Your skin is your largest organ, and the one that reflects your overall well-being. Just to be clear: "good skin" is subjective. For me, good skin is bright and glowing, radiant maybe? We tend to look for consistent colour, smooth texture and hydration levels to check for healthy skin.
I’m not talking about fixing skin, brightening it, or clarifying it. In fact, the idea of a flaw—a wrinkle, a blemish, under-eye circles, a scar—are all part of your uniquesness. So many times, someone’s "flaw" is also the beauty that makes them who they are.
Good skin habits will make a difference not only in the appearance of your skin but in how you feel. The most important time for self-care is when we’re busy, tired, and stressed—which is precisely when we want to give up our healthy habits in favour of almost anything else. One way to make sure that self-care happens daily (especially when we don’t have the time) is by turning skin care into self-care.
1. Wash your face every day.
It’s important to wash your face at least once a day. Throughout the day the skin on your face is continually covered with bacteria, pollutants, dirt, and old (dead) skin cells. Daily facial washing removes these impurities to give the skin a fresh look. Without washing, your skin would be covered with a thick layer of dirt and grime which make it difficult for other products to penetrate the skin as they are designed to.
Excessive dirt builds up on the surface can cause blockages of the follicle, trapping sebum, sweat, and dead skin cells. The lack of sebum on the skin's surface allows bacteria to penetrate the follicle causing inflammation, and increasing the chances of a breakout.
Know your skin, and choose a cleanser that’s a good match. Mature skin needs a cleanser gently cleanses without drying, try Rejuvenating Frankincense facial wash with vitamin-rich oils. For slightly dehydrated or sensitive skin, try Neal’s Yard Organic Rose facial wash to help maintain a beautiful fresh completion, or, for mild and gentle cleansing using skin conditioning botanicals, the Calendula cleanser.
2. Refrain from using harsh ingredients and chemicals.
No matter what your skin type, so many personal care products are formulated with harsh acids, soaps, and detergents, as well as other synthetic chemicals that irritate the skin. In fact, with so many carcinogenic ingredients found in beauty products, it’s dawning on women how imperative it is to pay attention to what we buy. After all, the skin is the largest organ of the body.
As the creams, lotions, serums, etc. are absorbed through the skin, they are then travelling to your bloodstream and inside the body. Studies have shown that the toxic ingredients have been found in biopsy samples from breast tumours, ovarian cancer and more!
Organic means beauty made with organically grown natural ingredients, with all their beneficial antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, and without the synthetic chemicals found in other skincare that we believe could do you or the planet harm. This means you won’t find parabens, GMOs, mineral oils, synthetic fragrances or colours, or anything else I believe could cause you or the planet harm.
With up to 68% more beneficial antioxidants than their conventional counterparts, organic ingredients are naturally more protective against ageing free radicals.
3. Don't underestimate the power of face oils.
Facial oils have been part of a tried-and-trusted skin care regime for hundreds of years. The Egyptians were known to anoint their skin with different blends of fragrant plant seed oils – including fenugreek, peppermint and bitter almond - to keep it soft and beautiful. Pleasure-seeking Romans loved aromatic, oily massages with almond and castor seed oil, while in India, the healing practice of Ayurveda has recommended the use of special oils for beautifying and purifying skin for centuries.
If you’ve been afraid to try face oils, now is the time. Facial oils replenish your skin’s natural oil levels and help to protect it against moisture loss. They’re perfect for giving your complexion a weekly – or even daily – boost.
The key to rebalancing oily skin is respecting its barrier function and calming sebum production. Facial oils are packed with nourishing fatty acids that protect our skin’s natural barrier, helping it to stay hydrated and protecting it from the elements.
Look for cold pressed plant seed oils like rosehip, which is packed with protective antioxidants and black cumin seed oil, which has anti-microbial properties to see off acne-causing bacteria. Try the rehydrating rose facial oil which contains precious damask rose, rich in essential nutrients, antioxidants and vitamins, to help replenish moisture levels and boost skins natural radiance.
Age well – as well as hydrating our skin, they deliver potent antioxidants that protect it from free radical damage and calm the inflammation that can lead to premature wrinkles, so they actively help reduce the signs of ageing in skin. Try rejuvenating Frankincense oil for a skin-nourishing treatment with a blend of frankincense and organic omega-rich botanical oils, to moisturise and tone the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines.
4. Healthy inside and out
"Your skin has a natural barrier to retain moisture, and essential to that is omega-3 fatty acid," Joanna Vargas, a skincare facialist in NYC, advises. "Flax seeds on your salad or even walnuts will be an instant boost to your omega-3, thus increasing your skin's ability to hold onto moisture."
Everyone has a favourite face cream or treatment, but beautiful skin starts with nourishment from within. Older cells are constantly shed and replaced by younger ones, and a steady supply of key nutrients is essential to support this rapid growth. Eat the correct balance of foods, and you'll feed your skin the vital nutrients it needs to help it stay soft, supple and blemish-free.
Eat five portions of fruit and vegetables every day - Beta-carotene, found in carrots, sweet potatoes and pumpkin, and lutein, found in kale, papaya and spinach are potent antioxidants, necessary for healthy skin cell development and healthy skin tone.
Eat enough vitamin C - The best sources are blackcurrants, blueberries, broccoli, guava, kiwi fruits, oranges, papaya, strawberries and sweet potatoes. Vitamin C is needed to produce collagen that strengthens the capillaries that supply the skin.
Stock up on selenium - Selenium is a powerful antioxidant that can help to protect against skin cancer, sun damage and age spots. Good sources include brazil nuts, fish, eggs, tomatoes and broccoli.
Eat some healthy fat - the types found in avocados, oily fish, nuts and seeds – provide essential fatty acids which act as a natural moisturiser for your skin, keeping it supple and improving elasticity.
Stay hydrated as skin needs moisture to stay flexible. Even mild dehydration will cause your skin to look dry, tired and slightly grey. Drink six to eight glasses of water a day – all fluids count towards your daily allowance, but water is the best. If you work in an office, keep a large bottle of water on your desk to remind you to drink. Herbal, caffeine-free teas are good too.
A balanced diet is important, but there's more than one way to give your skin vitamins – using supplements. Boost your health naturally with nutritional supplements to support your body with pure organic ingredients.
Beauty sleep supplement support skins natural night-time regeneration with hydrating hyaluronic acid, passion flower and B vitamins. Organic berry blend boosts skins natural radiance with vitamin C to help support the formation of collagen and antioxidant-rich acai, blueberry, goji berry and chia seeds. Try sprinkling a scoop over yoghurt or your morning bowl of muesli. Age well from within with Frankincense Intense beauty boost containing vitamin C to contribute to the normal formation of collagen.
Happiness is a habit, so is your skincare
Sharon Cole
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