Get skin that glows from within…

Most of us take the time each day to give our skins a healthy looking glow using “quick fix” products such as bronzers and illuminating creams, but what about getting a real glow from within? It needn’t be as expensive or time consuming as you think. Follow my tips to get glowing skin at home without spending hundreds at the spa. It only takes a few minutes a day and you can start today!

Exercise – get an instant Oxygen boost and improved circulation, which is just what healthy skin needs. If you find it hard to squeeze a 30 minute walk in 3 times a week, why not try a quick skip for just 10 minutes a day? You can even do it while watching your favourite T.V. show and still work up a sweat! All you need is a skipping rope and a good pair of shock absorbing runners to protect your ankles and knees. A skipping workout can be just as effective as doing a high impact aerobics workout.

Yoga – strike a pose and stretch for supple skin and to beat premature ageing. Yoga experts claim yoga does wonders for skin because it encourages deep breathing, blood flow, relaxes the body and mind as well as inducing sweat. Search your local Yoga club online or in the local newspaper for more info and session details.

Fresh Air and sunshine – most of us lead busy lives and don’t get enough time to really get out and enjoy the air and the sunshine, but getting just 10 minutes a day will help top up your levels of Vitamin D, necessary for skin health. Consider a short walk on your lunch break, but be sure to use a sunscreen if staying outdoors for longer periods!

Massage – stimulating blood and oxygen flow to your skin is vital for a healthy, natural glow, and one of the easiest ways to achieve this is with massage. Try these quick and easy face massage techniques while you cleanse, or use a small amount of vegetable oil after cleansing, to massage your skin.

You might find it easier to lay down to do these exercises. Experiment with the positioning of your head to get the best angle for fluid movements. Sorry for the lack of diagrams – my scanner is currently not working, but will upload them asap.

1. Starting with clean hands, take a portion of your cleanser or massage oil (suitable for face) and use upward movements at the base of your throat, rotating one hand after the other. Repeat 16 times.
2. With hands flat on your cheek and head tilted to the side, use an upward movement sliding from the bottom of your cheek toward your cheek bone. Alternate your hands one after the other in a brisk motion. Repeat 6 times then apply same process to the other side of your face.
3. With the ring and middle fingers of each hand and your head tilted to the side, use an upward rolling motion at the corner of one side of your mouth. Repeat 3 times on each side of your mouth.
4. With the index and middle fingers of each hand, start a scissor movement from the centre of the mouth so that your index fingers are above your top lip, and your middle fingers are just below your bottom lip. Glide them outward and upward over the cheek bones, stopping at the top of the cheek bones. Repeat the movement 16 times.
5. With the middle and ring fingers of each hand, start a criss-cross movement at the outside corner of your eye. Repeat the movement 3 times on each side of your face.

Food – there are plenty of wonder foods available for aiding a glowing complexion. Incorporating foods such as those rich in Omega 3 and essential fatty acids will help minimise dry skin and premature ageing and keep skin supple and healthy. Your best sources are oily fish, like salmon, free range eggs, and a variety of nuts, seeds and oils such as walnuts, flaxseeds, soya bean and canola oils. Why not try substituting a night of take away with a healthy salmon steak, a bowl of cereal for an omelette or scrambled eggs, and your afternoon snacks with a variety of nuts and fruit? Not only will your skin start to take on a healthier appearance, but your heart health will majorly benefit too. Other wonder foods for skin include those rich in vitamins A C & E, found in fruits, vegetables and nuts. You need to top up these Vitamins daily as your body rids any excess rather than storing them.

Antioxidants – these are the wonder critters said to scavenge free radicals which can contribute to premature ageing of the skin. Antioxidants are found in lots of natural foods including berries, green tea, pecans, apples, artichokes and red beans.

Water – drinking up to a litre a day is recommended to keep your cells hydrated and body working at its peak efficiency. Lack of hydration will show up on your skin as fine lines, so drink up to keep your cells plump and your skin glowing.

Sleep – getting lots of rest when you need it is vital for glowing skin. Your skin actually regenerates and heals during your sleeping hours, so be sure to get a full nights rest and take a nap if you feel the need. Take a look in the mirror next time you get less than a full night of sleep, and you will notice it takes on almost a see through appearance, with any scars and dark circles on show and hardly a glow in sight. Take a look after getting a good rest and see how your skin glows and takes on a more radiant and even appearance.

Still getting skin problems?

• Poor diets – can wreak havoc on your complexion, so avoid excess caffeine, alcohol, processed foods, fats, oils and medications where possible.
• Stress – can interfere with your body’s ability to function properly and lead to premature ageing and skin sagging.
• Sleeping in your make-up – no matter how pure your make-up this is a big no-no. It can lead to blocked pores, encourages wrinkles and disrupts skins regenerating process.
• Personal hygiene – wash hands before touching your face, change your washcloth daily, change your pillowcase every two days, keep hair off your face and clean your make-up brushes and sponges regularly to avoid adding bacteria to your pores.
• Hormones/Health – persistent breakouts or dryness may be an indication of an underlying medical issue and is best seen to by a specialist. Start with seeing your GP who can then recommend you to a specialist if necessary.

Remember – your skin is a reflection of what’s going on inside your body – look after your body and take notice of your skin for early warning signs to what may be needing to change in your lifestyle.

Handy beauty hints, to save your skin and your money…

Our skin is the largest organ of the body and makes up for around 3.6kg of our body weight. It serves many  functions, including  -

Protection: it provides a line of defence against environmental elements.

Heat regulation: it acts as a thermostat by cooling our bodies through secreting sweat.

Excretion: it allows waste to be carried out through the pores via sweat and oil.

Sensation: it detects the sensations of touch, pressure, temperature and damage via nerve endings.

Storage & synthesis: synthesis of Vitamin D and UV are managed via the skin, and water and fats are stored here.

Absorption: gases such as carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen enter the bloodstream via the skin in small amounts, as can certain ingredients found in skincare and cosmetics.

Taking all this into account, our skin plays a major role in keeping the body functioning at its optimum level. It’s surprising then, just how much we can neglect our skin on a daily basis by failing to do simple things like use sunscreen and avoid nasty chemicals in skincare and cosmetics. While lack of time is usually a big reason why we don’t  do the simplest of tasks, we really should all be spending a little more of it, nurturing our skin and bodies, as well as educating ourselves on the dangers that skin can come into contact with daily.

Follow these small, yet significant steps daily to help protect one of your most precious assets.

The Do’s…

• Sunscreen or “slip slop slap” as we say here in Australia (ok so I’m showing my age now!) – really should be a huge priority for everyone, as the suns damage is the number one cause of age acceleration & melanoma. Thanks to an advancement in technology, we can now safely acheive a natural tan (seriously – tandoori is no more!) in minutes with spray tans, and have access to an abundence of brilliant sun care products. Be sure to use one which contains natural zinc oxide instead of synthetic based blockers (as sadly, these can be ineffective) and apply it prior to going outdoors, even if only for 10 minutes on a cloudy day. Please note: I’ve just recently discovered that the Invisible Zinc brand of suncare contains a lot of comedogenic ingredients, meaning it can block your pores and cause breakouts in some skin types. The reason you may not be aware of this is because sunscreens have different labeling laws to cosmetics, in Australia, which states that they only have to declare the active ingredients on a label.  If you are using it, be sure to be diligent with removal by doing a double cleanse of an evening. Which brings me to my next point! -
• Cleansing: Your skin is the first organ to come in contact with environmental factors such as pollution and dirt, not to mention the cocktail of chemicals we smother it with, by means of cosmetics and skincare.  While you may not have time in the morning to do a full routine, its important to follow a night time ritual of cleansing, to wash away what the day left behind. In fact, all sunscreen and cosmetics wearers really should do a thorough removal every night to allow skin to breathe and regenerate. Depending on your cleanser, it is usually necessary to do a double cleanse if you are a cosmetics wearer.

Tip: If you happen to run out of cleanser, or eye make-up remover, use a damp cotton pad to apply some vegetable oil and gently sweep it across your face and eyes, replacing the pad until the make-up is gone. Olive or canola oils are great and usually kept on hand in the kitchen, however if you happen to have other carrier oils on hand such as jojoba, grapeseed or sunflower, these are also brilliant for cleansing and moisturising the skin. I would only recommend using certain oils in this manner on an occasional basis, as they can be heavy, particularly for the eye area. Also, the oils found in the kitchen can go rancid quickly if not stored in the right ways, so you really want to know that the oils are of quality if using for a prolonged amount of time. Never the less, it is better than sleeping in your make-up. Just be sure to remove well with a toner or follow up with a masque.

Tip: change your pillow case and face washer regularly to help eliminate breakouts.

• Moisturise: no matter what your skin type, even an oily complexion requires daily moisturiser in order to stay balanced and hydrated. Moisturisers role is actually to help trap the skins own moisture in, while adding extra hydration, depending on the ingredients in the product. So lather up with a good nourishing cream, hydrating gel, quality oil or lotion after a shower and morning and night when you wash your face.

Tip: use a rich cream or body butter on dry hands before putting your washing up gloves on – the heat will help the product dissolve into your skin. For really dry hands, try doing the same thing, only wearing light cotton gloves instead, to bed.

Tip: carry a hydrosol spray (hydrating floral water spray) with you in your handbag, and keep it on your desk. Spritz your face with it anytime you need a refresh. They are also brilliant for setting your make-up, and an absolute must for mineral powder foundation wearers. Just a quick burst over the top of your setting powder and see how much more luminous and natural your complexion looks. Try it and I bet you won’t wear minerals without it again!

The Don’ts…

• Hot and cold water, contrary to what you may have read, is not going to help open and close the pores or do anything kind for your skin. Long term use of hot water on the skin can lead to broken capillaries, dryness and irritation. Cold is not so bad, but the drastic change in temperature is not necessarily a good thing for your skin. Use cool to warm water instead. 
• Exfoliate your face with anything harsh, such as rough wash cloths, loofahs or body polishes designed for the body. Even some face exfoliating products are too rough for the delicate skin on your face, so always look at the ingredients. Avoid scratchy feeling products, and look for finer ingredients that are powdered or spherical in shape.

Tip: if you run out of exfoliant, you can try making a blend of oats/oatmeal, milk and honey. Form a paste and apply it over the sink or a basin, as it can be messy! The milk has a gentle exfoliating action due to the lactic acid, and is moisturising due to the fat content. Honey is soothing and helps to form a paste, while oats are also a gentle exfoliant.

Tip: never rub or drag your skin, especially around the delicate eye area. And never sleep in your make-up, no matter how tired you are! If you know you’re going to come home late after a big night, leave a pack of cleansing wipes (good to have on hand just for these occasions) on your pillow to remind you to do it!

Karma Mineral Cosmetics – A must read for teens or anyone with skin

I was cleaning my bathroom today, when I realised I had missed a heap of old products when I was “spring cleaning” the house last month. These old products I’m talking about are probably fine, as far as many people would be concerned, and still able to be used for several months to come. They weren’t off. They were just opened and sitting on the bath, in a huge line up, within my peripheral so that I would use them every time I got out of the shower. But in reality they were just taking up space and collecting dust. You see, not that long ago, I was a hoarder. I would collect all sorts of body lotions, tanning products, colour cosmetics, you name it. I tried all sorts of brands, from expensive Aveda, Napoleon and Kryolan, through to Avon, Clinique and Mary Kay, right down to your everyday Priceline favourites. I wasn’t loyal to any one brand unless I was promoting it. I loved to try new things and if it smelled good or had a pretty label, sometimes that was enough to make me buy it!

Bye, bye harmful chemicals

Never the less, into the bin they went. I know what you’re thinking – “why throw so much money away?” Well, not that long ago, when I was an uneducated product hoarder, I would have said the same thing. As soon as I started becoming more involved in my mineral cosmetics business, I became so much more aware of labels and the ingredients that go into the products I am using. It shocked me to learn about what these ingredients are doing to our skin and body, and that they are allowed to go into everything we use, including baby products. Some of those nasties are responsible for causing and exacerbating conditions such as rosacea, acne, eczema, dermatitis, blackheads, etc, etc. It also shocked me to find out that many companies are calling their products a mineral product, despite containing minimal quantities of the good ingredients, and large quantities of the nastier ingredients.

Bearing the scars for a lifetime

Unfortunately, I know only too well how these ingredients can contribute to skin problems. I used skincare and cosmetics filled with them, from a very young age, and now have the scars to remind me on a daily basis, of how inferior ingredients, along with the sun, cigarettes and alcohol, are simply our skins worst enemies. After years of constantly powdering my skin with talc filled compacts, and skin blotting tissues from the Body Shop (the talc covered variety), I am now marred with large pores and lots of blackheads. Anyone who has those will know that they are not easy to get rid of, and the temptation to rid them ourselves will only lead to further scarring.  As well as that, my skin, which has always been oily and sensitive, is now suffering from a condition known as rosacea. When I was younger, I had no idea about this condition, and just thought my skin was a little bit sensitive. Thanks to embarrassing redness, I would constantly wear foundation to cover my face. And of course, being young, I bought the cheaper brands filled with higher amounts of damaging chemicals. Plus mineral cosmetics weren’t around back then. Due to the oiliness and breakouts I use to suffer from terribly growing up, I continued to use harsh skincare which was more likely stripping away and upsetting the delicate balance of the skin’s ph mantle, thus resulting in the condition which I am now left with today. I can’t help but think that if I had known what I know today, about the ingredients in all those products which I spent a small fortune on over the years, I would have a better looking skin and have saved so much money. Not only on product, but on the treatments I will now have to undergo in order to clear up my skin conditions. There’s nothing cheap about salon treatments, but unfortunately the truth is that they are the only way I am going to rid my skin of blackheads and treat my rosacea. And the toll problem skin can take on one’s confidence levels is another matter again. The cost of using inferior brands really does add up, and the scars can last a lifetime. This is what makes me so passionate about making people, in particular mums and teens, more aware of the potential damage that can be avoided through education and change.

It’s what’s inside that counts

So, to finish up, if you haven’t already, please read my first post “Mineral Cosmetics, what you may not be aware of”, and start becoming ingredient savvy. You really owe it to yourself to know what you or your loved ones are really using and what it is doing to your skin. We only get one lot of skin and only one chance at looking after it. What we do to it now will show in years to come. If you sunbaked when you were a teen, for example, you will have the sun spots to prove it today. Now, let’s see if you can bring yourself to “spring clean” your make-up kit and bathroom. Don’t let the luscious smells and pretty labels with their crazy claims stop you from giving them the boot. Instead, let your new found awareness drive you to make a change right now. A change which you will be thankful for now, as well as in many years to come. And remember – it’s what’s inside that counts. A pretty jar or fancy packaging isn’t going to make you look good in the long run, and you will only have to look at the ingredients to discover that.

Thanks for reading and please keep following my posts to learn more about skin, skin conditions and how we can better look after it.

If you have any questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to share it

 

 

 

In the bin!