Every day, we come into contact with chemicals and pollutants that seep into our skin and cause damage at the cellular level. In fact, 90% of premature aging is caused by pollutants in the environment.
There are products available that purge the micro-particles that creep into our skin pores from environmental pollution. However, most commercially available skin care regimens are loaded with chemicals that are harsh on the skin, strip it of moisture, and can often cause breakouts like rashes and acne.
There are multiple consequences to using over the counter, commercially produced beauty care products, including built-up toxin exposure. This exposure creates hormone imbalances, since many products contain hormone disruptors (many of these chemicals’ molecular structures resemble natural estrogen so closely that they fit into the same receptors in the body). These synthetic hormones damage the endocrine system and impact a woman’s menstrual cycle and fertility.
It’s time to toss expensive, chemical ridden creams and serums – the best things for your skin are born in nature. Embrace the improvement you will see with a chemical free regimen and natural skin treatment.
Determine Your Skin Care Routine
First, you need to determine what type of skin you have: sensitive, dry, oily, or combination. Most of us who have been using a skin-care regimen already know our skin type. Once you know your skin type, you can choose the correct natural remedies for everyday skin-care routine and skin problems like eczema, acne, and psoriasis.
Use Natural Skin Care Products
Castile Soap
Castile soap is an all-natural, plant-based cleanser, with the versatility to work on any skin type. Castile soap is inexpensive and can be purchased scented or unscented. It is extremely gentle and lasts weeks longer than traditional, chemical cleansers. In addition to face and body cleansing, castile soap can be used as a homemade dish soap, laundry detergent, household cleaner, and more.
Raw Honey
Another plant-based skin helper is raw honey, especially nutrient-rich Manuka honey, which has up to four times as many nutrients as normal honey. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties to support natural healing and restore bacterial balance.
Apply manuka honey to the skin can stop breakouts, heal wounds, and alleviate eczema, psoriasis, and acne. It’s filled with antioxidants to heal your skin and is also an emollient that helps nourish your skin. All skin types, even sensitive, can benefit from a raw honey mask.
Natural Oils
Using natural oils can be tricky because everyone’s skin is different. However, Jojoba oil mimics the natural oil our skin makes, reducing the chances of irritation on sensitive skin. Jojoba oil deeply penetrates and nourishes the skin, leaving a smooth, soft and healthy glow.
While avocado oil is comparable to jojoba oil, avocado oil is heavier and conditions more deeply than jojoba oil. Because of its heavy nature, avocado oil should be used sparingly to avoid clogging the pores in the skin.
Vitamin E is another oil known for its healthy skin results. This antioxidant oil nourishes, moisturizes, and limits the effects of aging. Dilute when using to achieve deep conditioning and skin hydration.
Essential Oils
Finally, essential oils may be the best natural way to customize homemade products to improve aroma and provide powerful therapeutic benefits.
Each oil has its own use: Citrus oils and ylang ylang help limit breakouts and diminish oily skin; chamomile calms inflamed skin and eczema; and lavender regenerates skin cells. These are just a few of the wonders you will find when using essential oils for your skin regimen – there are hundreds of oils available that offer natural remedies for problem skin.
Lemons
Lemons are a fantastic antibacterial astringent that can be used as a natural acne remedy.
However, proceed with caution: lemon is phototoxic, which means that it can increase your skin’s sensitivity to UV rays, so make sure you apply a good quality physical sunscreen before going outside.
Improve Your Gut Health
Beyond the direct application of natural products to the skin, it is important to consider how what we put in our bodies will affect our skin. An unhealthy gut will be reflected in the skin. Probiotic-rich foods support this critical microbiome and supply it with helpful gut bacteria.
Overcoming an unhealthy gut means rehabilitating the entire body by focusing on the foundation principles of health.
You don’t have to use a supplement to get probiotics in your gut. Simply add probiotic-rich foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, coconut kefir, yogurt, kombucha, and fermented tempeh to your diet; all are delicious ways to support your gut flora that have been used for centuries. Regular ingestion of probiotics is linked to improvements in eczema because they protect the immune system, and this in turn helps reduce inflammation that is linked to skin breakouts and eczema.
You can also turn dry skin into healthy skin by eating non-toxic foods that provide skin-protecting nutrients that keep the skin hydrated. If you suffer from dry and inflamed skin, foods with essential fatty acids (pastured eggs, wild salmon, nuts and seeds, avocados, and coconut oil) will improve your skin. These foods help enhance the skin’s oil barrier, which helps retain skin moisture.
You can also snack on walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and flaxseeds, which are loaded with alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid that prevents dry skin and eczema.
Healthy Skin Habits
There are also amazingly simple things you can do to provide healthy skin treatment:
- stay well-hydrated by drinking enough filtered water
- don’t over moisturize at night
- change your pillowcases frequently
- get plenty of sleep
- wash your face with gentle essential oils instead of soap
- employ the use of facial massage at least once per week
- keep your body clean with a regular detox
- employ the use of Vitamins A, C, D, and E, as well as beta-carotene
Conclusion
Thankfully, nature provides everything we need to keep our skin healthy and glowing. We have the power in plants and oils to slow down the aging of our skin and keep our youthful glow for decades longer than we thought.
So, clean out your cabinets and tap into the power of nature.
Want to learn more about natural skin treatment? Get in touch with one of our holistic healing practitioners today!