Four Steps to Priceless Skin
If you're like me, you've tried a variety of skin creams, face washes, scrubs, astringents and masks. From cucumbers to papaya, from mud to oils, I've experimented with a wide range of skin care products. Often thinking that the more a product costs the better the quality, we all can spend quite a bundle trying to maintain youthful and healthy skin.
After all the products and samples, these are the things I use every morning and I simply love the results AND the price tag. I'm going to do what no woman does - share my age. I'm 43 years young and still battle blemishes along side with creeping wrinkles that are etching their way onto my face. Somehow, it doesn't seem right that we have to deal with both at the same time, right? Well, I don’t go down without a fight and have discovered simple but very effective ways to fight back. So let's get started.
1. CLEANSING & MAKE UP REMOVAL
The very best thing I have found to thoroughly remove makeup, eye makeup (even water proof mascara), grim and toxins from my face is Organic Jojoba oil. Jojoba oil is a liquid wax extracted from the nut of an indigenous American shrub, Simmondsia chinesis. It is unique because it closely resembles sebum, the waxy substance produced by our skin glands. While it is technically a wax, it doesn't have that greasy feel that most oils do.
Soaps and other skin cleaning agents strip the skin of the sebum that skin glands produce to lubricate the skin and protect it from drying out. Every time we wash our face, even with just water, we remove a protective layer of sebum. Jojoba oil effectively removes all the dirt and makeup without dehydrating your skin.
I pour about a nickel size amount into my hands and gently massage it all over my face, neck and even over my eyes to remove makeup and dirt. Next, use a warm wet wash cloth to remove the jojoba oil.
2. EXFOLIATION
Exfoliating is wonderful for the skin and helps remove the superficial layer of dry, dead skin cells. It helps with uneven pigmentation, unclogging pores and may even reduce fine lines. For this, I like to use a combination of Baking Soda and Coconut Oil.
Baking Soda provides the tiny microderm abrasion effect while the coconut oil works to kill bacteria. Coconut oil has wonderful anti-aging properties, and is rich in many proteins. These proteins help keep skin healthy and fight wrinkles by contributing to cellular health and tissue repair. It all works well to fight blemishes because it of its anti-bacterial properties and reduce the time it takes for existing blemishes to heal.
My recipe is 4:1 ratio of baking soda to coconut oil. If you want less abrasion, add more coconut oil. If you'd like more, add more baking soda. I typically will mix 1 tablespoon coconut oil with about 4 tablespoons of baking soda.
Gently massage the exfoliation mixture on your face being careful to avoid the eye area. Use a warm wet wash cloth to thoroughly remove it from your face. You may need to rinse the wash cloth and repeat to get it all off. My face always feels alive and rejuvenated afterwards.
3. ASTRINGENT
The astringent combination that I use is gentle enough to use every day and helps even out my complexion. I have many uses for Apple Cider Vinegar and one of them is to use it in my astringent recipe. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) helps to balance and restore the pH balance of the skin. It improves the complexion of the skin overall and even lights sun spots.
I add witch hazel to my ACV with a 1:1 ratio. Witch hazel comes from the leaves and bark of the witch hazel shrub. It has wonderful anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties which fight off acne and blemishes. It helps tighten the skin and also reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Adding essential oils is optional. I like to add two essential oils: Frankincense and geranium essential oils. I call Frankincense "liquid gold" because of the multiple ways it aids in healing and health. Specifically for the use on my face, it tones and lifts skin, heals and protects, and even fades and heals scars. It is amazing in how it promotes regeneration of healthy skin cells and keeps exiting cells & tissue healthy.
Geranium essential oil was used by Egyptians for promoting beautiful and radiant skin. It helps to treat acne, reduce inflammation, alleviate anxiety and balance hormones. Geranium also has the power to minimize the look of wrinkles because it helps tighten skin and slows the effects of aging.
Pour some of this amazing astringent recipe onto a cotton pad and liberally apply to your entire face and neck.
4. MOISTURIZE
Lastly, I apply something to help with all day moisture. I again use Organic Jojoba oil. This unique oil can seal in moisture and create an effective barrier to external elements. It is so structurally close to the secretion of the sebaceous glands in the skin that it is readily accepted and tolerated. I also like to add a drop of myrrh essential oil because myrrh is a natural and very effective sunscreen. Rub a few drops of jojoba oil, one drop of myrrh between your palms and apply it to your face. Pure Jojoba oil is fully absorbed into the skin, leaving it feeling soft and smooth.
"O Lord my God, You are very great: [You made] oil to make his face shine; "
Psalm 104:1,15
Keeping your skin clean, healthy and young doesn’t have to cost you hundreds of dollars. Most of these things you probably already have in your kitchen.
Follow these four steps and you will be just as delighted with the results as I am.