You may already enjoy tasty pumpkin seeds as a nutritious snack, but did you know they also can do wonderful things for your skin?

Packed with essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and more, the oil from pumpkin seeds helps soothe, hydrate, protect, and renew your look—making it a great ingredient for anti-aging formulas.

A little bit about the ingredient itself

Pumpkin is a gourd-like squash scientifically named that’s native to North America. Considered a fruit of the pumpkin plant, it ranges in size from about 9 pounds to up to 75 pounds, and is usually orange or yellow, though varying species also product dark green, white, red, and gray fruits.

Pumpkin likes warm weather and is usually planted in early July in rich soils that hold water well. It produces both a male and female flower, though honeybees are important for fertilization. Vines are delicate, and can be easily damaged. Harvesting occurs from September through October, which is why you typically see so many pumpkins around Halloween time.

Health benefits of pumpkin seeds

Pumpkin seeds have a number of health benefits. They’re naturally rich in phytosterols that have been shown in studies to help reduce LDL “bad” cholesterol. They’re a good source of tryptophan, an amino acid that’s important in producing feel good hormones called “serotonin.” Tossing back a handful of pumpkin seeds in the afternoon may help uplift your mood, or may help you sleep if you’re having trouble getting enough shut-eye.

Minerals and vitamins

The benefits don’t stop there. These seeds are rich in fiber, which can help benefit digestive health, and also provide a good source of muscle-building protein. Minerals include iron, zinc, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and magnesium, while vitamins include A, B, E, and K. Some studies show that eating them regularly can help reduce the risk of kidney stones, and natural anti-inflammatories may help ease the pain of arthritis. Pumpkin seeds are also full of antioxidants that help protect overall health.

Pumpkin seed oil’s benefits to the skin

All the nutrients in pumpkin seeds that make them a healthy, nutritious snack also make them a great anti-aging ingredient in skin care. Take a look at all the benefits:

• Increases firmness: The natural nutrients in pumpkin seeks, particularly zinc and vitamin C, help firm and tighten.
• Great for oily skin: That same zinc along with natural selenium helps with oily skin, helping it to look healthy and clean.
• Antioxidant rich: A rich source of vitamin E, which is a potent antioxidant, pumpkin seed oil protects skin from environmental stressors.
• Deeply moisturizes: The essential fatty acids sink deeply into skin to provide long-lasting moisturization without greasiness. These acids also help balance oil, moisturizing dry skin and controlling oily skin.
• Soothes: Natural properties of pumpkin seed work great with sensitive skin.

Try it!

When you start reading about the multi-faceted benefits that come with all of our natural ingredients, is it any wonder that our formulas are so effective? Including just pumpkin seed oil in our Anti-Aging Facial Oil, for example, provides all these benefits—and that’s just from one ingredient!

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— Update: 10-02-2023 — cohaitungchi.com found an additional article Your Skin Needs Pumpkin Seed Oil. Here’s Why from the website www.themakeupdummy.com for the keyword benefits of pumpkin seed oil for skin.

Pumpkin Seed Oil is a great addition to your Skincare Routine. Its many benefits make this moisturizing oil an excellent choice for oily skin types, acne sufferers and mature skin.

Most fruits and vegetables can only dream of the attention pumpkins get during Fall season.

Come October 1st and everything, from your Insta-feed to your wardrobe, colors all possible shades of orange.

But there’s another use for pumpkins that’s often overlooked. And that’s … Skincare!

You might get images of yourself slathering pumpkin puree all over your face, and you should totally do that too!

In this case, however, we’re taking a closer look at a less ‘crunchy’ ingredient: pumpkin seed oil.

Benefits of Pumpkin Seed Oil for Skin

Pumpkin seed oil is made from, you guessed it, extracting pumpkin seeds. It’s already a common kitchen ingredient (for the real foodies anyways), as the oil has many nutritional benefits.

Now, cooking with pumpkin seed oil is one thing. But this article answers a different question.

Is Pumpkin Seed Oil Good for your Skin?

Good quality, organic pumpkin seed oil is rich in vitamins A and C, zinc, antioxidants and unsaturated fatty acids. These benefits make pumpkin seed oil a great moisturizer for oily skin types, especially when you struggle with acne. The oil also firms the skin and has anti-aging properties.

With that in mind, it’s no surprise that pumpkin seed oil makes a great addition to your skincare routine.

Pumpkin Seed Oil fights Acne

As it turns out, pumpkin seed oil might just be your best secret weapon to fight acne breakouts.

You could even say that pumpkin seed oil is one of the best choices for acne prone skin types, as research seems to confirm.

There’s a whole number of reasons why pumpkin seed oil is good for oily and acne-prone skin types:

• The lightweight oil absorbs quickly into your skin
• Rich in unsaturated fatty acids, its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce the appearance of acne on your face
• Pumpkin seeds are high in vitamin E, this gives the oil anti-bacterial powers

Is Pumpkin Seed Oil Comedogenic?

Pumpkin Seed Oil scores a 2 on the comedogenic scale. This means that there’s a slight chance the oil will clog your pores. Depending on your skin type the oil might cause some breakouts. However, pumpkin seed oil is still considered a low comedogenic oil.

If you remember, we talked about the comedogenic scale in my guide to face oils.

The comedogenic scale rates oils for cosmetic use on a scale of 0 to 5 of how likely the oil is to clog your pores. When an oil scores somewhere from 0 to 2, chances are the oil won’t break you out.

If an oil has a comedogenic score of 3 or higher, there’s a good chance that this oil will clog your pores and cause breakouts.

However, finding the right face oil is a very personal affair for everyone and depends greatly on your skin type. It can also depend on how the rest of your skincare routine looks like, what other products you use etc.

Pumpkin Seed Oil Battles Aging

Are pimples and breakouts no longer a concern for you? Maybe you’re starting to see the first signs of that other skin care problem, aging skin.

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If it’s wrinkles and saggy skin you’re fighting, this oil also has benefits for you. Pumpkin Seed Oil has lots of anti-aging properties described to it.

Why Pumpkin Seed Oil is a good choice for anti-aging

• Vitamin C boosts the production of collagen in your skin
• Antioxidants like vitamin E helps fight damaging free radicals

How To Add Pumpkin Seed Oil to Your Skincare Routine

So far I’ve made my case to convince you of all the wonderful benefits of pumpkin seed oil. You might think by now that this oil only has advantages for your skin.

Believe it or not, this oil has one flaw. And that’s its consistency.

If you’ve ever poured pumpkin seed oil over a salad you know it comes out like a thick, dark liquid. This oil has a dark green, almost black color.

And yes, this can leave a green residue on your skin.

That’s why incorporating pumpkin seed oil into your skincare routine takes a little more preparation.

Uses for Pumpkin Seed Oil in Skincare

• In a Face Cleansing Oil to remove (waterproof) makeup or as a first cleanse
• Combined with another carrier oil in a Face Oil Serum

Pumpkin Seed Oil works at it best in combination with another carrier oil, or in a rinse off product like a face cleansing oil.

To help you on your way I’m sharing a Face Serum Recipe that’s the perfect addition to your fall skincare routine.

This is an oil-based serum, so use it on its own or AFTER your regular moisturizer to seal it and protect your skin all day long.

If you like this DIY than don’t forget to put a pin on it!

— Update: 10-02-2023 — cohaitungchi.com found an additional article Pumpkin Seed Oil: The Benefits for Your Skin & Face from the website www.ullisoilmill.com for the keyword benefits of pumpkin seed oil for skin.

Is pumpkin seed oil the next trend in face and skin care?

Many different oils for your face and skin have been popular over the years – tea tree oil, argan oil, and grapeseed oil, to name a few. If you’re looking for an oil that can help balance your skin, especially your face, look no further than pumpkin seed oil for your skincare routine. Not only is it great for acne-prone skin, it’s full of naturally occurring ingredients that aid in a healthy glow all around. 

Bonus: read to the end of the article for Ulli’s DIY recipe for a beauty scrub using our organic, cold-pressed pumpkin oil (and pumpkin protein powder) that is perfect for skin health!

Nutrients in pumpkin seed oil and the benefits for your skin and face

Pumpkin seed oil is a natural beauty product filled with essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins that help combat acne, improve skin tone and renewal, and calm redness and irritation. Here are some things you should know about some of the nutrients in pumpkin seed oil for your skin health.

Linoleic acid (omega-6) 

Linoleic acid is one of the major combatants of acne available in pumpkin seed oil. It moisturizes, helps with redness and irritation, and helps skin heal faster. Linoleic acid serves as a natural exfoliant and helps treat hyperpigmentation. People with higher levels of linoleic acid are less acne-prone, so raising these levels by adding linoleic acid to your skin is one of the ways you can fight acne. 

Linolenic acid (omega-3) 

Along with linoleic acid, omega-3s are also key to healthy skin appearance and function, and a topical application of linolenic acid is a great way to reap the benefits of this nutrient. Omega-3s can also reduce the effects of photodamage from UV exposure, and reduce the signs of skin aging. Ingesting either of these essential fatty acids is just as effective as applying to the skin, so take your pick and enjoy the perks.

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Tocopherols 

Tocopherol is an antioxidant that helps protect your skin against the sun. When included in products meant for your skin and face, tocopherols absorb UV rays and prevent skin damage via free radicals brought on by UV exposure. They also help protect against damage from free radicals related to pollution, have anti-inflammatory properties, and moisturize the skin. 

Sterols 

If you’re looking for a nutrient that helps protect against sun damage and assist with cell regeneration, sterols can help! Plant sterols have anti-inflammatory properties, which can improve swelling from acne or other skin troubles. They’re also great with dry skin conditions because sterols lock in moisture. There have been studies on aloe sterols showing that taking it as an oral supplement has helped with skin elasticity. 

Vitamin C

The very useful vitamin C can improve your skin in a variety of ways, including reducing redness, combatting hyperpigmentation, reducing under-eye wrinkles, healing damaged skin cells, improving hydration, and more. Even taking vitamin C as a supplement can improve the texture of your skin, protect you from the sun, and help heal wounds, among other things. 

Carotenoids 

Like many of the nutrients on this list, carotenoids are naturally occurring in skin. Adding more if your face and skin need a little help can brighten and improve your skin tone, protect you from the sun, and aid in firmness, based on a study done on Lutemax.

Zinc

Another acne-fighting superhero, zinc is great for inflammatory acne and scarring. While you might think about oral zinc as something that boosts your immune system, topical and oral zinc can both work to clear acne by removing the bacteria that causes it from the skin. 

Magnesium 

If acne is a problem for you, magnesium is an essential nutrient to stabilize your hormones. This mineral lowers cortisol levels and improves your cellular processes, all things that add up to helping your skin look better. 

Potassium 

Your first thought about potassium is probably related to bananas, but you can find this mineral in pumpkin seed oil as well. While it isn’t absorbed through the skin cells, potassium can add moisture to your skin and face. 

For more details on the nutritional and mineral composition of styrian pumpkin seed oil, you can visit this journal article by Gilbert O. Fruhwirth and Albin Hermetter of Institute of Biochemistry,Graz University of Technology,
Graz, in Austria.

Is pumpkin seed oil right for your face? 

If the benefits of the nutrients listed above sound like things your skin needs, chances are, it’s time to add pumpkin seed oil into your skincare routine. Whether you add it to your diet or use it topically, pumpkin seed oil benefits skin in a variety of ways. If you are battling acne, dryness, dull skin, oily skin, or dealing with other types of inflammation and scarring, you’ll definitely want to work it into your skin renewal regimen.  

A DIY Beauty Scrub Recipe using Ulli’s Organic Pumpkin Seed Oil

Here is Ulli’s own recipe for a beauty scrub for your face and skin that uses Our Organic Cold-Pressed Pumpkin Seed Oil (as well as our Pumpkin Protein Powder)

We use this Pumpkin Oil Scrub on your hair tips, scalp, face, and body skin.

You can try two different body scrubs:

Option 1: Mix pumpkin protein, pumpkin oil, and sea salt.

Option 2:  Mix pumpkin protein, pumpkin oil, and organic sugar.

It leaves the skin very smooth and hydrated!