Our skin’s needs change with the seasons. Feed your face for fall with these three DIY face masks.
Cold-weather fruits have more than one purpose: In addition to being delicious, when applied topically, many of these crops do amazing things for your skin. Below, find three fruit-flavored face masks that will make your skin glow and tips on how to make your own version in the comfort of your home.
Amazing Apples
Did you know that autumn’s most famous crop, apples, do amazing things for your skin? The fruit is full of vitamin C and vitamin B — which will make your skin soft, dewy and reduce inflammation.
How to DIY it: Puree the apple in a food processor, blender, or any other appliance used to puree food. (Leaving the peel on the apple is optional.) Blend with a few tablespoons of honey, oatmeal or egg yolk. Smooth the mixture over your face, avoiding the eye area. Let sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with warm water.
Pomegranate Power Play
Pomegranate seeds are chock full of antioxidants, meaning they have the ability to rejuvenate aging skin and provide other anti-aging benefits.
How to DIY it: To make a mask, blend a few pomegranate seeds and apply all over your neck and face. Or mix a tablespoon of pure pomegranate juice with bentonite clay from your local health food store to make a clay mask. Stir together to mix well, let it sit on your face for an hour or so, and wash off gently.
Also, if you can’t find a good exfoliator, grind some seeds and apply to your face. They’ll release their nutrients onto your skin, enriching it from the outside in. Be sure to wash your face thoroughly after exfoliating.
Pumpkin Perfection
Pumpkin contains wrinkle-fighting vitamins A, C and E, and it gets its orange hue from beta-carotene — which can help eliminate redness and enhance your complexion as well.
How to DIY it: Like the other recipes offered here, this face mask almost sounds like the beginning of a baked dessert. Mixed with honey, yogurt and olive oil this is a refreshing mask that will nourish your skin. Mix 2 cups of pureed, cooked fresh or canned pumpkin with 4 tablespoons unflavored yogurt, 4 tablespoons honey, 1/3 cup ground almonds, 1/4 teaspoon olive oil. Apply to clean, moist skin.
The holiday season is right around the corner, and the promise of the new year follows closely behind. It is often seen as a time of joy, celebration and connection—but for many teens, it can also be a period of emotional strain. Laura Dykins, APRN, a nurse practitioner with Renown Children’s Primary Care, emphasizes how important it is to understand what hardships teens may experience during the holiday months and how we can offer meaningful support to teenagers and their families.
The holidays are often seen as a time of reflection and celebration with loved ones. However, amidst everyday stressors and increased commitments to friends and family, this festive season can also bring feelings of exhaustion or sadness, commonly referred to as the holiday blues or holiday depression.
According to a survey conducted by the American Psychiatric Association, 40% of Americans anticipate more holiday stress this year, an increase from 28% the previous year. Mark Brehm, Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Renown Behavioral Health, shares more about signs and symptoms of the holiday blues and practical tips for managing them.
While viruses can attack year-round, colds, flus and other respiratory illnesses are typically more prevalent during fall and winter. People spend more time indoors, which allows viruses to pass more easily from one person to another. The cold, dry air can also affect the respiratory system, making it more susceptible to germs. According to the CDC, flu activity in the U.S. often begins to increase in October and peaks between December and February. “Flu season” can last as late as May.
