Fall is officially here and it’s time to get glowing! Saying goodbye to summer also means saying goodbye to my naturally sun-kissed skin. I used to turn to sunless tanners and tan towels (better than tanning beds!) but recognizing that what we put on our skin is just as important as what we put in our bodies I now try to steer clear of products with chemicals and labels where I can’t even read the ingredients. There’s nothing wrong with leaning on some natural bronzers and my favorite natural illuminizer, but feeding your body (and skin) tons of alkaline foods like broccoli, cauliflower, kale, spinach, oranges, pumpkin, sweet potatoes and beets during the colder months will work wonders.

Many of these “skin foods” can also be applied directly to the skin and doing so provides an instant boost of radiance. The best part is you probably have these ingredients already stocked in your kitchen. I had some cooked pumpkin leftover from making these pumpkin muffins last week so I turned to skin-care expert (and my facialist) Poppy Stockwell to see what she recommended I whip up for my skin. She knew exactly the mask to make – healing, hydrating and naturally exfoliating – it’s the perfect formula for unmasking glowy skin. Poppy was kind enough to share a run-down of the key ingredients and why they are all so amazing:

PUMPKIN is rich in enzymes, beta-carotene, amino acids and antioxidants to fight the appearance of aging by creating cellular turnover and collagen production.

ORANGE is rich in vitamins (specifically C), antioxidants and polyphenols for protective benefits as well as increasing cellular turnover.

MANUKA HONEY is hydrating, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory.

COCONUT OIL is hydrating, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal.

 

radiant pumpkin face mask
radiant pumpkin face mask
Ingredients
Makes 1/3 cup (enough for you and a bunch of friends!)
  • ¼ cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 tablespoon manuka honey (can sub with raw honey)
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • ¼ whole small orange, seeds removed

 

Method

Combine all ingredients in a blender and apply an even layer to clean skin. Rest for 15 – 20 minutes, rinse with warm water.

Show me your pics! If you make this, tag #cleanfooddirtycity on Instagram!