Effective Beauty Uses for Pumpkin

6 Effective Beauty Uses for Pumpkin

                                   Score glowing skin with your favorite fall flavor

From your Starbucks latte to the orange-laced displays at your local grocery store, it’s official:Pumpkin spice season is officially upon us. What you may not realize, however, is that this iconic American fruit (yes, it’s technically a fruit!) has some serious beauty benefits.

“Pumpkin contains enzymes and alpha hydroxy acids that increase cell turnover, brighten and smooth skin, and are great exfoliaters,” explains New York dermatologist, Patricia Wexler, M.D. Vitamins A and C help prevent free-radical damage and boost collagen production for younger-looking skin. The zinc in pumpkin seeds is good for acne to help decrease oil production, while the essential fatty acids help with barrier function to increase hydration, she adds.

The beloved fall gourd is even good for your strands. “The essential fatty acids and vitamins A, C, and E help increase the moisture of hair and maintain cell turnover of the scalp while healing inflammation,” says Wexler. And if you have an oily scalp, you’ll appreciate this—the zinc in pumpkin helps control the level of sebum, or oil, the scalp produces, says Wexler.

Ready to give pumpkin a go? Try these at-home recipes created by licensed esthetician Michelle Ornstein, who is also founder and formulator of Enessa Skincare. And if you’re not a DIY type, we’ve also suggested product versions you can nab on your next store or Sephora run.

Face Mask

¼ cup pureed pumpkin
½ tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp manuka honey

Mix ingredients together. Apply a thin layer to skin, and rinse off after five minutes.

Turmeric powder helps brighten skin and heal inflammation associated with acne, while manuka honey is a humectant that provides moisturization and additional anti-acne properties, says Ornstein.

RELATED: The Secrets to Healthier Skin and Hair Are Hiding in Your Spice Rack

Product pick: MyChelle Dermaceuticals Incredible Pumpkin Peel, $28, mychelle.com

Face Scrub

¼ cup pureed pumpkin
1 Tbsp ground flaxseed
¼ cup benzonite clay
¼ cup chamomile tea

Mix ingredients together. Apply a thick layer to skin. Wait 60 seconds, and then massage to exfoliate and rinse off.

The ground flaxseed is the secret ingredient here that washes off the dead skin cells that the pumpkin enzymes exfoliated off, says Ornstein.

Product pick: Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask, $42, peterthomasroth.com

Body Scrub

1 cup pureed pumpkin
¼ cup jojoba oil
¼ cup coffee grounds
¼ cup Himalayan salt

Mix ingredients together. Use as a body scrub in the shower or bath.

Jojoba oil is super-nourishing and rich in antioxidants, making it a great carrier oil for a body scrub. Caffeine from coffee grounds helps smooth out skin and reduces the appearance of cellulite as a bonus. Pink Himalayan salt contains trace minerals that are beneficial for skin, says Ornstein.

Product pick: Bath & Body Works Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Shea & Sugar Body Scrub, $17,bathandbodyworks.com

RELATED: How to Exfoliate Every Single Body Part—the Right Way

In-Shower Body Moisturizer

1 tsp pumpkin seed oil (such as Roland Virgin Pumpkin Seed Oil Cold Pressed, $10, walmart.com)
½ cup coconut milk
1 tsp monoi oil (such as The Body Shop Spa Wisdom Polynesia Monoi Miracle Oil, $20, thebodyshop-usa.com)

Mix ingredients in a spray bottle, and spray on body in shower after cleansing, making sure to rinse completely.

Coconut milk is extremely hydrating and rich in anti-aging and soothing fatty acids and oils. Monoi oil contains methyl salicylate, which nurtures skin and prevents environmental damage, says Ornstein. This one is so unique, you’ll need to make it yourself!

Hair Mask

1 Tbsp pumpkin seed oil

1/3 cup coconut oil

1/3 cup jojoba oil

5 drops eucalyptus essential oil

5 drops peppermint essential oil

5 drops lavender essential oil

Mix ingredients together. This can be used as a scalp treatment or hair oil mask on clean hair. Allow it to sit for several minutes, then rinse out completely.Coconut, eucalyptus, and lavender are all natural ingredients that help stimulate the scalp to protect against hair loss. Jojoba oil hydrates both the scalp and hair, says Ornstein.Product pick: Sexy Hair Pumpkin Puree Treatment Masque, $25,

amazon.com

Peel-Off Exfoliating Treatment

½ cup pumpkin juice (While this can be difficult to find in stores, Ornstein says it’s easy to juice at home. “Simply peel it and separate out the stringy pulp and seeds before juicing,” she says.)

2 packs unflavored gelatin
½ tsp tomato juice
2 tsp egg whites

Microwave the mixture so everything dissolves together, and then wait for it to cool (but not to completely solidify). Apply two layers onto skin, allow to dry, then peel off.The gelatin creates the peel-off mechanism while tomato juice helps brighten skin and control sebum production. The egg whites help lift and tighten skin, says Ornstein.Product pick: Freeman Beauty Pumpkin Peeling Mask, $2,freemanbeauty.com

Stylishly Grow Out Short Hair

How to Stylishly Grow Out Short Hair

This will only hurt a bit

A pixie cut is super trendy—but it takes major upkeep. And growing one out can be seriously awkward. In addition to cutting back your visits to the salon, there are some simple tricks you can keep up your sleeve to prevent an unflattering look for months on end. Here, Damian Santiago, co-owner of Mizu New York Salon, schools us on returning to long hair.

Hold onto as much length as possible so that you can style your strands into a short bob, says Santiago. Because most pixies are longer in the front to frame the face, the simplest transition is an angled bob with shorter pieces in the back. Going an extra two to four weeks between trims is ideal for getting back some length.                                      

RELATED: Are Your Friends Who Swear by Biotin Lying to You?

Use product to camouflage uneven layers or funky growth. “Play with styling it differently and exploring different products during that period,” says Santiago. The best option is to add texture to hide obvious ends. Santiago swears by R+Co’s Rockaway Salt Spray ($25, randco.com) and Death Valley Dry Shampoo ($29, randco.com). On seriously stringy cuts, you can add texture and volume with a curling iron and setting spray.

If you have just a little length, braids are your best bet at hiding your awkward phase. “You can be really creative with braids these days,” says Santiago. Starting at the part, French braid down the hairline (using as much or as little hair as you’d like) and secure with a bobby pin or elastic where the hair ends. This creates an intentional asymmetrical aesthetic so any uneven layers look almost purposeful. And if pieces start to slip out (one of the tribulations of short hair!), just pin them back in place. Messiness is part of the style’s charm.

RELATED: Hair and Makeup Pros Reveal the Worst Beauty Disasters They’ve Had to Fix

The bottom line:  Don’t chicken out in fear of the inevitable growing-out phase. If all else fails, use bobby pins to pull the hair up into a creative updo. Twist small sections of hair and pull them into the center of your head. Or even faster—pull the front strands back with a simple headband (FranceLuxe.com sells a variety of cute, chic styles.) You’ll have longer hair before you know it. 

How to Lighten Dark Underarms

How to Lighten Dark Underarms

Sleeveless tops are a great way to look cool in summer time. Another great wear for summer is maxi dresses, but most of the maxi dresses come either strapless or with very thin straps. You can exercise and tone up your arms but that is not all, your underarm will also be visible in these dresses. Waxing can get rid of unwanted hairs but now the black spots? 
So if you are feeling shy about the dark spots in your underarm area then here are some simple home remedies to get rid of them.

How to Lighten Dark Underarms

Take a lemon, cut into half. Squeeze and get the juice, take a cotton ball and apply the raw juice over the dark patches. Wait for 20 minutes and then wash it up. It may itches but that’s not bad, do it every day for one week.
Mix a cucumber and some ice in a mixer, apply the paste over the dark patches, again wait 20 minutes before washing it off.

Paste a raw potato without the skin and apply the paste, wash after it gets dry.
You can also apply baking soda, it also gets rid of the dark patches in 10/15 days.
Apply coconut oil daily so the dark patches do not appear farther.
Always shave the underarm regularly. If your underarms are clan then the dark patches will not appear.

Drink to Reduce Belly Fat Fast

Drinking at night, especially before going to bed can help to reduce the belly fat fast and also help to cut down on weight. Belly fat is something which we cannot lose so easily, either by yoga or attending gym. It requires few months of regular practice. However, you don’t need to feel hopeless because we have brought you a drink that can help you to reduce belly fat fast.

Drink to Reduce Belly Fat Fast

Things you require
• 1 whole Cucumber
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger
• A bunch of cilantro
• 1 teaspoon of aloe Vera
• 1/s glass of water
• 4 teaspoon of lemon juice

Procedure 
You need to blend all these ingredients well and consume before going to bed. You can drink this refreshing drink when cold.

Drink to Reduce Belly Fat Fast

Cilantro is full of anti oxidants and vitamins which help to fight against the free radicals. Lemon helps to flush out the toxins of the body and also maintains the hydration level. Not to miss mentioning, but ginger helps to speed the metabolism and prevent the problem of constipation too. Cucumber is low in calories and high in protein, which also helps to hydrate the body maintaining the balance of ph level. Aloe Vera juice is the remedy to weight loss, which helps to cut the fats due to anti oxidants present in it. It also helps to reduce the inflammation in body and sinks to cut down the belly fat fast by boosting more energy in the body.

How to Lighten Dark Underarms

Sleeveless tops are a great way to look cool in summer time. Another great wear for summer is maxi dresses, but most of the maxi dresses come either strapless or with very thin straps. You can exercise and tone up your arms but that is not all, your underarm will also be visible in these dresses. Waxing can get rid of unwanted hairs but now the black spots? So if you are feeling shy about the dark spots in your underarm area then here are some simple home remedies to get rid of them.

How to Lighten Dark Underarms

Take a lemon, cut into half. Squeeze and get the juice, take a cotton ball and apply the raw juice over the dark patches. Wait for 20 minutes and then wash it up. It may itches but that’s not bad, do it every day for one week.
Mix a cucumber and some ice in a mixer, apply the paste over the dark patches, again wait 20 minutes before washing it off.
Paste a raw potato without the skin and apply the paste, wash after it gets dry.
You can also apply baking soda, it also gets rid of the dark patches in 10/15 days.
Apply coconut oil daily so the dark patches do not appear farther.
Always shave the underarm regularly. If your underarms are clan then the dark patches will not appear.

10 Proven Benifits OF Coconut Oil Over Hair And Face

Coconut oil is being used from ages and ancient period right from cooking to oiling their hairs. There many and many benefits of coconut oil over skin and hair. If you have ever noticed, you have observed there vey only castor oil, olive oil and coconut oil ruling the beauty regime, and still they are. Coconut oil is lighting texture and has sweet fragrance, which is helpful over skin and hair.

1. Helps to hair regrowth 
Coconut oil has proven its benefits on regrown hair on the bald areas. Regular oiling can help to regrow the hair strong.

2. Combats hair loss 
Oiling your hair with coconut oil every alternate day is the secret remedy of combating hair loss. Coconut oil helps to hold the hair follicles stronger.

3. Treats bacterial and infection on scalp 
There are many times, when the scalp contracts infection and bacterial reaction. If this secedes, it may also lead to bleeding. Coconut oil hasanti-bacterial properties to treat kill the bacteria.
4. Helps to cut frizz 
Morning frizz are the common problems face by each one of us.Just a few drops of coconut oil on the hair, helps to cut the morning frizz.

5. Clean the skin 
Rejuvenating the face with coconutoil is the vest remedy to clean dirt. It is also used as a natural makeup remover due to its light texture.

6. Rehydrate your skin 
Coconut oil helps to maintain the hydration value on the skin and keeps it moisturize. Oiling your face often with coconut oil can give you a glwoing skin.

7. Repairs damaged cells 
Coconut oil has a unique quality to repair the damaged cells on the skin and replace them with new one. Keep oiling your scalp and face with coconut oil.

8. Keeps your face bacterial free 
Using coconut oil over face helps to keep it healthier and strong.

9. Moisturized lip 
Rubbing coconut oil on the lips is the natural remedy to treat dark lips. It also keeps them moisturized.

10. Treats ringworms and eczema
Eczema and ringworm’s can be treated by regularly applying coconut oil over them.