Smashing Pumpkins

Each fall, we all go nuts for everything pumpkin, indulging in flavored coffees, pastries, and cocktails, lighting candles, and spicing up our home decor with vibrant orange hues. Pumpkins seem to be synonymous with autumn, a perfect complement to the moments of cozy relaxation we crave as the weather cools down.

So, I think everyone can agree: pumpkins are awesome! Here at Moko, we love the big orange squash for more than just its delicious taste and aroma. Pumpkins are also highly beneficial to your skin, hair, and overall health, especially during the dry, cold winter months.

Pumpkins are chock-full of all kinds of healthy goodies - vitamins (A, C, and E), minerals (zinc, potassium), and antioxidants (leutin, xanthin, carotenes). They also work as an excellent natural exfoliant and humectant (meaning it moisturizes and helps other products absorb) that's gentle enough not to irritate sensitive skin. This combination makes pumpkin a natural powerhouse for your complexion, with anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and acne control benefits.

Photo: Whitney Hubbard/ moko

Knowing all the amazing things that pumpkin can do, we had to find a way to feature it in our skincare services at Moko. And so we introduce The Smashing Pumpkin Mask, a soothing, restorative treat for stressed skin (and psyches) made from locally-sourced, organic, gluten-free ingredients. The 30-minute service includes a gentle cleanse before the warm mask is applied, along with a relaxing hand massage with warm jojoba oil while you soak up all the benefits that pumpkin has to offer.

So while you're sipping those lattes and lighting candles, think about pumpkin for your skin this season as well. Give Moko a call to find out more about what pumpkin can do for you. 215-922-6656


* The Smashing Pumpkin Mask is available for a limited time only. A great gift for someone special.

The Woes of Winter - Dry Skin.

I can usually tell old man winter is on his way when my skin starts feeling dry, tight and itchy. In the past, I have waited until I can no longer stand to be in my own skin and race out to buy the biggest tube of moisturizer I can find. Usually, it's too late and I spend the winter months miserable. This year, I promised myself not to let old man winter get the best of my skin so I am booking a kalyani facial at moko, which targets relieving and moisturizing dry winter skin.

According to Ayurvedic medicine, winter dry skin is generally due to environmental conditions. It is observed in cold weather, when the climate is too dry and cool. Since the climate is dry, it absorbs the water content of the skin, causing it to become dry. The following are some helpful hints on treating dry skin.

Useful Herbs/Plants in the Treatment of Dry skin
1. Aloe vera (Aloe vera)
Aloe vera replenishes the skin by providing the nutrients it lacks. Its extracts are used for massaging the skin.
2. Apple (Malus domestica)
Apple contains potassium and tannin which are both necessary to maintain the healthy texture of the skin. Apple not only removes the dryness of the skin, but also makes it appear shinier.
3. Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)
Cucumber is beneficial if the dryness is especially over the face. The juices of the cucumber have a cooling effect on the face. Also the juices provide the lost water content to the face and reduce its dryness.

Dietary Tips in General
1. Water is the most important part of the diet for correcting dry skin. About 7 to 8 glasses of water must be consumed in a day. But the water should be at room temperature. Cold water will aggravate the vata further.
2. Avoid alcohol and caffeine-containing beverages since they can make the skin drier.

Home Medications
1. In order to reduce the dryness of the skin, massage therapy must be used. Any herbal oil will do for the massage. Almond, avocado and olive oils are the best. The whole skin must be massaged and fingers must be used to dig deeper so as to pass the oil into the skin. After the massage, you must wait for about half an hour (keep the massaged skin exposed to the air if possible) and then go for a bath. The period helps the oil to permeate into the skin.
2. If the dryness is on the face, then make a paste of about a teaspoonful of rose water and two of honey. Smear this paste nicely on the face. Let it remain for a couple of minutes and then wash it off with slightly warm water.
3. Mayonnaise gives good results when applied on the dry skin and let be for some time.
4. An apple can be used for treating excessive dryness of the skin. Cut an apple in half and run its fleshy part on the skin. Apply a bit of pressure and squeeze the apple onto the skin to let its juices flow in.
5. Do not use tap water for washing the face. Tap water contains chloride ions which may harm the dry skin. Use mineral water instead. In a similar manner, do not use an ordinary soap on the skin. There are soaps available with moisturizers. Use them when having your bath.

Maintain a proper daily regimen. Try to get up at a fixed time each morning and go to bed at a fixed time. The adage ‘Early to bed and early to rise makes a person healthy, wealth and wise’ is very true in the case of dry skin.

Regular exercise is also important. Exercise makes the blood circulate better, due to which the nutrients are transported to all parts of the body. This will make the skin moister.

If you are not that into making your own "at-home" remedy, schedule a relaxing facial at moko. Choose from the Kalyani Rice facial, Organic Bliss Hydrating facial or let our skincare experts create a custom facial treatment to meet your needs.

Image - Gettyimages.com

Read More on dry skin treatment by Ayurveda and dry skin home remedies at http://www.ayushveda.com
Read more about Ayurveda at World's Largest Portal on Ayurveda and Ayurvedic Remedies: Ayushveda.com - The Free Ayurvedic Encyclopedia
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