Your skin- It is the largest organ of your body, but often the one that gets overlooked. When we wake up, we may shower in a bath full of harmful chemicals, we brush our teeth, we comb through our hair, we select the outfit for the day, and we may even get to enjoy a nutrient-dense breakfast.
However, how often do we take the time to nurture our skin on the outside?
- Do we use natural ingredients in our shower to help promote healthy cells?
- Do we moisturize its surface to ensure it maintains its elasticity and protective layers throughout the day?
- Do we take the time to care for the delicate layer of skin around our eyes, cheekbones, and temples?
- Do we exfoliate in order to rejuvenate the cells found underneath the initial layer of cells?
Let’s be honest, we are hard on this organ that serves so many purposes in our day-to-day lives. We often neglect its care and don’t think twice about the damage we could be doing to it long term!
Although there are endless things we can do to pamper our skin, today, let’s focus on what we can do for the delicate skin found on our face. By using some of the herbs, oils, and techniques listed below, your face will feel brighter, more youthful, and refreshed in no time!
Lavender & Coconut Oil
The combination of lavender essential oil and coconut oil can do wonders for your skin! Lavender is well known for its soothing properties both for the mind and for the body making it a go-to for your skin’s surface. Lavender serves as an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, as well as an anti-inflammatory. As a result of these properties, it helps reduce redness due to skin irritation, acne and skin issues such as eczema and psoriasis.
Lavender also aids in the healing process of scar tissue and promotes skin elasticity. When this is paired with the nutrient-packed coconut oil, your skin couldn’t be happier! Coconut oil serves alongside lavender as an antibacterial, serving to protect your skin from conditions like acne, but it also serves to moisturize and rejuvenate the skin.
One of the best ways you can prepare for sleep at the end of a long day is to wash your face with a coconut oil and lavender essential oil blend. Coconut oil also serves as a makeup remover so no steps are required before you begin this process.
- Simply take a quarter-size of coconut oil and place it in the palm of your hand
- Add 3 drops of lavender essential oil, and combine by massaging your hands against one another
- Distribute evenly on your face using gentle circular, upward movement
Added Benefit: This also provides the perfect massage for the skin and muscles of your face after a long day’s work. Once your skin has absorbed some of the oil, apply a warm damp washcloth over your face and let rest for a couple of minutes. Wipe away excess oil, rinse the cloth, and repeat one again. You skin will feel moisturized, soothed, and ready for bed!
Witch Hazel
If you tend to have oily skin or you include a midday workout in your schedule, you may want to consider incorporating witch hazel into your natural tool-kit. Witch hazel has astringent properties which can do wonders for your skin. Not only does it reduce or contract your pores, but it also removes sebum from your skin’s surface without drying it out completely. It can also reduce the appearance of dark circles and bruising as it contracts the cells, thus, reducing their size and darker complexion.
Witch Hazel can be applied using a cotton ball or you can place it in a small glass spray bottle to carry with you to the gym. Simply mist onto your face, with your eyes closed, and wipe the skin’s surface clean with a cotton pad. Another perk to this is you are also removing dirt and sweat that you may have picked up during your workout. You and your face will be ready for the rest of the workday.
Bentonite Clay
Throughout the day, the skin found on our face picks up dirt, oil, toxic chemicals, etc. Although a proper daily facial regimen can help eliminate much of what our face accumulates throughout the day, every once in a while, our skin needs a little extra time and attention.
Bentonite clay provides the perfect solution for such a dilemma. One of the greatest attributes of bentonite clay is its ability to draw out all of the muck our skin collects. The clay draws out toxins, hydrogen, and pollutants that keeps our skin from breathing the fresh clean air. As a result, bentonite clay allows for our pores to receive more oxygen and thus, provides a healthy glow and complexion to our appearance. By removing the toxins, our pores also shrink which reduces the ability for more pollutants to enter the skin and for breakouts to occur. Bentonite clay also acts as an exfoliant as it removes dead skin cells as you remove the facial mask.
Applying bentonite clay is a fairly easy process.
- Simply combine distilled water and bentonite clay in a small bowl until it becomes a paste.
- Distribute this paste with your fingertips using smooth, sweeping strokes, being careful to avoid the eyes.
- Let the paste dry completely, which takes approximately 15-20 minutes, and then remove with a warm damp rag.
Your skin will feel smoother, more refreshed, and clear. If you are prone to dry skin, you can follow up with a light oil to allow your pores to soak up some moisture.
Put Your Best Face Forward
Your skin is one of the most important organs of your body; be sure you give it the time and attention it deserves. As your face is often the most exposed to the elements throughout the day, incorporate the natural solutions above to ensure that it is getting the care and nutrients it needs. Let’s put our best face forward!