DIY Pumpkin Face Mask for Glowing Skin

Everyone is loving pumpkins and pumpkin spice in the fall. As the seasons change, this is also the perfect time of year to treat your skin to a pumpkin face mask.

Who knew that pumpkins are not only delicious for pumpkin pies but might be the secret ingredient for smooth skin! This homemade pumpkin face mask has quickly become my favorite.

In this article, I am sharing the benefits of pumpkin for your skin, how to make the pumpkin facial, and how to incorporate it into your skin care routine.

Pumpkin facial benefits

Pumpkins are not only good for eating, but they are also fantastic for your skin. This humble orange squash is a beauty-boosting superstar with a wide array of beneficial nutrients for all skin types:

• contains powerful antioxidants: pumpkins are a great source of Vitamins A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E to fight sun damage, ease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• full of zinc and potassium to alleviate the appearance of redness
• has fruit enzymes and alpha hydroxy acids that exfoliate, brighten, and firm the skin
• the pumpkin enzymes even out the skin tone, stimulate collagen production, increase cell turnover, lessen the look of dark spots, and treat dull complexion

While these are pretty impressive, we will add some additional everyday ingredients to make this pumpkin face mask a nutritious punch.

Ingredients for your pumpkin facial

You can easily make this DIY pumpkin mask at home with the added benefit of a few more ingredients:

1. Pumpkin puree: obviously this is the key ingredient here
2. Honey: is another gentle exfoliant that speeds up healing and reduces inflammation and moisturizes the skin
3. Pumpkin seed oil: this ingredient is optional but particularly good for mature and dry skin
4. Cinnamon: ground cinnamon not only makes this pumpkin facial smell wonderful, but it also has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-microbial properties
5. Apple cider vinegar: this is another gentle exfoliant that removes dead skin cells and with its acidity, it is really good for acne-prone skin.

How to Make the Pumpkin Face Mask

Follow these simple steps for making this facial treatment:

• Cook your pumpkin:

If you’re cooking a pumpkin for your favorite recipe, that is a great way to use a bit of that. Otherwise, you can bake or roast your pumpkin. I prefer peeling the pumpkin, cutting it into big chunks, and steaming it with my steamer basket. If you use that method, make sure to let your pumpkin cool down and dry out a bit so it’s not so soggy. However, you cooked it, you can then puree it with a fork or blend it in a blender, or use an immersion blender for a more silky texture. If you only have canned pumpkin, you can use that, too, in a pinch.

• Mix the ingredients

Add all your ingredients to a bowl. If you don’t like to add extra oil, you can omit the pumpkin seed oil. Mix until you get your desired consistency. You can do that simply with a fork or spoon or in your blender.

How to Apply the Pumpkin Facial

To get the most benefits out of this homemade pumpkin face mask, follow these steps:

1. Cleanse your skin really well. You can use your favorite cleanser or use this herbal face wash. If you’re looking for a deeper exfoliation, you can use the pulp and the pumpkin seeds, put them in a blender, and use that on your face for a nice pumpkin peel facial.
2. With clean hands or a spatula, apply your pumpkin face mask to your skin. You can apply a little more on any brown spots, acne scars, or other areas that need a little TLC. Avoid the sensitive eye area.
3. If you have sensitive skin, I recommend that you wash off the mask after 3-5 minutes. You might also notice a tingling sensation. If you have more robust skin (like I do) you can leave it on for 10-15 minutes. If in doubt, you can test this pumpkin face mask in a small area before you apply it to your whole face.
4. When you’re done, rinse your skin well with warm water.
5. Follow up with your favorite toner and moisturizer. Especially if you have more mature skin, you might like to use a DIY face serum for a radiant complexion.
6. Depending on your skin’s needs and to make the most of the pumpkin facial benefits, you can repeat this skin care ritual 1-2 a week.

Substitutions and Variations

Here are some tips:

• If you don’t have pumpkin, you can also use butternut squash, acorn squash, or any other pumpkin variety.
• Instead of pumpkin seed oil (or this one), you can use avocado, argan oil, coconut oil, or your favorite skin care oil.
• You don’t have to add the apple cider vinegar. You can leave it out or replace it with either freshly grated apple or apple sauce. You could even add a bit of mashed pineapple to turn this into even more of a pumpkin enzyme mask.
• I love to add ground cinnamon since I find it smells heavenly. However, you can add ginger, turmeric, cloves, or even a pumpkin spice blend. Sometimes, I like to add a drop or two of cinnamon essential oil.
• Feel free to experiment with other ingredients such as adding an egg yolk, milk, yogurt, finely ground almond meal, or brown sugar.
• Don’t just limit this DIY pumpkin face mask to your skin: You can apply it to your scalp to promote hair growth. Or you add any exfoliant and turn it into a whole body pumpkin scrub.

How long does this pumpkin face mask last?

If you’re using my recipe, you should get about 2-3 treatments from one batch. Transfer any remaining mask to a glass container or small mason jar, add a lid, and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. You might like to let it warm up before you apply it to your skin. Also, I recommend using a clean spoon or spatula instead of your fingers.

Can you buy ready-made pumpkin face masks?

Yes, you can! Actually, in coming up with this recipe I was inspired by Mychelle’s Incredible Pumpkin Peel. If you’d rather buy a pumpkin product than make it yourself, that is the one I highly recommend. Another store-bought version is Trader Joe’s popular Pumpkin Overnight Face Mask, however, I am not crazy about all the synthetic ingredients.

You might also like these DIY skin care recipes:

DIY Body Wash

Herbal Face Cleanser

Healing Clay Mask

Anti-Aging Serum

Moisturizing Hand Cream

Whipped Tallow Balm

Other favorite pumpkin recipes:

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Pumpkin Bread Pudding

Let me know if you have any questions!

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