Inhale the harvest season, with its cozy, inviting scents laced with vanilla and golden images of changing leaves. Even in Southern California, where fall can mean scorching Santa Anas, we embrace at least the idea of a change of seasons. The beauty world follows, offering delectable products and treatments made with pumpkin, cinnamon, apple and more – some just for a limited time.
The spa at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, Dana Point (949.240.2000, ritzcarlton.com/lagunaniguel) has added a Pumpkin Radiance Facial ($250) that incorporates a pumpkin enzyme mask to peel away skin’s dull surface layers. Burke Williams Day Spa, Orange (714.769.1360, burkewilliamsspa.com) offers a pumpkin-based, $20 add-on peel that can enhance any of the facials on its skin-care menu, in addition to its H2V pumpkin-based mask called Beyond ($40).
Celebrity dermatologist Ava Shamban (avamd.com) says the season’s favorite flavors also are bountiful beauty boosters: Pumpkin is packed with enzymes, beta-carotene, amino acids and antioxidants such as vitamin A and vitamin C to help soften and exfoliate the skin, and boost collagen production to ease signs of aging.
Apples are high in vitamin C and copper, both beneficial for the skin, she adds. “Copper helps your skin make melanin – the barrier in our skin that protects us from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.” Cinnamon delivers powerful anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties to help acne, eczema, or minor cuts or wounds. It can also be combined with olive oil and a little sea salt to make a scrub and exfoliate dead skin cells.
