Vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant and helps with a variety of skin ailments.  It’s also the basis behind popular doctor prescribed treatments such as Retin-A and helps minimize skin conditions such as acne and fine lines, even smoothing out uneven skin texture. Pumpkins happen to have a high concentration of this super-antioxidant and make the perfect main ingredient for an easy at-home mask from ingredients you probably already have hiding in your pantry.  Add some antiseptic and moisturizing honey, a splash of skin-smoothing milk, skin-plumping cinnamon, and some soothing antioxidant vitamin E, and you have a powerful, healing skin cocktail.

Cinnamon Pumpkin Mask

4 tablespoons of pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)

1 tablespoon honey

1/4 teaspoon vitamin E oil

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

a splash of milk or cream, just enough to thin out the mixture

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl and apply to clean, dry skin.  Let the mixture sit on the skin for 8-10 minutes before rinsing.

Philosophy Miracle Worker Anti-Aging Concentrate $62

I realize the point of giving out free samples is to get you to buy a product, but such shameless promotion usually doesn’t get the best of me.  Until, that is, Miracle Worker Miraculous Anti-Aging concentrate by Philosophy.  I should admit, I have usually avoided products by Philosophy thinking they focused more on their (genius) marketing than on their actual products.  That being said, after getting a free sample with my latest Sephora order, I was quite simply blown away by the results I saw after using this serum.  Not only was my skin smoother and more hydrated, this serum also, aghmmm-miraculously, cleared up my breakouts in the span of 48 hours!  This water-based gel with vitamins A, C and E as well as amino acids, is my new favorite serum, moisturizer, and primer!

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream $12-$39

With the winter months upon us, it’s time to start thinking about moisture!  This ultra repair cream by First Aid Beauty is a heavy-duty moisturizer that doesn’t feel heavy or greasy, but heals even the most scaly skin.  Containing colloidal oatmeal, the only over the counter product proven to heal eczema, just a dab of this repairing cream helps to heal even the driest winter skin.  This cream can be used on either the face or the body, and incidentally, also makes a fab cuticle cream!

MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2 $14.50

MAC Dervish Lip Pencil $14

One of my all-time favorite lipsticks is MAC’s Viva Glam VI, a super neutral, warmed-up plum.  With my fair complexion, it looks just like the lip color I should have been born with, and it goes well with absolutely everything.  The newest addition to the Viva Glam empire is the collection inspired by Lady Gaga.  The second Viva Glam collection for the eccentric artist incorporates both a lipstick and a lipglass in a very pale, limited-edition neutral.  I recently discovered that by layering Gaga’s newest lipglass color over my Viva Glam VI lipstick, I was able to create the absolutely perfect sexy neutral!  Adding MAC’s “dervish” lip pencil kept this neutral color-combo from washing out my already fair complexion.  If you have a slightly darker complexion, or even a little bit left of a summer tan, this combo will be the perfect color even without a lip pencil.  As always, all of the proceeds from the Viva Glam collection go to the MAC AIDS fund to help support people living with HIV/AIDS.

Salt scrubs have been used for centuries and are still being used at some of the top spas in the world.  This homemade body scrub helps to detoxify the skin by removing dead skin cells, while the jojoba oil keeps skin moist and supple.  The addition of the lavender flowers gives an added calming aromatherapy treatment, so it’s the perfect shower scrub after a stressful day.

Lavender Body Scrub

1 1/2 cups kosher salt

1/2 cup organic lavender flowers, crushed in spice grinder or food processor

1 cup jojoba oil (almond oil, olive oil, or coconut oil may be substituted)

Blend the lavender flowers in a clean spice grinder or food processor until a soft powder is formed.  This will not only release the aroma of the lavender, but will keep the salt scrub from clogging your shower drain.  Mix the powdered lavender flowers with the kosher salt and oil and store in an airtight container, such as a mason jar.  This mixture will stay fresh in your shower without the need for refrigeration for up to two months.

To use, massage the scrub all over your body after cleansing (never use on face).  Rinse thoroughly and pat skin dry.  Follow with additional moisturizer if necessary.

A new product is on the market kids, and the studies so far have found that it seems to be more effective at smoothing out fine lines than it’s more well-known predecessor, Botox.  Although Dysport was approved by the FDA in 2009, a study was recently published in the Archives of Facial and Plastic Surgery comparing the two brands in a double-blind study.  I won’t bore you with the statistical significance of the efficacy of the abobotulinumtoxinA (aka Dysport) vs. the onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox.)  The important thing to remember here is, so far, Dysport seems to be more effective than Botox.  So, expect to see Dysport showing up on your medi-spa menu of services soon!

To lock the moisture in your skin after a warm shower, nothing beats a super hydrating and soothing homemade body butter!

Hydrating Coconut Body Butter

1/2 cup grated cocoa butter

2 tablespoons grated beeswax (a natural preservative)

4 tablespoons coconut oil

2 tablespoons jojoba oil

2 tablespoons apricot kernel oil (jojoba oil may be substituted)

Place all ingredients in an oven safe glass bowl over a bowl of simmering, not boiling, water.  Making sure the water is not touching the bottom of the glass bowl, gently stir and melt ingredients together until combined.  Carefully pour the hot mixture into a heat-safe, resealable jar and allow to cool completely.

Bobbi Brown Bronze Shimmer Brick $39

Bobbi Brown’s shimmer brick in bronze is the perfect little pick me up to help you keep your summer glow throughout the fall.  Handmade in Italy, the five bars included in the compact can be swirled together and used as bronzer, or applied individually as eye shadow.  To make your eyes really pop, use the lightest color just under the brow bone as an eyeshadow with the perfect amount of shimmer.  If using as a bronzer, because there is quite a bit of shimmer, just dot lightly on the very top of cheekbones where the sun would naturally hit the face.

Cheap, effective, and fast: this mask will dry out your blemishes, exfoliate your skin and make it feel baby soft.  Aspirin contains salicylic acid, the same ingredient found in many over-the-counter acne products and you may already have a bottle in your medicine cabinet.  With only two super-powered ingredients, this homemade mask is a fool-proof fix for your skin!  Tea-tree oil is antibacterial and healing and will also prevent the exfoliating and drying effects of the aspirin from irritating dry or sensitive skin.

Anti-Acne Aspirin Healing Mask

2 tablets uncoated aspirin (if you can find a brand containing caffeine you will also get a skin-tightening effect at the same time!)

2-3 drops tea tree oil

Crush the tablets of asprin in a bowl with the back of a spoon, add a few drops of the tea tree oil and just enough water to form a paste.  Apply mask to clean, dry skin.  Leave on the skin for only 5 minutes before rinsing.  If you sense any tingling or discomfort while the mask is working, rinse off immediately.  This mask can also be used as a spot treatment on the face or body.

Warning: This mask is not suitable during pregnancy or recommended for extremely sensitive skin.