We slather all kinds of chemicals on our bodies in the name of beauty. We are led to believe we need expensive lotions and potions in order to have beautiful skin.
I've had problem skin my entire life, and I've used all kinds of beauty products hoping to unveil the perfect skin underneath. It wasn't until I started using natural and organic products that I finally found results worth writing about.
There are two sides to beautiful skin: what goes on inside, and what goes on outside.
Inside, you need to maintain healthy digestion, get enough sleep, cut out low quality food, drink enough water, exercise, avoid stress, and eat plenty of fresh fruits and veggies. (Easy, right?)
Outside, you need to exfoliate, cleanse, tone, and moisturize. When you do both together, you have the recipe for gorgeous skin.
Exfoliate
I discovered Korean scrub mitts at a day spa, and they have changed my life. Exfoliating your body from head to toe has all kinds of great benefits. By scrubbing away your dead skin, your skin will be softer than ever before and your wrinkles will fade. Scrubbing stimulates lymph circulation and rids your body of toxins. It also boosts collagen production. Your skin will glow.
I recommend scrubbing your face very gently. Depending on how your skin responds, scrub as little as once a week to as often as a little bit every day. I scrub my face a little bit every other day. You can scrub a bit harder below the neck, but be careful not to scrub for too long in any one spot.
Nothing feels better after exfoliating than cleansing with a
peppermint cleanser like Dr. Bronner's peppermint castile soap.
Cleanse
Can you pronounce all of the ingredients in your cleanser? I personally try to stay away from any chemical I can't pronounce. I found organic, oil-based castile soap to be gentle and effective on my skin. I love Dr. Bronner's Soap, both the bar and the liquid, because it cleanses gently and contains all beneficial, organic ingredients.
Tone
For generations, women have used rosewater in their beauty regimens. Rosewater has anti-inflammatory properties. It reduces redness and blotchiness, and tightens pores and capillaries. It also has astringent and cleansing properties, so it is perfect for the end of day to make sure you've gotten off all of your makeup.
Moisturize
It sounds counter-intuitive because advertising programs us to buy oil-free products, but oil is one of the best things you can put on your skin (and hair!). Oddly enough, when I started moisturizing with oil, my normally very oily skin became much less oily. Oils have many beneficial properties and are rich in antioxidants, which fight free radicals and signs of aging. Most are outstanding cleansers and can be used in place of cleansers and make-up removers. Whichever oil you choose, I recommend applying oil to damp skin. For an added bonus, give yourself a mini face massage to loosen up tense muscles in the face, which can lead to wrinkles. After a 5-10 minutes, use a towel to wipe off any excess oil that hasn't been absorbed.
Coconut oil, my favorite, is light and perfect for summertime. Traditionally, it has a reputation for being excellent for your skin and hair. In the tropics, natives use coconut oil as sun protection. It will also soothe your skin if you were out in the sun too long. It is anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, and can be used to treat skin infections. Coconut oil is great for acne-prone skin. It has high antioxidant levels which combat the signs of aging. Coconut oil will give you clear, soft, supple skin.
Grapeseed oil is another light oil. It is full of antioxidants, and has anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. This means it is great for healing acne, prevents signs of aging, and keeps the skin tight. It is rich in beta-carotene and vitamins D, C, and E. It also contains the essential fatty acids palmitic, stearic, and linoleic acid, which strengthen cell membranes and improve the overall appearance of your skin. These acids have been shown in clinical trials to reduce wrinkles and scarring. Grapeseed oil will also reduce dark circles under your eyes.
Sweet almond oil is well-known for being excellent for our skin and hair, and is used in many beauty products. Sweet almond oil contains vitamins A, B, and E, magnesium, potassium, proteins, folic acids, and zinc. Almond oil has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. This means almond oil is great at reducing fine lines and wrinkles, soothing eczema and psoriasis, reversing and preventing aging skin by renewing skin cells, reducing dark circles under the eyes, and improving your overall complexion.
Extra virgin olive oil is a richer, heavier oil, and my first choice in the winter. It contains anti-aging polyphenols which are effective at preventing wrinkles. EVOO is rich in antioxidants, which reduce sun damage and protect from skin cancer and premature aging. It is anti-bacterial and can heal skin infections. Its anti-inflammatory properties are effective in soothing dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis. EVOO is an excellent choice for soothing dry, chapped skin in the winter freeze or summer heat.
Night Treatment
Vitamin E Oil is God's gift to our skin. It is a powerful antioxidant that heals wounds, scars, infections, and sunburns. It reduces wrinkles, stretch marks and sun spots. It prevents skin cancer and keeps your skin tight and firm.
I slather vitamin E oil under my eyes, and on my face, neck and chest every night. I wake up in the morning with soft, supple skin. You will notice a major difference after only one night.
Body Care
You can use the same products on your body as you do your face, which keeps life simple and affordable. Scrub your body head-to-toe once a week. Use Dr. Bronner's liquid soap as a body wash. Apply the oil of your choice to damp skin right after you get out of the shower. I promise you're skin will never feel softer.
So, here it is--a 100% organic skincare routine that has worked better for me than any fancy potion on the market.
Please leave your comments below...do you use any of these products? What are your must-have organic products that you can't live without?
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