At this time of year, pumpkins seem to find their way everywhere. On doorsteps, in kitchen windows and waiting to be carved into lanterns, they’re one of the loveliest signs that autumn has truly arrived.
But beyond the orange skins and candlelit faces, there’s something tucked inside that deserves a little attention of its own: the seeds.
For a skincare formulator, these little seeds hold a rather beautiful ingredient. Pressed to release their oil, they offer a botanical richness that has earned a place in several of my apple & bee formulas.
An autumn treasure
One of the things I love most about pumpkin seed oil is its rich colour. There’s something lovely about working with botanical ingredients that bring their own character to a formula, before anything else is added.
But it isn’t simply there to look beautiful. Pumpkin seed oil is rich in fatty acids, which help soften the skin and support moisture retention. It’s an ingredient I value for the nourishment it brings to a blend, helping leave skin feeling soft, supple and cared for.
As the weather turns cooler, those qualities feel especially welcome. My own skincare routine becomes less about doing more and more about taking a little time with the products I already love.
A place in my formulas
You’ll find pumpkin seed oil in my Repair & Restore Night Oil, alongside a blend of other botanical oils. I love the simple ritual of applying a few drops in the evening, taking a quiet moment to massage it into the skin before bed.
It also has a place in my Gentle Exfoliating Refiner. Here, the exfoliating step is balanced with nourishing oils and butters. Pumpkin seed oil contributes to that softer, conditioned feeling, rather than the idea that skin needs to be scrubbed until it feels squeaky clean.
And in my Detox & Purify Face Mask, it sits alongside mango and shea butters, borage oil, clays and charcoal. Each ingredient has its own role within the blend, with the oils and butters bringing nourishment to the cleansing ritual.
The quieter side of pumpkins
It’s easy to notice the ingredients with the most familiar names or the prettiest flowers. But some of my favourite formulation ingredients come from less obvious places: a seed, a kernel, or something we might otherwise overlook.
Pumpkin seed oil is a lovely example. While the pumpkins on our doorsteps enjoy their moment in the candlelight, I’m celebrating the little seeds inside, and the richness they bring to my skincare.
A small autumn treasure, with a place in the everyday.
With love,
Clare x