BOOKSHELVES & VANITIES

Unless you go to a higher end grocery store (think: Rustan's), there's not a lot of pumpkin choices for the average Filipina. Worry not! We have a similar variant of the Cucurbita: KALABASA (Cucurbita Maxima)! They're actually very similar in texture, etc. The main difference between squash and pumpkin is their stem. But we're not talking about stems! 






Most Filipinos are probably familiar with this veggie as it appears in a lot of Filipino dishes (all are super-yummy and healthy!). Who doesn't love the ginataang kalabasa dishes?! Kalabasa has been known to be good for the eyes as it is packed with Vitamin A. Apart from getting your vitamins when eating squash, you also get zinc that works on oil and blemish. It also has enzymes that gently exfoliates the skin. Did you know that it can also promote brightening? So, go ahead and get that kalabasa from the wet market and try this simple beauty mask. 

INGREDIENTS:
1) 2 tablespoon kalabasa puree (just mash it up, no seeds and stringy things)
2) 1 egg white (this will tone your skin and minimizes pores)
3) 1 calamansi  (we only need the juice, no seeds)
4) 1 tablespoon tomato (cut a tomato in half, gut it, the watery stuff is what we need)

METHOD:
Put everything in a bowl. Stir very well until it looks combined. A hand-held egg whisker from The Daiso would save time, of course.
Apply to face. Avoid the eye area (the mask has calamansi which can be very painful). 
Leave on for 10 to 15 mins. Then, rinse thoroughly. 

Try this mask for about once a week for brighter looking skin!




DIY Inspired by the following:
http://www.sheknows.com/beauty-and-style/articles/973997/3-pumpkin-beauty-products-to-buy-and-1-you-can-make

http://www.realbeauty.com/skin/face/natural-facial-recipes#slide-1

Photo credit: (from top to bottom)
http://www.artisticrealism.com/faithteblog/daily-paintings/squash-oil-painting

TAGS: DIY, Kalabasa, Philippines, cheap DIY, PHILIPPINES DIY, bookshelves and vanities,