Natural health and well being doesn’t stop with high levels of good cholesterol, diet, exercise, and omega-3 oils. Our state of mind, self image, and comfort play a more immediate role in our daily outlook. Start reshaping your beauty regimen for the greatest impact by following a few basic steps.
It is not enough to simply coat the skin with a barrier. The face must be prepared to accept nutrients by removing the impurities and dead skin that block the absorption of revitalizing vitamins. Using all natural ingredients creates a healthy skincare environment by avoiding products that clog the pores. Once you have invested in natural oils to soften and nourish the skin, look for cosmetics that provide only the minerals needed to create an even skin tone during the day, and dramatic color in the evening. Apply a facial mask at least twice a week for deep cleansing.
Treating Mature or Dry Skin
A restorative mask packed with purifying and clarifying ingredients delivering nourishing vitamins and minerals, is perfect for a day of luxury. A natural base clay for your facial treatment, Kaolin Clay draws impurities from the skin while clarifying pores without absorbing the oils. It stimulates blood flow, provides gentle exfoliation, and has been used in cosmetics for centuries. Because Kaolin clay doesn’t absorb oil, it is a wonderful ingredient for mature or sensitive skin and most of us have used it without knowing it was an ingredient in our cosmetics.
Some women hate the idea of clay on their faces, even when beneficial. A good alternative is to use your blender or whisk sesame oil with plain yogurt and a peeled avocado. Applied to the face and throat, this kitchen concoction will encourage your skin to retain moisture. This mask should be used after the face has been steamed to encourage blood flow to remove toxins from beneath the skin.
Treating Oily Skin
It is a shame that most mothers don’t have enough time to each their daughters the secrets of skin care. It should be a rite of passage when a young lady’s skin demands more attention that a simple soap and washcloth twice a day. If you are fortunate and can set aside a special day for skincare instruction, make her first clay mask French Green Clay. It removes impurities but also absorbs excess oils. It is known to help stabilize over active sebaceous glands as it clears blocked pores.. This ingredient is perfect for the teen aged girl that suffers from oily skin. Another option involves the blender again. This time, use papaya with honey. The papaya exfoliates and the honey helps with moisture retention.
Moisturizing
Jojoba and grape seed oils are very close to the oils that our bodies produce and are readily absorbed into the deeper layers of skin. Grape seed oil is especially good for aging skin that does better with lighter moisturizers as it is thinner than that of a more youthful face. Jojoba is the heavier of the two and is not only good for your skin but is great for hair treatments and grooming. Avocado and sweet almond oils are great for quickie facials where the infusion of vitamins is important. These are heavier than jojoba and grape seed oil and are great during dryer winter months.
Remember the teen with the oily skin? Try unscented goat’s milk lotion to keep the skin soft without adding oil, especially after a clay mask. The removal of oil has a tendency to stimulate the glands beneath the skin, which can make it even oilier over the next week. Applying a natural lotion will tend to ease this reaction.
Extra Ingredients
Don’t forget to blend your favorite essential oils during the moisturizing phase. Evening primrose oil is good for acne, along with tea-tree, cypress,, and chamomile. For mature or dry skin, try blending frankincense, lavender, or clary sage with grape seed oil.
Choosing Cosmetics
Mineral make up is all the rage these days. These products contain the bare necessities of foundation and color in the form of mineral pigments, usually iron oxides and cosmetic grade mica. They are quite expensive when ordered form Home Shopping Network or other venues where the finished product is sold. I have discovered several sites that provide the means to use this fantastic product without spending quite so much. Just Google a phrase like “make your own mineral make-up, or simply type in mineral make-up, and scroll beyond the premade versions.
You will discover sites that sell the ingredients as kits! This way you blend your own foundations, eye shadows with liners, and your own lip color at a greatly reduced price.
Controlling the ingredients you use for your skin care routine along with the limiting the number of cosmetic ingredients applied after thorough cleansing will reward you with a healthier appearance and more money in the bank. Your sense of well being will improve as you slow down and create toiletries and cosmetics that address your needs.
