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Natural Skincare Tips
Let’s face it . . . natural skincare doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive, contrary to what the salesperson behind the department store beauty counter will tell you!
10 RITUALS FOR BEAUTIFUL SKIN
Ritual #1: DIET - You ARE what you eat. A daily diet of unprocessed raw whole foods rich in vitamins and minerals is essential for healthy skin. This tip alone will do more to improve your skin than any other. Junk food junkies beware!
Ritual #2: EXERCISE - Sweat is actually good for your skin! It moisturizes and facilitates waste removal. Daily cardiovascular exercise will give you increased energy and a more radiant complexion. So let 'em see you sweat!
Ritual #3: SLEEP - A good night's restful sleep is imperative for healthy skin. Don't leave home without it!
Ritual #4: SUNSHINE - 10-15 minutes of daily unprotected sun exposure is essential to good health. Your skin turns sunlight into vitamin D thereby helping your body absorb calcium. Sunlight also helps heal eczema, psoriasis, acne, and other skin problems. If you're going to be exposed longer than 15 minutes, always use a sunscreen that helps shield you from both UVA and UVB rays, but don't think that sunscreen allows you to stay exposed for hours on end. There is much controversy lately over the effectiveness of sunscreens. Research shows that some UV rays still get through, even with the use of a very high SPF sunscreen. The best way to avoid sun damage (wrinkles & skin cancer) is to avoid the sun altogether, except for brief exposures during early morning or late afternoon. Oh, and whatever you do, avoid tanning beds altogether! They cause skin cancer and wrinkling, just like the sun.
Ritual #5: WATER - What goes in must come out. Drinking 8 - 12 eight ounce glasses of water daily will help eliminate harmful toxins from your body. Pimples and rashes are the result of toxic buildup when your body can't eliminate daily toxins quickly enough. Insufficient water intake is also the leading cause of dry skin, so drink up! You can't get too much.
Ritual #6: CLEANSE - Use our natural soaps to cleanse your skin daily. Skin needs to breathe, especially while you're sleeping. Your body excretes toxins through your skin as you sleep. If it's clogged with make-up and grime, breakouts can occur. The regular use of a brush, loofah or natural fiber washcloth will help to exfoliate and unclog pores.
Ritual #7: TONE - This step removes any residual soap, refines the pores, and restores the natural pH balance of your skin (which your skin will do on it's own, but this helps it along). Add 1 part raw apple cider vinegar to 3 parts witch hazel, aloe vera juice, rosewater, or herbal tea for a gentle toner suitable for all skin types. Add a drop or two of lavender or tea tree essential oil (optional) to this blend to fight against blemishes and bacteria. Use a natural cotton pad to apply the toner to your facial area. Don't worry, there's very little vinegar smell after it dries.
Ritual #8: MOISTURIZE - Apply an appropriate moisturizer for your skin type to keep your skin hydrated, soft and supple. Even oily skin can benefit from a light moisturizer. Aloe vera gel, jojoba oil, or a simple glycerin and water mixture may be used for oily to normal skin types, while a few drops of extra virgin olive oil (hey, it worked for Cleopatra, it can work for you!) or sunflower oil is wonderful for normal, dry or mature skin.
Ritual #9: EXFOLIATE - A gentle mechanical scrub performed a couple of times a week will remove dead skin cells and keep pores free of debris. The key word here is "gentle". In a blender, grind equal parts of regular oatmeal and sunflower seeds (without the hulls of course). Add enough water, aloe juice, or herb tea to a tablespoon of this mixture to form a paste and gently massage it into your facial area, then rinse well. Make a larger batch for a body scrub. Raw fruit acids, also known as alpha or beta hydroxy acids (AHA’s or BHA’s) can act as natural exfoliants too. Grind peeled oranges, apples, bananas, grapes, pineapples, berries, or papayas in the blender and add them to the oatmeal scrub for a delicious twist. (Don’t forget to eat a few bites of fruit first.) The addition of a cosmetic grade earth clay will help to draw out toxins and excess oils as well. Do not use harsh abrasive mechanical scrubs on acne or rosacea, only gentle scrubs like the one recommended above will work.
Ritual #10: DRY SKIN BRUSHING - Another great way to exfoliate is with dry skin brushing. Once or twice a week, BEFORE you shower or bathe, use a soft natural bristle brush to gently brush your entire body (skip the delicate areas). Starting at your extremeties, brush inward towards your heart. Begin gently and work your way up to more vigorous brushing in later sessions. Pay special attention to areas of cellulite. Brush for several minutes, then bathe as usual to wash away all those dead skin cells. Wash your brush with hot soapy water to keep it free of skin debris.
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