Pumpkin, cocoa, cinnamon, beer, and more! Enjoy these holiday favorites not just at your next feast, but also in some of my favorite beauty and body products.
Pumpkin, cocoa, cinnamon, beer, and more! Enjoy these holiday favorites not just at your next feast, but also in some of my favorite beauty and body products.
This week, your pantry is likely filled to the brim with all of those fragrant, wholesome foods that will come together in one beautiful Thanksgiving menu on Thursday (if you haven’t already, download our healthy Holiday Cookbook to find new ways to use them).
Ah, yes, I too am celebrating the beauty of these ingredients … but beyond whipping them into side dishes, sipping them après mealtime, or enjoying them in dessert, pumpkin and cocoa and cinnamon and beer will find another place in my seasonal festivities. These ingredients don’t just taste good and smell good; their nutritional values lend do-good properties to your skin and hair.
Here are a few of my favorites.
Pumpkin
Rich in zinc, which supports collagen synthesis and may help prevent acne, pumpkin is a skin-healthy food and also an excellent nourishing ingredient in skin care products. Its phytochemicals may help protect and renew cells when applied topically.
Try: MyChelle Incredible Pumpkin Peel
Cranberry
This tangy fruit is packed with vitamins and nutrients, particularly free-radical fighting vitamin C, highly recognized for its antiaging potential.
Try: Eminence Cranberry Pomegranate Sugar Scrub
Honey
Honey’s antimicrobial properties may help cleanse skin and fend off irritation and bacteria. Plus, honey is a natural humectant, which means that it can attract and retain skin’s moisture.
Try: BeeAlive Foaming Honey Cleanser
Cocoa
For the same reason that cocoa may be good for your brain and heart, it’s a smart ingredient in beauty products: free-radical fighting antioxidants. Some research also shows that drinking a high flavonoid beverage may also help prevent UV damage.
Try: Delicious Living’s DIY Cocoa-Honey Facial Mask
Oats
An old-school remedy for chicken pox or poison ivy, oats remain a solid option for easing skin inflammation.
Try: Nature's Gate Colloidal Oatmeal Moisturizing Lotion
Citrus
Rich in antiaging antioxidants vitamins C and E, citrus extracts also act as stellar natural preservatives and mood-boosting natural fragrances.
Try: Deep Steep Grapefruit Body Mist
Beer
The nicest pour is one that’s over your head. A good ol’ brewski can help add shine to locks and restore split ends thanks to its proteins.
Try: Broo Citrus Pale Ale Shampoo and Conditioner
Wine
Resveratrol, wine’s potent antioxidant, continues popping up in antiaging supplements and topical skin care for its free-radical fighting ability. Some research shows topical and ingestible can help protect from UV rays and repair cells.
Try: 100 % Pure Red Wine Resveratrol Nourishing Cream
Sugar
Coarse sugar makes for an ideal exfoliant, helping to increase circulation and bring oxygen to skin’s surface, while wiping away dead skin cells.
Try: Giovanni Hot Chocolate Sugar Scrub
Cinnamon
Studies show just a small concentration of Cinnamomum cassia effectively fights bacteria. Cinnamon also stimulates blood circulation, bringing nutrients and oxygen to the skin to help eliminate blemishes. And it tastes good.
