Holistic Skin Care
May 2012
©Anne Calzada Herbalist
The skin is our largest organ. It protects us and also reveals details about our inner health cosmology. In Traditional Chinese Medicine the skin is known as the 3rd lung. All of your emotions and habits are verified through your skin. Let us look at some holistic ways to improve the health of your beautiful skin!
Beginning with nutrition, it is vital to ingest the proper nutrients that we always hear about. Water, water, water! Vitamins, minerals, trace minerals and amino acids are it! Minerals help with collagen production rebuilding and cleansing. Vitamins are rebuilding, revitalizing and nourishing. Amino acids help to firm and repair. Vitamin A for sun damage, sebaceous gland control and collagen formation. A deficiency may show as cracks around the mouth or very dry scaly skin. Vitamin C helps to repair sun damage, also stimulates collagen production and strengthens the capillaries. Vitamin E Helps to repair and prevent the breakdown of collagen. Silica and Sulphur promote collagen production and elastin. Consuming fish oil, krill oil, flax seed, hemp seed or chia seed will provide your body with essential fatty acids. These are antiinflamatory and help to lubricate the body from the inside out. The skin enjoys greens, fruits, avocados, coconuts, blue green algae, kelp and olive oil. Healthy protein sources. Probiotics for sure, especially if you are prone to acne. MSM is beneficial internally for repairing the skin.
Exfoliation and hydration is where it's at! There are lots of plants, grains and clays that exfoliate. I recommend doing this at least once a week for dry mature skin and at least twice for oily acneic skin. More than likely, you have some of these ingredients in your home already. Sugar, sea salt, baking soda or cornmeal, rice or coffee make fine scrubs. Fruits and honey can be used to exfoliate in a mask, as the acids begin to gently dissolve dead skin on the surface. For your body I would recommend dry skin brushing. This is an ancient Ayurvedic practice involving using a natural fiber brush to cleanse the skin, exfoliate, increase lymphatic circulation and immunity. Always brush toward the heart as you are cleansing the lymph and removing toxins. I like to add a few drops of Lavender or Rosemary essential oil to my brush before I begin!
Making sure that you moisturize every day will go a long way in your beauty arsenal. It is best to moisturize your entire face and body as soon as you get out of the bath or shower as this practice will help to seal in the water and leave you even more hydrated. Look for natural ingredients. Do not use products that use mineral oil or petroleum or propolene glycol. Use blends that contain coconut oil, rosehip seed oil or beeswax. Be aware that some people are allergic to lanolin and peanut oil. There are tons of great products out there made by some really conscious people! Explore!
Doing yoga inversions brings fresh blood and oxygen to the skin's surface and cleanses impurities out. Facial yoga is helpful in releasing tension in the face. Soaking in oils such as coconut or almond will provide nourishment and health. Using essential oils in a bath, spritzer or oil will help to firm, tone and repair dull skin.
Massage is essential to improving circulation and helping to remove lymphatic congestion. Drinking fresh juice is great! Herbal infusions are wonderful for the skin! Sauna, steam, exercise and perspiration are extremely beneficial for the skin. Breathing. Sunsceen. Smile and Love yourself and others!
May 2012
©Anne Calzada Herbalist
The skin is our largest organ. It protects us and also reveals details about our inner health cosmology. In Traditional Chinese Medicine the skin is known as the 3rd lung. All of your emotions and habits are verified through your skin. Let us look at some holistic ways to improve the health of your beautiful skin!
Beginning with nutrition, it is vital to ingest the proper nutrients that we always hear about. Water, water, water! Vitamins, minerals, trace minerals and amino acids are it! Minerals help with collagen production rebuilding and cleansing. Vitamins are rebuilding, revitalizing and nourishing. Amino acids help to firm and repair. Vitamin A for sun damage, sebaceous gland control and collagen formation. A deficiency may show as cracks around the mouth or very dry scaly skin. Vitamin C helps to repair sun damage, also stimulates collagen production and strengthens the capillaries. Vitamin E Helps to repair and prevent the breakdown of collagen. Silica and Sulphur promote collagen production and elastin. Consuming fish oil, krill oil, flax seed, hemp seed or chia seed will provide your body with essential fatty acids. These are antiinflamatory and help to lubricate the body from the inside out. The skin enjoys greens, fruits, avocados, coconuts, blue green algae, kelp and olive oil. Healthy protein sources. Probiotics for sure, especially if you are prone to acne. MSM is beneficial internally for repairing the skin.
Exfoliation and hydration is where it's at! There are lots of plants, grains and clays that exfoliate. I recommend doing this at least once a week for dry mature skin and at least twice for oily acneic skin. More than likely, you have some of these ingredients in your home already. Sugar, sea salt, baking soda or cornmeal, rice or coffee make fine scrubs. Fruits and honey can be used to exfoliate in a mask, as the acids begin to gently dissolve dead skin on the surface. For your body I would recommend dry skin brushing. This is an ancient Ayurvedic practice involving using a natural fiber brush to cleanse the skin, exfoliate, increase lymphatic circulation and immunity. Always brush toward the heart as you are cleansing the lymph and removing toxins. I like to add a few drops of Lavender or Rosemary essential oil to my brush before I begin!
Making sure that you moisturize every day will go a long way in your beauty arsenal. It is best to moisturize your entire face and body as soon as you get out of the bath or shower as this practice will help to seal in the water and leave you even more hydrated. Look for natural ingredients. Do not use products that use mineral oil or petroleum or propolene glycol. Use blends that contain coconut oil, rosehip seed oil or beeswax. Be aware that some people are allergic to lanolin and peanut oil. There are tons of great products out there made by some really conscious people! Explore!
Doing yoga inversions brings fresh blood and oxygen to the skin's surface and cleanses impurities out. Facial yoga is helpful in releasing tension in the face. Soaking in oils such as coconut or almond will provide nourishment and health. Using essential oils in a bath, spritzer or oil will help to firm, tone and repair dull skin.
Massage is essential to improving circulation and helping to remove lymphatic congestion. Drinking fresh juice is great! Herbal infusions are wonderful for the skin! Sauna, steam, exercise and perspiration are extremely beneficial for the skin. Breathing. Sunsceen. Smile and Love yourself and others!
Essential Oils
Lavender
Lemongrass
Rose
Frankincense
Myrrh
Rose Geranium
Patchouli
Carrot Seed
Rosemary
Sea Buckthorn
Sandalwood
Palmarosa
Clove
Tea Tree
Herbs can assist you in creating a fabulous complexion, use them internally and externally.
Aloe
Lavender
Chamomile
Calendula
Nettles
Burdock
Violets
Plantain
Yellow Dock
Dandelion
Parsley
Almond/Oat Facial Scrub
1 part Oats
1 part Almonds
Blend in a blender or processor. Add essential oils or use plain.
Turmeric Honey Mask
1 part Clay
1 part Turmeric
Blend and add honey as desired for a stimulating, antioxidant and emollient mask. *Turmeric will stain, so use caution.
Facial Serum
1 oz Roship Seed Oil
5 drops Lavender EO
5 drops Lemongrass
Blend and use after cleansing. To repair and moisturize.
Thank you for reading and may you enjoy an awesome Spring, feeling fabulous in your own skin!
Blessings
♥
♥
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