Kitchen Witchery - You Don't Know Jack...

Hello and welcome to my blog posting for The Bewitching Home Blog Party.
Thank you Tanaé for coming up with this fun event!

For today's post I thought I'd share what happened in my kitchen as I whipped up a few batches of Pumpkin Solid Lotion Bars for an upcoming Halloween Craft Show I'm selling at. I call them "You Don't Know Jack". They are great for eczema and super dry skin.

First and most importantly you need a pumpkin. I found this little cutie at my local Superstore this afternoon... (a used Jack-o-lantern works well for this if you can wait until after Halloween)

I took out the seeds and goo, chopped him in to pieces (poor pumpkin), simmered him in my cauldron (aka my lotion making pot) with oils, butters and a few spices for about 4 hours...

(here it all is before the butters melted)
after letting it all marinate I strained it and added my bees wax. Poured it into my mold popped it in the fridge and sat down with a cup of tea to wait...

And voila - here they are! I took them out of the mold a little bit sooner than I should have so I could snap a photo so they aren't perfect (the friends and family batch :)

Why Pumpkin?

• Pumpkin skin contains vitamin A, C and zinc, potassium, alpha-carotene, beta carotene, and lutein all great for the skin.
• Duke University researchers concluded that when applied daily, Vitamin C can keep the skins elastic fibers, or collagen, from breaking down.
• Pumpkin nourishes tired or dry skin instantly - apply it to chapped hands or a rash and you'll see what I mean.
•  Because of the zinc content in pumpkin flesh it has been touted as being good to help clear up acne
• Pumpkin soothes, moisturizes and acts as a carrier, assisting the other lotion ingredients to absorb more deeply into the skin 
• Pumpkin is great for people with sensitive skin (like me) it is also great for childhood eczema, and in lotions and creams for people who want to reduce facial lines and nourish dry skin (make a fresh pumpkin puree mask! - blend up a little pumpkin and honey and slather it on)