Okay, I finally caved and tried the June Jacobs Pumpkin Smoothing Mask. I was a skeptic. I’ve been burned by “natural” exfoliants that left my face feeling like sandpaper.
But this isn’t that. It’s a legit chemical exfoliant disguised as a fall-themed smoothie. It promises glass skin without the sting of a professional peel—and honestly, it delivers.
It’s a creamy, pumpkin-scented mask that retails for around $68. The claim? Enzymes eat away dead skin cells, revealing a smoother surface *without* irritation. I rolled my eyes, but my dull winter skin said “try me.”
Pumpkin Enzymes
These aren’t just for show—they dissolve the glue holding dead cells on your face.
AHAs (Glycolic + Lactic)
The actual heavy lifters. They smooth texture and fade dark spots fast.
Shea Butter & Aloe
The reason your skin doesn’t scream after. It’s a buffer, and a good one.
Photo: sarah b / Unsplash
It’s a smart cocktail: fruit enzymes for surface-level shedding, plus acids to go deeper. The shea butter is the unsung hero—it stops the “tight face” feeling you get with other peels.
- Pumpkin Extract: Natural enzyme, gentle cell turnover
- Glycolic Acid: Smooths fine lines, brightens
- Lactic Acid: Hydrates while it exfoliates
- White Tea: Calms redness, antioxidant shield
Photo: Curology / Unsplash
Texture is weirdly satisfying—like a thick, whipped pumpkin pie filling that you want to eat, not smear. It tingles for about 30 seconds, then goes quiet. No heat. No burning.
By week three, my pores looked smaller. Not smaller—tighter. My makeup sat differently. My foundation didn’t cling to patches I didn’t even know I had.
My skin is smoother—like, baby-forehead smooth. But it didn’t erase my deeper wrinkles (didn’t expect it to). It did, however, make my skin look like I slept 8 hours when I only slept 5.
This is the closest thing to a professional enzyme facial in a jar that I’ve found. I’m on my second jar. That’s my review.