Blog-OWEEN-one week of Halloween inspired self-care ideas (Oct 24th-31st). Self-care is creating a platform to help you manifest the life you wan to live, it looks different for everyone. Self-care is key, internally, externally and always cooking good food.
I’m not sure if anyone has used this title before but blog-OWEEN is my attempt to post one Halloween inspired blog each day until Halloween. The idea came to me last night while I was thinking about participating in blogMAS this year. I hope you find each of these post beneficial, a lot of thought and preparation went into this and hopefully some of my ideas will inspire you.
DISCLAIMER: I am NOT a physician, a Dermatologist or a skin care professional by any definition of the word. If you choose to try the pumpkin face mask I suggest you do so at your own risk.
What better way to start the week heading into Halloween than with a Halloween inspired self-care routine. This routine is intended to rejuvenate and get you in the “holiday” spirit. I found the recipe for the pumpkin face mask on dearcrissy.com. I decided to try it because it was a simple three ingredient recipe and I know honey, turmeric, and pumpkin has a lot of great health benefits and besides, it was appropriate for a Halloween themed mask. Below are her instructions.
Ingredients:
- ½ to 1 teaspoon raw honey or ultra healing Manuka honey
- 1 tablespoon of organic pumpkin puree
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
Directions:
Mix the ingredients together until smooth. Wash your face ahead of time and allow your skin to dry on its own. Being careful of your eyes and hairline, apply a smooth layer over the rest of your face. Leave on 10-15 minutes then rinse with cool water and pat dry.
The benefits of:
PUMPKIN: contains vitamin A, C, and E, and antioxidants, which help fight sun damage and wrinkles. It also has fruit enzymes that help naturally exfoliate dead skin cells. Finally, it contains zinc and potassium to combat redness. (source: www.foreo.com)
HONEY: Honey is a humectant which helps your skin absorb and retain moisture which keeps it from drying out. Honey is packed with natural antioxidants and anti-microbial properties which help protect, repair and prevent skin damage. Honey is also quite calming to the skin. (source: www.spagoddess.com)
TUMERIC: Turmeric contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory components. These characteristics may provide glow and luster to the skin. Turmeric may also revive your skin by bringing out its natural glow. (source: www.healthline.com)
I purchased my ingredients from my local grocery store so they were not organic, I was nervous about the pumpkin puree but the only ingredient in the can that I purchased was pumpkin so that helped a lot with my decision.
I applied the mask to my face as instructed and it was a little messy. I was only able to apply a thin layer because the mixture kept dropping in the sink and on me (by the way, wear gloves while applying and rinsing. I didn’t know this but turmeric stains your hands a little). There was some slight tingling, only SLIGHT which made me think that the mask was actually working.
After I rinsed, I moisturized with my go to moisturizer. It’s been several hours since I applied the mask (while I”m writing this blog) and I can honestly say that my face feels refreshed and moisturized. By the way, I threw the mixture out after one use. I”m not sure how long you can keep it and re-use but I’m assuming it will be good for a few days and it should be kept refrigerated (these are just my assumptions).
If you don’t have time or if you’re on the fence about trying a homemade mask, stores like TJmaxx, Marshalls, and Burlington carry pumpkin sheet mask. I purchased the one below last fall but I saw some in the stores today.
The nails. The nails were a bit of a disappointment. I was hoping to find something with quintessential Halloween theme; black cat, witch, spider, ghost…you get the gist. My goal was to find Halloween decals or press ons but I could not find any Halloween themed nails. The ones I purchased were from a store called Five Below and they’re not even Halloween nails, but I bought them because they’re orange (which I realized was peach once I got home). But I made the best of it.
These are perfect for pre-teens or for anyone who’s on a budget. I’m calling them “Halloween Glam on a Budget.”
A variety of sizes came in the pack so all you have to do is match the size to your nails, peel,
and stick
and then cut the excess piece off with a scissor and use the file that came in the pack to file and form it to your own nails for a natural look.
I’m not sure how long they will last but I’m assuming no more than 5-7 days depending on the type of work you do with your hands. The application was easy and the instructions were easy to follow.
I ended my night with a cup of sleepy time tea.
I started added condense milk to my tea which has been a real game changer for me.
I also add a dash of nutmeg and a dash of cinnamon. It’s like a holiday is happening in my mouth, a perfect combination to end my mini Halloween inspired pamper routine.
Let me know if you plan on trying any of these pampering sessions. Let’s chat!
~~Tam33ks
Self-Care At Forty 