Categories
Beauty

DIY Pumpkin Beauty Products

Have you ever wondered how easy it is to create your own natural beauty products? How about making pumpkin beauty products?

I know I have and thought it would be hard, in fact it is super easy and fun. However, it can get a bit messy, so take care.

Autumn is here, and cooler weather means hearty food; Stews, casseroles, roast meat with vegetables and more.

Pumpkin is one of my favourites. What about you?

Some things I love to make with pumpkin are mash, roast pumpkin and pumpkin chips with a little bit of cheese melted over them. What is your favourite pumpkin dish?

Pumpkin all cut up and ready to be turned into mash.
Pumpkin all cut up and ready to be turned into mash.

I stocked up on pumpkins from my local greengrocer, The Veggie Patch at Blackheath.  Getting your fruit and veg from a local greengrocer is great.

Look at all these yummy pumpkins. Perfect for dinner and then to make some healthy and natural beauty products.
Look at all these yummy pumpkins. Perfect for dinner and then to make some healthy and natural beauty products.
The best place for fresh fruit and vegetables at Blackheath, The Veggie Patch.
The best place for fresh fruit and vegetables at Blackheath, The Veggie Patch.
The Veggie Patch at Blackheath
The Veggie Patch at Blackheath

The idea of using the left over pumpkin mash means that my body is getting the vitamins on the skin, it is all natural, there is less waste, it is good for me.

“Healthy food inside and healthy natural products outside”

How to make Pumpkin Mash?

Firstly, you need to cut up your pumpkin into smaller chunks. Making all the pumpkin into similar sizes means that it will be cooked quickly, and all the pumpkin will cook at the same rate.

Once all done put a cup or two of water into a saucepan and boil the water. Once boiling add the pumpkin and leave on the stove until it is all soft and ready to be mashed up.

If you are using the mash for eating you generally add some milk and butter, plus you could add other items to the mash, for example onions, and crushed up almonds or pumpkin seeds.

If you are using the pumpkin mash for beauty products, then just mash it up and put it in a sealed container until you are ready to create your own handmade works of beauty.

The pumpkin is all cooked and now ready to mash up to be mash!
The pumpkin is all cooked and now ready to mash up to be mash!

What are the health benefits of pumpkin?

  • Great source of fibre
  • High in beta-carotene
  • May help with reducing diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers and also help delay ageing and body degeneration.
  • Pumpkins also have calcium, magnesium and some B vitamins.
  • Beta-carotene helps boost the immune system.
  • Pumpkins are high in antioxidants – Vitamin C, and Vitamin E.

Testing out the Pumpkin Body Butter. It is so wonderful on my skin and leaves it so smooth.
Testing out the Pumpkin Body Butter. It is so wonderful on my skin and leaves it so smooth.

Why is it good for your skin?

Pumpkins are a great source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C. These helpful vitamins help soften skin while improving any damaged cells. What a powerful vegetable is the pumpkin!

What did I use to create my pumpkin beauty products?

All the items I needed for my homemade pumpkin beauty products. Some were good enough to eat!
All the items I needed for my homemade pumpkin beauty products. Some were good enough to eat!
  • Mashed Pumpkin
  • Brown Sugar
  • Coconut Oil
  • Olive Oil
  • Yoghurt
  • 1 egg
  • The Apple Cider Vinegar was for the Pumpkin Face Mask for oily skin, but I didn’t make this one. Read on to see the recipe for this face mask as well.
  • Honey
  • Measuring cups
  • Spoons
  • Containers to store the products in

Make sure to refrigerate your items after you make them. They are made with real vegetables and therefore will perish if not kept well. Use quickly and enjoy!

Testing out my pumpkin hair conditioner, it made my hair feel very soft afterwards.
Testing out my pumpkin hair conditioner, made my hair feel very soft afterwards.

What pumpkin beauty products did I make?

I’ve created a sheet so that you can have all the info in one spot, download all the pumpkin beauty recipes in one PDF printable.

  • Pumpkin Body Sugar Scrub
    Mix 1 cup of pumpkin mash with 1 cup of sugar. Add a tablespoon of olive oil and mix together until you make a paste.

    Making the Pumpkin Body Sugar Scrub
    Making the Pumpkin Body Sugar Scrub
  • Pumpkin Body Butter
    Mix 1 cup of pumpkin mash with 1 cup of coconut oil. You can make a smaller batch, but if you are like me you will love this and so will your skin.
    I ended up putting the mixture in my blender to get all the lumps of the coconut oil out. Smother over your skin during a shower.

    The Pumpkin Body Butter is my favourite product.

    Mixing up the ingredients for the Pumpkin Body Butter. It is sooooooooo good!
    Mixing up the ingredients for the Pumpkin Body Butter. It is so good!

    My skin gets so dry during Autumn and Winter, the cooler air zaps the moisture from my skin and means I need to be vigilant with the body moisturiser.

  • Pumpkin Face Mask for Dry Skin
    Mix 1/4 cup of pumpkin with 1 teaspoon of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 whole egg. Mix until all smooth, then you test it out. I left it on for 20 minutes.

    Trying out my new Pumpkin Face Mask for Dry Skin
    Trying out my new Pumpkin Face Mask for Dry Skin
  • Pumpkin Sugar Lip Scrub
    Mix 1 teaspoon or 1/4 teaspoon of pumpkin mash with a 1/4 teaspoon of olive oil (or you could use coconut oil), and add 1 teaspoon or half a teaspoon of fine sugar (I used brown sugar).
    Mix all ingredients together, and then rub on lips to exfoliate.

    The brown sugar I used in the pumpkin beauty products. Adding this made the Pumpkin Sugar Lip Scrub smell amazing!
    The brown sugar I used in the pumpkin beauty products. Adding a little bit of this made the Pumpkin Sugar Lip Scrub smell amazing!
  • Pumpkin Hair Conditioner
    Mix 1 cup pumpkin mash and 1 cup of yoghurt, plus a teaspoon of honey.  I couldn’t help myself as this mixture smelt amazing I had to have a taste, and it was so yummy!
    What other hair conditioner could you eat as well?
    Leave for 30 minutes. Have a shower afterwards to make sure it is all washed out.

    The Pumpkin Hair Conditioner is complete and ready to use.
    The Pumpkin Hair Conditioner is complete and ready to use.

    The The Pumpkin Hair Conditioner smelt so yummy I had to have a taste, and yes it was wonderful!
    The The Pumpkin Hair Conditioner smelt so yummy I had to have a taste, and yes it was wonderful!

I didn’t make the below pumpkin face mask. My skin is rather dry, so I wanted a mask that will help my skin feel more hydrated.

  • Pumpkin Face Mask for Oily Skin
    Here is the breakdown of how to make this other pumpkin face mask:
    Mix 1/4 cup of mashed pumpkin with 1 whole egg, add 1 tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar and mix together. Leave on for 20 minutes then wash off.
All pumpkin beauty products that I made. The one in the big bowl is the pumpkin face mask for dry skin, I was about to put it into my recycled yoghurt container.
All pumpkin beauty products that I made. The one in the big bowl is the pumpkin face mask for dry skin, I was about to put it into my recycled yoghurt container.

What else can you make with pumpkins?

For the body: Soap, foot scrub, and other face masks.

To eat: Cakes, soups, pumpkin butter, pies, drinks, bake the seeds to eat later, muffins, smoothies, add to your breakfast cereal (oats), use the mash as baby food or addition in meals to help kids eat more veggies.

For fun: Halloween lanterns and bowls for a dip at parties.

I hope this post gives you some inspiration to make your own cheap pumpkin beauty products.

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Originally published April 14 2018

Categories
News

Thrilled to Be a Finalist for the 2024 Fresh Content Award!

Hey there, wonderful readers!

I have some exciting news to share—I’m a finalist for the 2024 Fresh Content Award! 🎉 This is my third time being nominated, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. The excitement is even sweeter this year because my twin girls will be by my side to celebrate this special night.

Meet the other Finalists

I’m in great company with these amazing creators:

Gorgeous Easy No-Bake Oreo Blackberry Mousse Tart

As mentioned before, I was lucky enough to be a finalist two years in a row (a major highlight for me!). Check out my upcoming posts to see what I entered and read about my never-ending quest for the perfect outfit:

The stunning Easy No-Bake Oreo Blackberry Mousse Tart is a sight to behold, with its rich Oreo base complemented by the vibrant blackberry mousse and delicate flowers.

The Fresh Awards Gala Night is just one week away, and I can’t wait to don my stunning outfit—finally found thanks to Temu (who would have thought!)—and join my fellow finalists for an evening of celebration and recognition. Knowing that my daughters will be there cheering me on makes this moment all the more magical.

I’ve spent what feels like an eternity hunting down the perfect outfit. The mad dash from shop to shop, trying on duds that made me look like a fashion disaster, was beyond exhausting. I’m sure you’ve been there too! It really fried my brain and zapped some of the fun out of the event prep. But hey, I finally found a great outfit (I think so, and that’s what counts), and now I’m getting excited about the occasion again!

My latest online order—it’s a total winner! Everything looks absolutely fantastic.
Image sourced from boredpanda.com.

Celebrating Passion and Creativity

Being a finalist for the third time is incredibly exciting! It showcases the dedication and creativity I pour into each post. Being recognised for my hard work is truly gratifying. I love celebrating fresh produce and flowers and sharing that joy with you all through my blog and social media brings me immense happiness! 🌸🍇

My amazing wedding cakeover was affordable and easy to create, adorned with fresh flowers from Fine Flowers Katoomba.
Adding a different top to a crumble creates interest – this Pretty Pastry Apple and Rhubarb Crumble looks great with the different flower-type pastry shapes.

I love playing with ingredients, finding clever ways to make dinner parties or gatherings a breeze, and whipping up tasty treats for everyone to savour and share!

I had a blast creating these for my 2024 Fresh Awards entries:

The girls and I are gearing up for a fun day in the city, prepping for the big event and soaking in all the excitement. We’ll be dressed to impress in our cocktail finest, ready to savour the night with the other finalists and celebrate our shared love for deliciously fresh content.

It’s going to be a treat sharing this event with my girls, giving them a taste of what it’s like to attend an awards night and showing them that hard work is the secret ingredient to being in such fabulous company with all the other finalists.

Wishing Everyone the Best of Luck

Sending my best wishes to my fellow finalists—Vincent, Lorraine, and Katie. It’s a true honour to be among such talented creators, and I’m excited to see what the night holds for all of us!

Thank you to my readers and community for your unwavering support, and I’m looking forward to an unforgettable night at the Fresh Awards Gala Night! 🌿🍎🌸

Categories
News

It comes from where?

Bananas growing on a tree. Image courtesy of foto76 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Bananas growing on a tree. Image courtesy of foto76 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Do your kids know where a banana comes from? What about beetroot? Or say sugar? I was alarmed to read that many kids don’t know or don’t have a clue! Yes just amazing!

In a news.com.au article it discusses the percentages of children that have no clue on where some vegetables or how yoghurt and ice cream are made.

According to the article:

“More than 50 per cent didn’t know that beetroots were grown in the ground, 75 per cent couldn’t identify a leek or radish, and 58 per cent struggled to name a nectarine.”

The survey was conducted by Woolworths in conjunction with Jamie Oliver to understand how much children knew about their food. Woolworths is teaming up with Jamie Oliver to bring his campaign of eating fresh food to Australia. The campaign aims to educate kids on healthy food choices and the positives of eating fresh produce.

 Could your kids name a nectarine in a sea of other fruit? Would they know?

 

Now this is a nectarine. I know it can be similar looking to a peach. Image courtesy of Serge Bertasius Photography / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Now this is a nectarine. I know it can be similar looking to a peach. Image courtesy of Serge Bertasius Photography / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Another quote from the article below:

 “Research also found that six in 10 children were unaware that herbs such as mint grew in the ground, and 70 per cent didn’t know where sugar came from.”

Beetroot that has just been picked from the ground. Yum I love beetroot. Image courtesy of Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Beetroot that has just been picked from the ground. Yum I love beetroot. Image courtesy of Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

After reading the news article, it got me thinking….How many of the foods from the article can your kids name? I used to live round the corner from sugar cane farms so have chewed on raw sugar cane. Not a great experience but you got the idea of the taste. Although it was more grassy than sugar. Growing up in North Queensland, I was lucky to have all sorts of things growing in my garden, bananas, mangoes, grapes and so much more.

Maybe kids need to go off for visits to learn more of where food comes from? Is this a sign of our modern times?

What are your thoughts? Let me know