Pumpkin Spice lovers rejoice! You now have another way to introduce the most popular fall scent into your everyday routine: Pumpkin & Spice skin care. Yes, you read that right: an entire range of vegan, plant-based products made with pumpkin spice and pumpkin seed oil, and they smell just as I’d hoped—delicious!
“While on a business trip in Mexico, we stumbled upon a unique ingredient while trekking through the rain forests in Tulum,” says brand founder Stephen Esketzis. “Our guide recommended an ancient oil we should use that has been used for generations to treat our skin after a long day of hiking. He said it would ‘hydrate and restore our skin to make us feel balanced and fresh.’ After some more questions, we found out the main ingredient in this elixir was organic pumpkin seed oil, which is rich in vitamin A, vitamin E, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants that provide important nutrition for the skin. The results we saw were truly incredible, so we took this back to the United States and began working on a custom formulation to bring all the same benefits to a brand new cosmetic range. We wanted everyone to feel the amazing benefits of the pumpkin seed oil.”
In just one week, the brand’s Facebook group topped 2,000 pumpkin spice devotees and one of its Face Masks sells every three seconds—I haven’t even been able to get my hands on one because they’ve been sold out. But, I was able to try the rest of the line, which includes a Day Moisturizer ($37), Night Moisturizer ($37), Night Serum ($59), Facial Scrub Exfoliator ($37)—my personal favorite—Jelly Cleanser ($47), and Under Eye Cream ($49).
According to Esketzis, the entire collection is suitable for all skin types, even sensitive. However, there is cinnamon in the products, which may cause some temporary redness and a slight tingling sensation for some as it boosts blood flow to the surface of the skin (cinnamon is used in many lip plumpers and delivers a similar effect).
Although Pumpkin & Spice is a fall-themed collection, Esketzis stresses it is “not specific to fall,” and is hopeful the products will be used year-round. “We wanted to use the feeling, scents and people’s happiness toward fall, but create something that can be used all year!”
The brand is also eco-friendly and cruelty-free—Esketzis is a huge animal lover and has a mission to help adopt and save Tapanuli orangutans, the most endangered among all great apes in the world. “One dollar of every Day Bundle sale goes toward saving the orangutans,” says Esketzis, who just adopted the brand’s first orangutan and aims to adopt all 800 left in existence over the next three years.
