Whether it’s 70 degrees or 90, many of us can feel the nip of fall weather in the air, which means your calendars also are probably filing up with fall festivals, back to school parties, Halloween preparation and everything else this season brings with it. And what do (most) of these seasonal activities have in common? Pumpkin!

Although not a common ingredient in Real Purity’s products, pumpkin actually has a myriad of benefits, both when eaten and when applied topically to your skin. From the high content of magnesium, zinc and calcium in pumpkin seeds to their antioxidant benefits, this snack can help with heart and bone health, immune function and even digestive health. When applied topically, these same benefits lend them in other ways to our bodies.

To see how pumpkin can benefit your skin through topical application, see below.

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are naturally occurring organic acids that can be found in many foods – like pumpkin! When applied topically, AHAs help with the following:

• Skin exfoliation
• Cell turnover (by breaking down dead skin cells)
• Skin texture

Antioxidants are a substance – in this case, beta-carotene and Vitamins A and C – which remove potentially damaging oxidizing agents. For you, when applied to your skin via pumpkin, they can help:

• Protect against, and even reverse, UV damage
• Promote collagen production, leading to softer brighter and more youthful skin
• Refine and smooth skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles
• Minimize scarring particularly when due to acne
• Combat free radicals
  

As mentioned when pumpkin seeds are consumed, a high content of zinc, magnesium and Vitamin E can have a number of health benefits. When applied topically, they are are no different, and help

• Regulate oil production and accelerate healing
• Promote moisture retention – hydrates and soothe
• Improve skin elasticity
• Fight acne breakouts and improve skin tone
  

Do you have to put pumpkin on your skin to reap these many benefits? No! As much fun as a girls skincare night might be, snacking on pumpkin and pumpkin seeds will still have positive benefits, like those mentioned above. 

If you ARE interested in trying a topical application of pumpkin, we recommend trying out one fht efolowing recipes from a few select blogs:

• Homemade Pumpkin Coffee Facial Scrub and Mask from Our Fifth House
• Pumpkin Face Mask from My Moonstone Kitchen
• Hydrating Pumpkin Spice Face Mask from Wellness Mama