| The quest for youthful skin is not just a sign of | | | | chemicals in the body contributes to disease and |
| vanity - it's a sign of the desire to be healthy. | | | | aging, a good rule of thumb is to avoid putting |
| Because the skin is the largest organ in the body, | | | | anything on your skin that you wouldn't eat. |
| it deserves our attention to keep it in optimum | | | | 5. Increase Your Circulation: Sweating, both |
| health. Recognizing that our skin is a reflection of | | | | through exercise or the use of a steam room or |
| our overall health, many people are turning | | | | sauna, cleanses skin and removes toxins from the |
| towards natural means to keep skin looking and | | | | body. |
| feeling its best. | | | | 6. Increase Your Intake of Essential Fatty Acids: |
| Our skin serves five main purposes: it acts as a | | | | Essential fatty acids, available in flaxseed and fish |
| mechanical barrier to infections; it provides the | | | | oils, are needed to make cell membranes and |
| sense of touch through recognizing heat, cold, pain | | | | hormones. They improve heart health, fight |
| and vibration; it regulates body temperature | | | | inflammation, and possibly prevent cancer. They |
| through evaporation of sweat; it excretes waste | | | | are also particularly important for people with skin |
| products and excess salt through the pores; and | | | | conditions, such as eczema, acne and dry skin. |
| in the presence of sunlight, it synthesizes and | | | | 7. Improve Your Digestion: Skin disorders are |
| stores vitamin D, which is helpful for immune | | | | often associated with digestive disorders, such as |
| function. Good skin care can help delay the natural | | | | constipation, imbalance in the normal flora, candida |
| aging process and prevent many skin problems. | | | | infections, leaky gut, etc. If elimination through the |
| These simple skin care habits will help you to | | | | bowel is compromised, then toxins will leave |
| protect your skin and keep it healthy for many | | | | through another channel of elimination - the skin - |
| years to come. | | | | leading to rashes, acne, rosacea, psoriasis, etc. |
| 1. Boost Your Water Intake: Our skin is 70% | | | | 8. Use Organic, Natural Oils and Plant Products as |
| water so it is important to keep properly | | | | Moisturizers: Products such as aloe vera, coconut |
| hydrated. While increasing water intake, it is also | | | | oil, jojoba oil, shea butter, mango butter, and palm |
| helpful to avoid dehydrating beverages containing | | | | oil contain vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, |
| caffeine, such as soda and coffee. Adequate | | | | which support collagen and elastin production, |
| water plumps skin cells and removes waste. | | | | removal of dead skin cells, and immune function. |
| 2. Try Dry Brush Exfoliation: Dry brush exfoliation | | | | 9. Protect Your Skin from the Sun: Overexposure |
| involves the use of a soft, natural bristle brush to | | | | to ultraviolet light - the invisible but intense rays |
| gently brush the skin. To perform dry brush | | | | from the sun - leads to skin damage. The sun's |
| exfoliation, brush dry skin in small circles towards | | | | rays are most intense between 10 a.m. and 4 |
| the heart before a shower. Because the skin is an | | | | p.m. To protect your skin, minimize exposure |
| organ of elimination, exfoliating eliminates dead | | | | during the stronger midday hours, wear |
| skin, it allows skin to detoxify, it improves lymph | | | | protective clothing and hats, and use |
| and blood circulation, and the gentle pressure | | | | chemical-free sunscreen. |
| calms the nervous system. | | | | 10. Don't Smoke: Smoking decreases blood flow |
| 3. Avoid Sugar: Sugar consumption is known to be | | | | to the skin, depleting the skin of oxygen and |
| one of the causes of premature aging. Excess | | | | nutrients, which ultimately leads to aging and |
| sugar in our bloodstream leads to the breakdown | | | | wrinkle formation. |
| of collagen, which causes skin to wrinkle and sag. | | | | While it is impossible to stop aging, there are |
| 4. Avoid Putting Chemicals on Your Skin: When | | | | many simple things we can do to slow the |
| you apply chemicals to your skin, through | | | | process. Incorporating these lifestyle, diet, |
| deodorant, lotion, cosmetics, and sunscreen, the | | | | exercise, and sun exposure tips will help you to |
| chemicals are absorbed and they enter your | | | | keep your skin youthful and glowing for years to |
| bloodstream, eventually become integrated into | | | | come. |
| your body's tissues. Because the accumulation of | | | | |