Fall has officially arrived - and while you keep warm with cozy sweaters and scarves, there’s another way to heat things up this autumn. Spices are a great way to bring warmth during the cooler fall months. Although they add a delicious flair to your dinner (and pumpkin lattes), spices also make extremely effective skin care ingredients. It’s true - the answers to your skin concerns have been hidden in your pantry all along!

Below are four skin-saving spices and how they hail as beauty saviors: 

1. Paprika

Paprika is packed with Vitamins A and C to help reduce free radical damage. Its amazing antibacterial properties make it an effective ingredient for treating problem skin as it helps to clear blemish-causing bacteria. It’s also rich in antioxidant beta carotene which has the ability to increase cell turnover and regeneration in the outer layers of the skin.

Like running, exercising or sitting in a sauna, the heat from the paprika increases circulation to the skin, bringing fresh blood to the skin’s surface to help the complexion look radiant. This activity in blood flow also increases the oxygen intake of the skin cells which means that every product applied will absorb better, giving you even more amazing results.

Staying in the night before a big event? Try our Eight Greens Phyto Masque - Hot. The stimulating effects will warm on the skin and leave a rosy glow (for up to 45 minutes) after it’s been rinsed off. Rest assured that your skin will look refreshed and revitalized in time for your social gathering.

2. Coconut

Trying to get rid of unsightly cellulite? If you want a more soothing formula, the Coconut Firming Body Lotion helps to firm, hydrate and tone the body. With coconut, shea butter and grape seed oil, this moisturizing formula will help your skin appear tight and firm thanks to its hydrating properties. 

3. Clove 

From pesky pimples to a pretty pout, clove oil is the perfect prescription! 

When applied topically to the skin, its antibacterial and antimicrobial properties make it effective in removing the bacteria that causes blemishes. It also helps reduce and eliminate the look of inflammation often caused by breakouts, helping you get your clear complexion back. 

Like cinnamon, you may notice a tingling sensation when using clove oil. When applied to the lips, this sensation causes them to swell up and look fuller, giving you visibly fuller lips without a trip to the plastic surgeon. Take caution, though - clove oil is super potent when used on its own. 

4. Ginger

Think of how you eat ginger to cleanse the palate after a sushi lunch or another multi-course meal. Ginger, an effective antiseptic, also has that cleansing effect on the skin, keeping its appearance smooth and free of blemishes by clearing bacteria that causes breakouts.

Containing approximately 40 antioxidant properties, ginger also provides anti-aging benefits like preventing free radical damage and improving the look of skin elasticity, for firm and youthful appearance. These benefits can be achieved by both ingesting and applying ginger topically for a double dose of powerful antioxidant action!

How do you benefit from spice in your skin care routine? Tell us in the comments below.

This article was originally written by Jennifer Kerstens in 2015.