Solutions for Natural Skin Care

What goddess doesn’t want gorgeous looking skin?  I’m guessing we all do!  Your skin is the largest organ on your body, but it also absorbs what you are putting onto it and more quickly reaches your bloodstream.  It can also be one of the first parts of the body to show toxic overload!  This is because when there is a toxic overload your body temple diverts nutrients away from the skin and supplies them to more vital organs like the heart and lungs which in time can leave your skin more dull and less vibrant.

How do we get an overload of toxins?  There are many ways!  There are many products on the market that contain paraben preservatives, phthalate plasticizers, pesticide triclosan, petroleum, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives just to name a few.  Many studies have shown that these chemicals can disrupt the hormones in your body with prolonged use.   That doesn’t sound great does it?

That’s not to say there aren’t products available that are made with much safer ingredients.  The environmental working group, www.ewg.org/skindeep is a great resource that rates products and ingredients for safety.

Natural skin care has become something that is important to me.  Through research, trial and error I have found some great and beneficial natural ways to keep my skin glowing.  Luckily, our skin is also a way that our body’s release toxins.  How?  When we sweat!  Our skin however can get clogged and keep these toxins trapped inside, so dry brushing or exfoliating with a simple scrub can be a great way to unclog pores so the toxins can exit the body.

Dry brushing can be done prior to a shower by simply using a soft natural fiber brush.  In a circular motion you want to bush the skin on your body from the feet up.  This shouldn’t hurt in any way.  You might feel a slight tingling sensation and may notice the skin look a bit white and chalky.  That’s ok!  Once you have finished dry brushing your skin simply have a shower and moisturize afterwards.

Exfoliating the skin with a simple DIY scrub using 1 cup of epson salts,  add coconut oil or mineral oil to moisten it, then add 2-3 drops of your choice of essential oils will have a similar effect.  This helps to increase blood flow and remove dead skin cells and clean your pores.   You will surely notice a difference of how soft your skin feels afterwards.  It can be a little messy so using the scrub right in the shower beforehand would be my best advice!

Both of these methods help to stimulate the lymphatic system which is where toxins get picked up and from the blood and held.  So by dry brushing or exfoliating your skin a few times per week can really help get things moving and will make your skin look vibrant!   Some studies even suggest it can help with the appearance of cellulite. 

Using a steam room, sauna and particularly an FAR infra-red sauna is an excellent way to get your body sweating in order to eliminate toxins and stimulate blood flow.  This can also help reduce stress levels,  which is great for your skin because stress can also effect our complexions.    FAR infra red saunas can also aid in weight loss because your body likes to store toxins in your fat cells to protect the body from them, so sweating is a great way to rid them out of the body.  That is always a bonus!  Of course drinking lots of water while doing so will help flush toxins out and keep you hydrated!

Juicing is something I do on a regular basis to keep my nutrient levels up in order to nourish my body temple.  Fruits and vegetables are high in vitamin C which is great for the skin.  Vitamin C is a precursor to collagen, which is a protein for the skin and helps prevent premature wrinkles.  There are also vitamin C serums that can be used, as well as essential oils mixed in with your skin cream or some coconut oil. 

When using essential oils on the skin, you want to be certain you are using certified therapeutic grade oils so that you are actually receiving the benefits.  There are many oils on the market that are used mostly for their aromatic scents and in the extraction process use chemicals, thus making the oils toxic.  Not what we want!   Frankincense helps to reduce the appearance of skin imperfections, I love adding a few drops with my moisturizer or carrier oil!  Bergamot can be purifying to the skin, grapefruit can improve appearance of blemishes, juniper berry acts as a natural skin toner, and melaleuca promotes a healthy complexion.  When using oils keep in mind they are very concentrated so you only need to add just 1-2 drops.

Vitamin E capsules are also great for the skin.  It is both a nutrient and antioxidant, helping to reduce wrinkles and leave skin looking youthful.  It can also help prevent and repair free radical damage, so applying it to any pesky brown spots will  help to lighten them and promote cell regeneration.  Vitamin E is also great for dry cuticles.  Vitamin E capsules can be found in health food stores, I just clip off the top of the capsule and apply as I would a cream, it does however have a brown orange tone to it so use moderately when your applying to your face. 

If you would like to use a natural mask on your face avocados are very moisturizing.  The oil acts as an emollient and softens the skin.  All you need to do is pit an avocado, puree the fruit and spread on your face.  Let it sit 10-15 minutes and wash off just as you would any other type of mask.  It is a natural and cost effective way to hydrate the skin!

The sooner we start to look after our skin, supply the body with good nutrition and aid it in detoxification we will be looking youthful and vibrant for many years to come!