Pumpkin Beauty

It’s Hallowe’en on Wednesday, and pumpkins are everywhere! Who doesn’t love the orange vegetable – maybe not to eat, but to make a jack-o-lantern out of at least?! But did you realise that pumpkin is good for your skin?

Pumpkins have SO MANY skincare benefits! It is packed with fruit enzyme and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), which increase cell turnover, to brighten and smooth the skin. And there’s more:

• Pumpkin contains antioxidants vitamin A and vitamin C,  to help soften and soothe the skin, and boost collagen production to prevent the signs of aging.
• Zinc in pumpkin seeds is brilliant for acne sufferers. It helps control hormone level and oil production, as well as assist with healing of the skin.
• Pumpkin seeds are high in essential fatty acids and vitamin E, which are necessary to maintain good barrier function of the skin.
• The molecular structure of pumpkin is small and therefore can penetrate deeper into the skin when used topically. This is amazing for treating a dull complexion, ageing skin and pigmentation.

Don’t be cutting one up and slathering it over your face though – just use a beauty product that utilises it.

Frances Prescott Tri-Balm is a gorgeous, luxurious, product that contains enzymes from pumpkin seeds in the exfoliation part of it to freshen and brighten the skin. The product is a 3-in-1 cleanser, exfoliator and moisturiser, and comes in a stick. What’s not to love?

To cleanse, there’s a blend of botanical oils enriched with starflower and oats to melt away impurities and make-up, and to moisturise, there’s hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture, and antioxidants vitamin E and blackcurrant to neutralise free radicals to protect, and, of course, that pumpkin to exfoliate.

It’s so easy to use  – gently massage using upward circular movements. It emulsifies with water or can be wiped off with a tissue or a cotton pad. To use it as an intensive moisture masque, apply it liberally over the face, allowing natural ingredients to melt into the skin. Leave and relax for long as you like to maximise the benefits of the ingredients, then emulsify away with water or tissue off. I love this product as a mask. It’s so simple, and feels great on the skin.

It’s £46 and available at cultbeauty.co.uk, Liberty London, Amazon and francesprescott.com

Nourish London’s Radiance Firming Oil (£25, nourishskinrange.com) contains a luxurious blend of omega-rich Macadamia and Pumpkin Oil, blended with Rosehip and Borage Oil.

This luxurious oil restores the hydro-lipid layer (that’s like the layer of your skin that helps retain moisture) to immediately improve skin’s elasticity giving a firmer, more youthful complexion. This skincare range is 100 per cent vegan, certified organic, cruelty-free and ethically sourced.

Just massage a drop into your skin. Do it daily, or twice daily, and use alone or with your favourite moisturiser.