HYDRATION AND DIET
It sounds so cliché I know. But water is fundamental to our cells. More than 70% of our body’s weight is made up from water and without it you will find your skin starts to show it. Dryness, itchiness, flakiness, uneven skin tone, patchiness, paleness, firmness and the general vibrance or illuminating glow will all be helped just by drinking your recommended 2L of water a day! Go and buy an adorable reusable water bottle (I dare you find a really funky one!) and then you won’t have to spend your money on carcinogenic plastic (most throw away plastic bottles are made with chemicals that are actually very harmful to our bodies. If you can avoid it, then the metal or glass drink bottles are a much safer and healthier option)
Foods low in nutritional value and high in sugar, fats/oils and sodium can be large contributing factors for any impurities in our skin. We cannot possibly put those kinds of foods into our bodies and expect them to be capable of nourishing our body from inside to out. This is why fruits and vegetables are so so incredible for us! Unlike the “Junk” foods, they provide us with nutrition that is absorbed and readily used by our bodies. Eating naturally can help to cleanse your skin just by you eating it. Pretty cool, huh?
CLEANSING AND MOISTURISING
So this is something I get asked, a LOT! “Which face wash do you use and where can I get it?” I use a very plain and simple natural face wash. It is organic and comes in a biodegradable container. And it is cucumber-infused! It’s just from the supermarket and was incredibly cheap!
I do also have a full strength one called “phisohex” for when I find my skin getting bad. You’re more than welcome to try these things, but when it comes down to it, it’s about finding a face wash that is right for YOU. Our skin is all different, some people have dry skin, others are “normal” and others are oily. Some of us have dry skin and then an oily T-zone, and some of us don’t even know what any of this oily, “t-zone” business is about! And that is all okay! Point of the story is, figure out if your skin is more prone to being dry, normal or oily and then go and investigate and read the bottles of face washes to find one that you feel will be good for YOUR skin. Don’t choose on colour, shape or packaging – read the ingredients and find the one you feel is best for you and the more natural and fewer ingredients, the better! Maybe when the large, unpronounceable words start showing up, that’s when we might be best putting the bottle back on the shelf and walk away. Those face washes could strip your skin of it’s natural oils, and any improvements may only be short-lived! The more organic the better! If you’re unsure, or have extremely sensitive skin, try going to a chemist and doing the same thing. Tell the chemist about your situation and explain what you are looking for. They will be able to help you and there is nothing wrong with asking for advice or help!
If you need it, invest in a soothing facial moisturiser (different from a body moisturiser). I find that I need a face moisturiser most days, so I use the Mary Kay face cream and have for a little over a year now, and it suits my skin fine! But again, it’s about knowing your skin, guessing, and experimenting with creams until you find one that suits YOU !
You can also try these tips:
Wash your skin twice daily with warm water, (and your face wash if you find you need it, and not more than twice if you can avoid it). Use a circular motion, don’t rub or scrub as this can cause irritation – be gentle.
If you wear make up most days, then I would also buy a soft (not harsh) make-up remover wipe. These also come in handy for road trips, camps, sleepovers etc.! Use a wipe first to clear off excess dirt/make up, then wash your face with your cleanser.
NOTE: Throw away old make up. If it smells bad or looks different to when you bought it, or you just know you’ve had it for a little too long, then throw it away and get a newer fresher one.
Keep your hair out of your face – the oils in your hair can cause your pores to clog. Make sure it’s nice and clean, and kept off your back, face and shoulders – especially when it’s hot!
LET MOTHER NATURE HELP
Salt water is a natural cleanser. If I haven’t been in the salt water for a few days, my face isn’t shy to remind me! And it makes you feel clean, crisp and fresh also! Try it, go for a dip in the afternoon, then lay on the beach and watch the sunset!
Sand is a natural exfoliator. Try picking up a handful and rubbing it in circles on your skin. Wet sand works better!
Sweat is our bodies way of cooling us down and flushing out all those bad and unnecessary chemicals. Go for a jog, climb a mountain, go to the gym, ride a bike, sit in a sauna, etc. The sweatier the better!
Sun - but IN MODERATION! We have all peeled before and learnt that too much sun is possible (and painful). But taking a Goldilocks approach and getting the “just right” amount with UV protection, we can successfully give our skin that healthy and radiant GLOW! The sun is one of our major sources of vitamin D. But there is such a thing as too much of something good sometimes, so be sure to be conscious of the sun exposure you are having, and making sure you are well prepared and protected always!
Sunlight also helps reset our internal clock and regulate our circadian rhythms. Where insomnia or out-of-whack sleep cycles are an issue, or even just to improve our alertness and energy levels for the day, some doctors suggest spending 15 minutes in sunlight as early as you can each day. This can be a walk outside at sunrise, brekkie outside on the deck, your morning walk to the bus stop, or it could be as simple as sitting near a window with the curtains open to let the natural light in while you eat your breakfast (especially in winter climates). Other triggers for our internal “clocks” are things like exercise, noises, activity, the changes in temperature in the environment, meals and externally imposed routines.
Fresh air. Did you ever read “The Secret Garden”? Do you remember a bit where she says the woman told her she looked chirpier and her cheeks were rosier – like she was getting a bit o’ colour..? And then the girl said it must have been all the fresh air. She wasn’t wrong! Sure I can't find any legitimate or scientific reason why fresh air is good for our skin, but fresh air is good for our souls! And if you have a happy soul, it’ll radiate outwards. Or like Roald Dahl says, it’ll “shine out of your face like sunbeams!”
AND SMILE
A smile is without a doubt the most
beautiful thing someone can ever wear. No one will even notice that sly little pimple if you flash them your pearly whites!
Love and light,
Sjana x