Sunday, September 18, 2011

Skincare with natural vitamin A: Pumpkin Mask!

In the winter months our skin can become dry and dull! Need help?


Luckily, I found a quick way to keep your skin healthy and still be natural! Vitamin A & C is a tremendous help to cell protection and restoration, and the easiest fall-time fixes are available for your use: PUMPKIN!!!
That’s right, pumpkin is one of the absolute best things to put on your skin (if not in  your tummy) you can ask for!!! The high amount of beta-carotenes, vitamins C, K, and E make this one of the vegetables in the cucurbitaceous family with highest levels of vitamin-A, providing about 246% of RDA (required daily amount) when ingested.


Vitamin A (also known as retinol) is a powerful natural anti-oxidant and is required by body for maintaining the integrity of skin and mucus membranes. Applying pumpkin directly to your skin is a great way to keep it feeling soft and fresh.

Here is a simple recipe I use myself:


Things you will need:
Can of 100% organic puree pumpkin.
Honey
Soy milk
Flat paint brush


Optional:
Brown sugar
Apple cider


Step 1:
1 tbs half puree pumpkin (from can or fresh)
1 tbs soy milk
¼ tbs honey
blend in a small bowl with a spoon


Step 2:
Mix well and apply with paint brush to freshly clean and exfoliated skin.  Apply with small upward motions to face, neck and shoulders. Leave on for 10 minutes or dry.


Step 3:
Wash off with warm water.

Note:

Add cider mix (1/4 tsb) to the mix for oily skin.  Cider has cleansing properties that are normality over looked. 

Add brown sugar to use as an exfoliate scrub!!! 
I recommend using this mask on the face and neck once a week throughout the entire winter season.



Nutrition of pumpkin:




See the table below for in depth analysis of nutrients:

Pumpkin (Cucurbita spp.),  fresh,
Nutritive value per 100 g.
 
(Source: USDA National Nutrient data base)
Principle
Nutrient Value
Percentage of RDA
Energy
26 Kcal
1%
Carbohydrates
6.50 g
5%
Protein
1.0 g
2%
Total Fat
0.1 g
0.5%
Cholesterol
0 mg
0%
Dietary Fiber
0.5 g
2%
Vitamins
Folates
16 mcg
4%
Niacin
0.600 mg
4%
Pantothenic acid
0.298 mg
6%
Pyridoxine
0.061 mg
5%
Riboflavin
0.110 mg
8.5%
Thiamin
0.050 mg
4%
Vitamin A
7384 IU
246%
Vitamin C
9.0 mg
15%
Vitamin E
1.06 mg
7%
Vitamin K
1.1 mcg
1%
Electrolytes
Sodium
1 mg
0.5%
Potassium
340 mg
7%
Minerals
Calcium
21 mg
2%
Copper
0.127 mg
14%
Iron
0.80 mg
10%
Magnesium
12 mg
3%
Manganese
0.125 mg
0.5%
Phosphorus
44mg
5%
Selenium
0.3 mcg
<0.5%
Zinc
0.32 mg
3%
Phyto-nutrients
Carotene-α
515 mcg
--
Carotene-ß
3100 mcg
--
Crypto-xanthin-ß
2145 mcg
--
Lutein-zeaxanthin
1500 mcg
--