So I’ve been racking my brain about pumpkin recipes. I’ve done THIS, THIS and THIS recipe which are all pretty common skin care recipes with a fall theme, but I wanted to do something a little less obvious. I found THIS incredible mask on Amazon and just had to recreate it. Low and behold-it’s main ingredient is PUMPKIN! I think you’re just gonna love it! Let’s get started on our own version of a DIY Pumpkin Honey Glycolic Mask.
As I’ve mentioned before, I used to be an aesthetician. I remember doing Pumpkin Enzyme Treatments-it really was one of my favorite peels to administer. Pumpkin has so many beneficial components for the skin. It’s rich in collagen boosting vitamin C as well as lactic acid which helps to even and brighten skin tone.
Pumpkin is high vitamin content helps to replenish skin while it’s high enzyme content helps remove dead skin. It’s a 2 for 1, covering basically all the bases. It’s also helpful for acne prone skin conditions, mainly because it has a high concentration of zinc.
Pumpkins fight inflammation, fade scarring, help reduce pore size and minimize excess oil. Another exciting fact about pumpkins is that their molecular structure is small so pumpkin can penetrate the deeper levels of the skin.
So first, let’s talk about Andalou’s Pumpkin Honey Glycolic Mask.
- Made with organic pumpkin, rich in beta carotene, blended with Manuka honey and citrus glycolic AHA.
- Designed with regenerating fruit stem cell science
- Lifts away dull surface cells, exfoliating and resurfacing for even tone and smooth texture
- Fruit Stem Cell Complex helps revitalize for a brighter, more luminous complexion
- Made naturally with certified organic, Non-GMO Project verified, and Fair Trade ingredients
What do we need to re-create this super charged mask?
- Organic Pumpkin (find it HERE)
- Glycolic Acid (find it HERE)
- Manuka Honey (find it HERE)
- OPTIONAL-Lemon, Lime, Bergamot, Tangerine, Grapefruit, or Sweet Orange Essential Oils
A word on Glycolic Acid–
Glycolic Acid is a fairly well-known type of fruit acid that helps remove the top layer of skin. It not only leaves your skin soft and smooth-it also encourages new cell turn over and collagen production. It is imperative to exfoliate the skin on a regular basis. Depending on the percentage, it can be a very strong peel or just a slight exfoliation.
When I worked with it in my skin care business, a 10-20% glycolic peel was pretty strong. It would sting a bit but left the skin really soft.
Any percentage over 20% would burn and leave the skin very red, also causing the skin to peel for the next week. It isn’t something you would want to do the day before an important event!
The glycolic acid I have is 30% and is undiluted but it is no longer available. I have linked a glycolic that is also 30% but green tea has been added so it’s most likely not as strong (or dangerous).
Read up on Manuka Honey HERE. It truly is a miracle ingredient that I have been using to cleanse my face and even cure my daughter’s sore throat!
Clearly I’m not able to find fruit stem cells so the next best thing is the wide array of citrus essential oils! You can use 1 or all of them to get a brightening effect.
If you check out the ingredient list on the mask, there is a lot of recognizable ingredients that we could add but I feel like it will just dilute the effects of the pumpkin and make the glycolic acid less effective. I often feel like less is more in skin care.
DIY Pumpkin Honey Glycolic Mask-
- 1 TBSP. ORGANIC Pumpkin (find it HERE)
- 2 tsp. Manuka Honey (find it HERE)
- 1/2 tsp. Glycolic Acid (find it HERE)
- 5 drops of Citrus Essential Oils (find them HERE) (optional)
(I used Grapefruit and Lemon for their water retention reducing quality and scar fading quality.)
Leave this mask on for 5-10 minutes. If you decide to for go the glycolic acid you may leave it on 10-15 minutes.
This mask will have a bit of a sting to it. It’s the glycolic acid. In order to deactivate the acid, you will need to prepare 8 ounces of water with 2 tbsp. of baking soda. Use this to rinse off the mask. I’m not 100% sure it’s necessary but I wouldn’t take a chance-You don’t want the glycolic to continue to burn your skin after you think you’ve removed the mask! Just do it.
If you are very much in need of an exfoliation or extra sensitive, there is a possibility that you could experience redness and peeling after this mask. The glycolic acid is so diluted that I really have my doubts, but everyone is different. I am sensitive and I used 1 tsp. instead of 1/2 tsp. I left it on 5 minutes while if felt like it was burning my skin off-I was pink afterwards but that went away in 20 minutes.
This mask leaves my skin smooth and glowing-It’s so easy and totally worth the manuka honey and glycolic acid purchase! It’s a mask you can do all year-Pumpkin doesn’t have to just be in the fall! The recipe yields 2 applications. Store in the fridge and use within a week!! The pumpkin won’t keep!
I have not personally tried the actual Andalou mask. I love what I’ve learned about this company and the ingredients they have chosen and I very likely will purchase this mask. It is very reasonably priced and sometimes it’s nice to scoop something out of a jar when you’re in a rush. DIYing takes time and time is not always abundant, am I right?! So, if you’d be interested in skipping this DIY and going straight to the original inspiration, go HERE for the mask.
I hope you enjoyed this DIY skin care recipe! I think this is so fun to take products and re-do them. If you have any you would like to suggest I try to re-create, leave them in the comments below!
xx, Jenni
hi jenni,
when you make this mask how often do you use this per week? ALso, with the remaining pumpkin how long would that last since you only use a tablespoon at a time? could you free the unused portion so it lasts longer? any suggestions? ALso I have used pumpkin peels in the past…I LOVE it….with this recipe you stated that you peel after….does that mean you peel like you have a sunburn?
I would use this mask up in a week. Like do a mask on Sunday and then use the rest of it the next Sunday. Do you mean the remaining bit of the mask or the rest of the can of pumpkin? You can freeze it! In one of my recipe I make a large batch and put it in ice cube trays so I have exact portions that keep for longer! You would have to be extremely sensitive to peel with this recipe as is. I used 1 teaspoon of glycolic acid for mine and it burned. I was red but I’m not peeling. You would have to use the glycolic way less diluted. But yes, it would be like a sunburn and then peel much like a sunburn would.
hi jenni so based on what you said. would it be best for me to make a LARGE batch and freeze it in an ice cube tray (similar like your cucumber eye mask) or should i just freeze the remaining pumpkin and defrost as i go to make my weekly batch?
for the frozen pumpkin peel, how long would that last?
hi jenni me again, I notice you used both grapefruit and lemon oil….how much drops of each did you use? I have both of these oils 🙂
Jane-Hi! I used 3 drops of grapefruit and 2 drops of lemon!
I can’t wait to try this!
Love all of your stuff. Thank you!!
If I were to freeze pumpkin, papaya and pineapple, would the fruit be good enough to make fresh masks when needed
Nazli-As long as they stay frozen and you use as needed! I would blend them and put them in ice cube trays for individual applications!
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Hi Jenni,
1) When you posted this originally, you said you didn’t add the stem cells because they were not available at the time. Now they are (special apple stem cells), as I checked on lotioncrafter[dot]com. … Do you have a suggestion as to how much of the stem cells to add to the recipe?
2) Your answer above about freezing wasn’t totally clear, do you make up a batch of the mask and freeze it in ice cube trays, or is it best to freeze the pumpkin in small amounts and make up fresh batches of the mask with defrosted pumpkin?
3) If using stem cells, like the apple stem cells on lotioncrafter, could the mask be frozen with the stem cells mixed in? Or best not to freeze those, and add in fresh?
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