10 Pumpkin Skin-Care Products That Don't Just Smell Good — They Work Wonders
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Pumpkin is the unofficial/official mascot of autumn — and there are plenty of ways to enjoy it during the cozy season. You can go pumpkin picking, bake a pumpkin pie, sip on a pumpkin spice latte, or incorporate the gourd into your beauty routine. That's right, in addition to being a delicious-smelling and tasty fruit, it's also a popular ingredient in skin care.
But is the humble pumpkin actually good for our skin? We asked Dr. Catherine Borysiewicz, consultant dermatologist at the Cadogan Clinic in London, to share exactly what pumpkin is great for. "Pumpkin is more than just a Halloween decoration — the nutrient-dense fruit is full of vital proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which is beneficial for our health as nourishing our skin," Borysiewicz said. Pumpkin delivers a whole host of benefits for the skin that include removing dead skin from the surface, brightening the complexion, and fighting against acne flare-ups thanks to the proteins found in pumpkin. "The zinc, enzymes, and alpha hydroxyl acids (AHAs) in pumpkin help increase the skin cell turnover, soften the skin, and restore the pH balance," Borysiewicz explained.
It's an ingredient that's also packed with antioxidants, which "helps deliver skin radiance and improve elasticity." And its skin-loving properties don't end there. "The beta-carotene contents of pumpkin, which is converted to vitamin A, have antiaging benefits, which helps improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as UV damage," Borysiewicz said.
Pumpkin is now in such a wide variety of beauty products, so almost everyone can get in on the action to see the benefits. Some of our favorites include Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask, Haeckels Bladderwrack and Pumpkin Body Balm, and many more.
Keep reading to see which other pumpkin beauty products are well worth the hype this season!
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Éminence Yam & Pumpkin Enzyme Peel
The key ingredients in the Éminence Yam & Pumpkin Enzyme Peel ($46) sound more like a smoothie than something you'd slather all over your skin: yam, pumpkin pulp, pineapple, papaya. But all those precious fruits contain beta-carotene, enzymes, amino acids, and antioxidants. The peel is ideal for dry skin, but it'll do your body good no matter what your skin type.
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Pumpkin & Spice Facial Scrub Exfoliator
If you used apricot scrub in your teen years (or now), think of Pumpkin & Spice Facial Scrub Exfoliator ($45) as the gourmet upgrade. The seeds are combined with pumpkin seed oil and oat kernel protein to reduce pore size and calm down any angry acne flare-ups, while keeping skin hydrated.
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Oskia Renaissance Brightlight Serum
Pumpkin just got fancy with Oskia Renaissance Brightlight Serum ($136). The potent (yet gentle) mixture of pumpkin and papaya enzymes help gently exfoliate and brighten the skin.
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Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum ($80) is a favorite among beauty editors and skincare enthusiasts for a reason. The antioxidant-rich ingredient list is packed with pumpkin ferment extract to help gently exfoliate and improve the texture of the skin.
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Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask
If your skin needs a good exfoliating session, welcome Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask ($60) into your routine. The pumpkin enzymes slough off dead skin without being too harsh and help refine your skin's texture, leaving you with a glowing, radiant complexion.
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Summer Fridays Overtime Mask
Summer Fridays Overtime Mask ($44) is the ultimate autumnal night in companion. It smells like delicious sweet pumpkin pie and leaves skin feeling supersoft without any irritation.
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Pestle and Mortar Erase Cleansing Balm
Nothing will clean and prep your skin for all those nourishing face masks quite like Pestle and Mortar Erase Cleansing Balm ($59). It's thick without being heavy and cleans your skin without totally stripping it dry. It also whisks away any trace of your makeup, which is thanks to the small amount of pumpkin enzyme in the formula.
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Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Glow Moisturizer
The Kate Somerville ExfoliKate range is all about exfoliation, hence the name. It combines alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) with pumpkin, pineapple, and papaya enzymes for an intense exfoliation. We love the Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Glow Moisturizer ($65) as it's neither too harsh nor too heavy and leaves you with a glow that your Summer skin would be jealous of.
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Elemis Superfood Cleansing Wash
Elemis Superfood Cleansing Wash ($25) is full of broccoli, avocado, and pumpkin seed oils to hydrate the skin while cleansing off all the grime from your autumnal nature walk (or dirty commute because Fall life isn't always that glamorous).
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Kiehl's Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Masque
The main ingredients of the Kiehl's Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Masque ($45) are turmeric and cranberry as the name suggests, but also included in the ingredient line up is (you guessed it) pumpkin, which helps to smooth and brighten the skin without leaving your skin feeling tight and dry.
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