Pumpkin Pecan Facial Mask and Scrub

Pumpkins and pecans...these foods evoke images of autumn and Thanksgiving, which is when I came up with this DIY idea that acts both as a yummy face scrub AND a face mask! Pumpkin is rich in vitamins A and C, contains zinc and is extremely moisturizing. Pecans contain vitamins A, B and C and act as a natural exfoliant on the skin.

Pumpkin Pecan Facial Mask and Scrub

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon of pumpkin puree (I used canned pumpkin puree - you can puree fresh pumpkin if you want)

1/2 tablespoon of plain yogurt (I used full-fat Fage Greek Yogurt which makes the mask super creamy)

1 tablespoon of ground pecans (I started off with small pecan chips and further ground the pecans with a mortar and pestle)

How to:

Mix the pumpkin puree with the yogurt until throughly combined. Mix the ground pecans into the pumpkin puree and yogurt combination. The mixture will be somewhat thick.

Depending on whether you want the mixture to be a mask or a scrub or both, you may want to vary the amount of pecans you add. If you want just a mask, leave out the ground pecans. For a scrub, add a tablespoon (or more) of the pecans to your desired texture. Remember to grind the pecans finely if you use the mixture as a scrub to prevent scratching your face.

As I opted for both a mask and a scrub, I first spread the pumpkin, yogurt and pecan mixture on my face and neck and scrubbed my face. When I was done exfoliating, I left the mixture on my face for a couple minutes to act as a mask. After a few minutes, I rinsed off the mask.

There's no reason why this DIY treat should be meant only for your face. Use it as a body mask! I ended up making more than I planned so I spread the mixture on to my arms and legs as well. Enjoy!