah. I watched the classic, y’all. The Willy Wonka with Gene Wilder and the incredibly macabre songs. Yep. That’s the one. I just love those strangely sinister children’s stories a la Edward Gorey.  Anyway, I’d just gotten to the part in Willy Wonka when Violet Beauregard turns into a blueberry and I got all déjà vu all over again. I love blueberries, and when I was a kid, my mother used to say that if I wasn’t careful I’d turn into one. Ha!

I guess I proved Mommy wrong because I’ve been eating, drinking, and most recently smearing blueberries all over my skin and I still haven’t suffered Violet’s fate. Seriously, blueberries are the incredible, edible, antioxidant rock star of DIY beauty. Internal and external, that tiny purple giant is a beauty powerhouse. There are so many ways to enjoy the benefits of blueberries that I couldn’t settle on just one, so I decided to share a few ways to reap their rewards with you.

For Snacking

Blueberries are an excellent source of fiber, they’re low in cholesterol, saturated fat, and sodium. They’re also jam packed with vitamins. So if you find yourself a little peckish between meals, grab a cup of blueberries and nom nom away. One cup of blueberries is an energy boosting and filling snack at just 84 calories!

For Breakfast

One of my favorite breakfasts is this super simple blueberry banana smoothie. Just blend together 3/4 cup fresh or frozen blueberries, 1/2 cup plain or vanilla whole fat yogurt, 1/4 cup orange juice, and 1/2 of a medium sized banana. Add a little ice to the blender to make it extra frothy.

For Beauty

Harnessing the antioxidant power of blueberries and coupling it with the antibacterial power of honey, this face mask is easy to whip up and the results amazing. In a blender, mix about 1 cup of blueberries, 2 tbsp raw honey, and 2 tbsp raw sugar. Apply this mixture to your clean skin and allow it to work magic for about 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Eat, drink, and bathe in blueberries, y’all! I promise you won’t turn violet.