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Let’s face it. Your world has tight schedules, pollution, chemically-laden products, high stress, and environmental toxin overload. Sometimes our skin shows the effects of this. It can be dull, and dry looking rather than filled with vitality. With the right products in your toolkit, you can maintain your skin's natural beauty and glow! Here are some tips and simple at-home methods to reduce stress, maintain your radiant skin, and decrease the signs of aging!
Cleansing Your Skin
The first step in caring for your skin is to properly cleanse it. Perspiration, natural oils, dead skin cells, dust, stale make-up, dirt, and bacteria all collect on your skin. Cleansing helps to remove impurities on the skin, and open the pores. This allows for the skin to best absorb the age defying products you are going to apply. If you wear a good amount of make-up, you may want to first use a makeup remover at night to get the majority of the make-up off your face prior to cleansing.
To properly cleanse, begin by wetting the face with lukewarm water. Apply the cleanser that is best for your skin type on your face and neck and gently massage in a circular, upward motion for at least five minutes Remove by using a damp washcloth and warm water to ensure all of the residue is removed from the face.
Toning Your Skin
Next, tone your skin using a skin freshening tonic. Toning is important because it helps remove any remaining impurities on your skin after the cleansing process is complete. It helps to close pores and maintain the skin's natural pH, and if you intend to use makeup, it leaves a smooth clean texture which will hold foundation and powder much longer. I like to store my toner in the fridge. This is especially helpful on warmer and humid days, when applying make-up can be a challenge.
Nourishing Your Skin
Nourishing your skin is also an essential part of any beauty routine. Dirt, dust, hot and cold weather, cosmetics, and even sunlight, all tend to dry out the skin, robbing it of moisture and natural oils. Making sure to cleanse your face each night before bed is essential to younger looking skin. Skin "foods" or moisturizers attempt to replenish nourishment to the skin, reviving its natural healthiness. If you have drier skin, applying a moisturizer right after washing your face is beneficial to prevent drying and to get moisturizer locked in right away.
It may sound counterintuitive but moisturizers containing natural oils are beneficial in helping to rebalance the skin and keeping it soft and supple, even if you have oily skin. The oils that form a part of our nutritional needs not only nourish the body from the inside, they can help nourish your skin from the outside. Avocado oil, for example, contains vitamin A, B, and E, amino acids, and protein. The phytosterols in avocado oil help to support collagen, and helps to prevent age spots. It also helps to calm inflammation, regenerate tissue and is gentle for those with sensitive skin.
At Home Mini Facial
Your at home facial should be a relaxing experience so that you emerge not only looking fresher but also feeling more relaxed! I would suggest this procedure as a treat for yourself once a month.
Follow the routine below for a quick, at-home facial:
Tie your hair away from your face and neck, using a headband to pull any remaining hair away from your forehead.
Begin by removing your makeup either using makeup remover wipes, coconut oil or another method to remove all residue from the face. Cleanse your face and neck with one of our foaming face wash blends.
The next step is a gentle exfoliation to remove dead skin cells, dirt, and bacteria allowing the skin to best absorb the other products. If you have sensitive skin, I recommend skipping this step.
Try this DIY exfoliant
In a bowl combine 1/4 cup of Organic Brown Sugar and 1/8 cup of Organic Avocado Oil. Mix well until combined. Scoop out half of a kiwi, mush it down and then mix it in with the sugar and oil. You’ll only need about one teaspoon for facial exfoliation. Make sure you scoop it out with a clean spoon and not your fingers to reduce the possibility of bacteria being added to your mixture from your hands. Store the mixture in an air-tight glass jar and refrigerate for up to two weeks.
What’s with the Kiwi? Kiwi is rich in vitamin C and E, amino acids, alpha linolenic acid and a small amount of Omega 3. Kiwi is an anti-inflammatory and helps to balance sebum production, which may help people with acne prone skin.
After the exfoliation process, fill a large heat proof bowl with hot water. Place one to two drops of essential oil into the water. Cover your head with a towel and hold your face over the bowl, but not so close that the steam hurts you! Inhaling the wonderful scent of the oil will help to you relax you. It may help to open up the lungs and encourage deeper breathing. In this step, choose your essential oil carefully, making sure you adhere to safety restrictions. I like to use Cedarwood, Juniperus virginiana, for this moment. Play soft music in the background or repeat an affirmation. Make this a moment for you.
You have just opened your pores with the facial steam. Now it’s time to close them. Place a clean, cool washcloth over your face and relax for a few more minutes. Lye down if you like. It’s massage time.
Massaging your Skin
Massaging your face is another essential practice for healthy skin and can also be really relaxing! While being an effective way to counter wrinkles, massaging is a slow process and its results are obvious only if it is practiced regularly for an extended period of time. That said, there is no doubt that massage is highly beneficial for tightening facial tissues, increasing blood flow, stimulating nerves and thus, boosting collagen production.
After having cleaned the skin, press it with light but firm fingers, putting a little pressure while applying a good moisturizer. Make sure to hold the skin firmly and apply even pressure. The massage should start from the neck and move upwards ending at the forehead or temples. Veins and tissues get an increased flow of oxygen and blood supply by this process. The skin around the eyes is delicate so it is advisable to apply cream on this part without pressing it in too deeply. Cream takes 15 to 20 minutes to get absorbed by the skin, so massage should continue that long. Gently wipe off excess cream when finished.
The Art of Massaging
Slow Massage - This is the most common method of massage and the most relaxing. The secret is to massage slowly while patting the skin. Using the fleshy part of your finger tips, press the skin lightly with a slow, stroking motion.. The process starts at the base of the neck at a slow speed. Stroking gives rest to the nerves and the vibration is useful in subduing pain that might be caused over more sensitive areas..
Fast Massage - The front half of both the palms are used to massage at speed, taking care to make a circular motion upwards
Pressure Massage - This is a method when slow, deep pressure is applied by the fingertips and is very effective for removing pouches beneath eyes.
Stroking Massage - Cheeks are stroked with the tips of fingers and strokes are applied from the nose to the temples on both sides
Pinching Massage - Effective for a sagging chin or wrinkles on the jawline, the skin is held, as in pinchers, between the thumb and fingers and gently massaged.
Friction Massage - This massage requires pressure on the skin while it is being moved over the underlying bone and muscle structures. Fingers or palms are usually best for this type of massage and hard movements are usually employed on the scalp while light movements are used on the face and neck.
Piano Playing Movements - This exercise develops facial muscles and makes them firm. It should be done with the fingers on the entire face, especially the cheek area.
Don’t forget to nourish your skin from the inside out
As mentioned in our blog post Why Water is a Key Ingredient to Your Natural Beauty Skincare Routine, drinking a good amount of water every day is a key component to healthy skin. Another few tricks to try are adding spinach to your smoothie, take an omega supplement, and control your sugar intake. Get to know hidden sugars in products like bread, and switch to healthier options. The saying, “What goes in must come out” is true of your skin.
Be mindful of your beauty products. We have a great line of skincare products made with natural oils and butters that we know are rich and nourishing for the skin.
With the help of our natural skincare products and being consistent with your routines, you can easily start having brighter, healthier, and more rejuvenated looking skin in no time at all!
If your skin has special requirements, we love to work with clients one-on-one to create an effective, personalized skincare line for you. Use the Contact Us form to ask for your consultation. We’d love to hear from you.
Wishing you happy, healthy skincare!
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What is the best essential oil to use for relaxation?
