We can't make a twist or turn this time of the year without running into a pumpkin[1] . The bright orange squash has taken over our parents' dining room tables, the entryway at Trader Joe's and the beer menu at our local pub. We're pretty excited about carving jack o'lanterns that look like these[2] , but using the gooey leftovers for homemade beauty recipes is what really gets us hyped.


Pumpkins[3] are rich in vitamins A, K and C and minerals such as zinc, copper, magnesium and potassium -- nutrients that hydrate dry skin and stimulate hair growth. Beta-carotene, the antioxidant that gives a pumpkin its vibrant color, converts to vitamin A in the body and provides another layer of protection from sun damage[4] .


Here are five guilt-free uses for pumpkin:


Hair Conditioner: Restore shine and moisture to dry and damaged strands with a homemade pumpkin hair mask. Combine one cup of pumpkin (you can purée chunks in a food processor or use the canned version), a half cup of yogurt and two tablespoons of honey[5] into a bowl. Mix well, and then apply to hair from root to tip. Cover head with a plastic shower cap and sit for 15-20 minutes. Wash treatment out and follow up with a thorough cleansing using a shampoo and conditioner.


Body Moisturizer: Lock in moisture before heading out into the wintry climes by smoothing on a body cream made out of pumpkin, coconut oil[6] and ground cinnamon. This can get pretty messy, so we suggest putting the mixture on while in the shower. Rinse off with warm water and dry skin gently with a towel.


Facial Mask: To get more use out of this fall pantry staple, dermatologist Dr. Ted Lain[7] has shared with us a simple facial mask recipe that could be used on all skin types. You'll need: one cup of pumpkin, two tablespoons of brown sugar, one tablespoon of honey and a half cup of yogurt.


Spread on a thin coating with your fingertips or a facial pad. Leave on skin for 8-10 minutes. The brown sugar and yogurt are exfoliants that will slough away dead skin cells, while honey is a humectant that absorbs water from the air and naturally moisturizes skin. "This is an added benefit in the fall, when the air is dry and our skin needs the extra moisture," said Dr. Lain.


pumpkins


Facial Peel: Our friends at BellaSugar have mastered the perfect pumpkin peel[8] to heal and protect the skin. By adding apple cider or cranberry juice to a mixture of pumpkin, egg and honey, you will get an astringent effect.


Exfoliating Scrub: For a full body treatment, you can also use purée pumpkin and brown sugar (oatmeal is another great exfoliant). Put the yummy medley onto a damp loofah or cloth and scrub onto skin in circular motions. This stimulates lymph nodes and helps to drain toxins from the body. Finish with a nice warm shower.


Are you suddenly inspired to add pumpkins to your beauty routine?


Take it easy on these foods:



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  • Salt


    Ever wake up feeling a little puffy around the eyes? Too much salt can cause some of us to retain water, which can lead to swelling, Schultz says. Because the skin around the eyes is so thin, he explains, the area swells easily -- and leaves you cursing last night's popcorn when you catch your reflection the next morning. "These effects of salt are definitely age related," he says, and become more common in middle age.




  • Shellfish


    Shrimp, crab, lobster -- and also certain leafy greens like seaweed and spinach -- are naturally <a href="http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iodine-HealthProfessional/">high in iodine</a>, and a diet with too much of this element can lead to acne, says Schultz. However, "these breakouts are based on an accumulated amount of iodine over time, so there's no relationship between eating high iodine foods one day and breaking out the next," he says. Instead, he advises that people who are particularly acne-prone consume these foods a couple of times a month rather than a couple of times a week.




  • Milk


    Although its effects are probably still pretty small, according to Buka, some <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/acne/DS00169/DSECTION=causes">dairy products may contribute to skin problems</a>. A 2005 study linked <a href="http://www.aad.org/dermatology-world/monthly-archives/2012/acne/diet-and-acne">higher milk consumption to presence of acne</a>. While the study had certain flaws, including the fact that participants were asked simply to <em>recall</em> how much milk they drank rather than record it in real time, more recent research, including a 2012 study in Italy, found a connection specifically between <a href="http://www.aad.org/dermatology-world/monthly-archives/2012/acne/diet-and-acne">skim milk and acne</a>. This is likely because of "a higher amount of bioavailable hormones in skim milk, since they cannot be absorbed in surrounding fat," explains Buka, which can then overstimulate the group of glands that produce our skin's natural oily secretions, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. In some people with rosacea, dairy products can also trigger the condition's tell-tale redness, Schultz says.




  • High Glycemic Foods


    Starchy picks like white breads, pastas and cakes, and even corn syrup, Buka says, are best avoided for dewy skin (and maybe even for <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/27/low-glycemic-foods-diet_n_1630893.html">maintaining weight loss</a>). Foods that are considered high glycemic can cause rapid spikes in blood sugar. A small Australian study from 2007 found that eating a <a href="http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/86/1/107.full">low-glycemic diet reduced acne</a> in young men. But Schultz says there will need to be more research before we truly understand the relationship. However, if <a href="http://www.youbeauty.com/skin/food-acne">glycemic index</a> does prove to be related to skin problems, and you find yourself breaking out after eating something like French fries, it may be due to the starchy insides rather than that greasy, golden exterior, according to YouBeauty.com.




  • Sugar


    If starchy foods that break down quickly into sugar are an issue, it's no surprise that straight sugar can be problematic for the skin in much the same way. High blood sugar can <a href="http://www.dailyglow.com/photo-gallery/the-10-worst-skin-habits#/slide-7">weaken the skin by affecting tissues like collagen</a>, according to Daily Glow, and leave you more vulnerable to lines and wrinkles. Which is why it's likely not anything particular to <em>chocolate</em>, a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/05/does-chocolate-cause-acne_n_1566076.html">rumored breakout culprit</a>, that's giving you trouble, but the high sugar content of that sweet treat. If you're worried about breakouts, but dying for a nibble, stick with the dark stuff -- it packs the most <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/28/chocolate-health-benefits_n_1383372.html">health benefits</a>, anyway.




  • Alcohol


    Alcohol is a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/28/alcohol-effects-body-infographic_n_2333328.html">natural diuretic</a>, which means the more you drink, the more dehydrated you become. It saps the natural moisture from your skin as well, which can make those <a href="http://www.womansday.com/style-beauty/beauty-tips-products/foods-good-for-skin#slide-3">wrinkles and fine lines seem like bigger deals</a>, according to Woman's Day. It can also trigger rosacea outbreaks, Schultz says.





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