What Exactly Are You Putting on Your Skin?

10/22/2010

Do You Need Holistic Skincare and Do You Practice It?

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Holistic skin care is an all-round approach to healthy skin obtained with proper nourishment and care. Read on to find out more...

Holistic Skin Care

Have you wondered how you could get a radiant glow on your skin? Holistic skincare is one approach to achieving beautiful, radiant skin. Holistic skincare is an approach which takes a total view of the health and nutrition of the skin. Here are the elements of holistic skin care:

Holistic Skin Care: Nourishing the Skin

Holistic skincare focuses on nourishing the skin by maintaining a healthy and nutritious diet. What you eat always reflects on your skin, hence the, "you are what you eat" holds true.
  • Holistic skincare focuses on consuming healthy foods which will provide adequate nutrition for the body and  result in healthy, beautiful skin.
  • Maintaining a healthy diet means including all essential nutritional elements including: Vitamin A, Vitamin B Complex, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, proteins, healthy fats and oils, and all essential minerals.
  • We are all aware of the ills of consuming junk foods, such as highly processed foods, fried or fatty foods, and low nutritional value foods, verses sticking to a healthy diet rich in nutrients. A diet rich in nutrients is good for skin health as well as our body's health.
  • It's also important to include an array of fresh vegetables and fruits, which are rich in antioxidants. Also, be sure to include whole grains and food rich in proteins.
  • Avoid those deep fried foods, or food containing excessive amounts of cheese, butter or fats, as these foods often trigger breakouts, due to the fact these foods cause inflammation in the body. This inflammation will then often be, reflected on the skin.
  • However it is important to have a minimum intake of healthy oils like olive, flax, walnut, etc. since a small quantity of good fats in the diet is essential for healthy, well-nourished skin.

Holistic Skin Care: Taking Care of Your Skin

In addition to the above, proper skin maintenance is imperative. Avoid the use of harsh chemical based beauty products. Use milder products or ones that have herbal and botanical ingredients.
  • The first step to proper skin care is to use products suited for your skin type. Analyze whether you have dry, oily or a combination skin, and look for products formulated for your skin's specific needs.
  • Always keep your skin clean by using a gentle face cleanser or a face wash. Make it a point to use an effective exfoliating treatment a few times per week, to remove the dead skin layer, thus resulting in softer, younger looking skin.
  • All skin types benefit from using a toner after cleansing and exfoliation. Toners return the skin to its natural pH balance and helps to reduce and close the pores.
  • Rose water, (and alcohol-free toners with a high percentage of rose water) are ideal toners for all skin types. Rose water based toners are gentle, natural and will leave your skin fresh and supple. Other wonderful options are toners containing orange, chamomile, sandalwood or comfy hydrosols.

Holistic Skin Care: Keeping the Skin Hydrated

Keeping the skin well hydrated is a must for healthy skin. Holistic skin care stresses providing sufficient fluids to the body to keep it healthy. The key to achieving this is to include plenty of fruits and vegetables that are high in water content.
  • Juices may also be added into your diet. Prime juices are those coming from freshly juiced fruits and vegetables. However, the easiest solution is to drink adequate amounts of water throughout the day.
  • Drinking ample amounts of water facilitates overall body detoxification and prevents accumulation of harmful toxins in the body. When insufficient fluids are consumed, the skin will become flaccid, dry, flaky, show more obvious fine lines and wrinkles, and may even have a grayish hue.

Holistic Skin Care: Exercising for Healthy Skin

Exercising is a must for healthy looking skin! There is no way around it, and everyone should be partaking in some form of exercise most days of the week. Exercising is also good for overall functioning of all organs of the body, and hence, is an absolute must.
  • Everyone is well aware exercising improves cardiovascular health, but it also increases the intake and absorption of oxygen in the blood. This brings circulating blood to the skin, which helps to tone the skin.
  • In addition, exercising is one of the best ways to aid the body in releasing toxins and waste products  through sweating. People who exercise have youthful, fresh looking skin, which in turn, reflects their good health.
  • Exercising helps to burn excess fat and calories, which is good for the heart and in turn, good for blood circulation. Exercise can include anything walking, running, cycling, swimming, weight training, aerobics, yoga, or any other physical fitness activity you will enjoy.
Holistic skincare really then, comes down to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Included in this advice is of course, don't smoke. Smoking damages the skin and causes premature aging of the skin. It also causes the skin to dull and gray - not very attractive or vibrant looking! If you do smoke, try to quit.

Embracing healthy living will help to keep you looking younger, more fit, and ... healthy. This is what holistic skincare is all about. Remembering to take care of the whole you.


If you’d like more information on what holistic skincare ingredients to look for in your products, visit my guest post on Modern Hippie Magazine to read: My Top 7 Favorite Natural Skin Care Ingredients.


In addition, we invite you to visit our Facebook page and become a fan. Post comments, ask questions, request a product formulation you'd like to see, etc. We have our BEAUTY TIPS & BEAUTY BEAT series, in which we share information on ingredients, beauty recipes you can make at home, helpful tips, post product updates, host giveaways just for fans and it's a way for us to easily stay in touch. We're looking forward to meeting up with you on Facebook!

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