How many times do you find yourself torn between what feels good and what does good for your body? Well luckily, there are a few skin care rituals that do both:
1. Take a warm bath.
Not only will the warmth and aromatherapy relax your mind, but your skin will thank you too. All you have to do is soak in a lukewarm water...make sure it isn't too hot because hot water can strip your skin of good oils. Warm water will help lock in moisture while opening your pores. Don't forget to pour in some some bath salts like the Ahava Honey Herbal Bath Salt ($22 at Ulta). Bath salts can help detoxify by ridding your skin of impurities. I especially like the Ahava one because it is formulated with honey, herbs, and minerals from the dead sea to help condition and nourish the skin. You can also add some essential oils like the Dr. Hauschka Moor Lavender Bath Essence ($30 at Whole Body) to further boost hydration. In addition to the fact that is smells great, the Dr. Hauschka lavender oil has great calming and protective properties. Simply allow your skin to marinate in the bath for 15-20 minutes to get that long lasting fresh scent. Like a body wrap that you would get in a spa, a bath will leave your skin will feel soft, soothed, and purified...and not to mention that it helps soothe sore muscles...for barely a fraction of the cost. Just grab a good book or continue a round of Candy Crush for perfect ending to a stressful day!
2. Exfoliate.
Brighten up your complexion by shedding those dead skin cells. Use a gentle facial brush (move it in a circular motion) with your face cleanser or a gentle facial scrub to mechanically slough off residue as well as dead cells. Women of every age should exfoliate regularly. For young women, it will help tame acne by preventing particles on your face from clogging pores. For older women, it will polish your skin and leave you with a more youthful glow. Exfoliating also helps scars and dark spots fade more quickly. When you're done, you'll be left with fresh skin that feels super soft. You'll see the results as your makeup goes on more smoothly and your skincare absorbs more efficiently. The best part? The gentle scratching of the exfoliating beads or brush feels great too! Try the Caudalie Deep Cleansing Exfoliator ($35 at Sephora) for your face. It not only exfoliates and cleanses but it's also hydrating and packed with powerful grape-derived antioxidants. And don't forget about your body! The Pacifica Kona Coffee & Sugar Detox Whole Body Scrub ($28 at Ulta) is healthy, smoothing, and smells delicious.
3. Give your face a nice massage.
Each morning, give your skin a little one-minute wake-up massage. After sleeping, your face is tense, so it's a great way to loosen up the muscles in your face. Gently pat your face and tap your fingertips all over. Apply a little bit of pressure by pressing down on pressure points such as your temples and the sides of the bottom of your nose. You can also slide your fingers in upward motions (downward motions promote sagging) away from the center of your face along your bones. Do it when you're washing or moisturizing your face (when your face is lubricated) and avoid kneading or pulling to prevent wrinkles. Martha Stewart Living gives a great DIY face massage with visuals. By removing dead skin cells and stimulating circulation, your face will appear more radiant and feel energized.
4. Steam on a cold day... or spritz on a hot one.
We all know how good a facial steam feels...especially on a cold day. All you have to do is
microwave or boil some water so that it is steaming. Afterwards, hover over the steam and allow it to open your pores (a good opportunity to follow up with cleansing or extracting impurities) and add moisture to your skin. Alternatively, in the summers, I love to keep some Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray ($18 on drugstore.com) in my purse. It's a refreshing spray that helps calm and soften skin. Plus, it will cool you off on a hot day with a few spritzes. The nice thing about water sprays is that you can even use them over makeup.
We hear all of the time that there are certain produce and meat items that you should buy organic. How about personal care products? Well there are definitely a few beauty products that have a bad rep. So, you should try to go natural when it comes to these:
1. Hand Soap
90% of Americans wash their hands at least five times per day (American Cleaning Institute). Unfortunately, most popular hand soaps including Softsoap and Dial products use triclosan as a cleansing agent. In other words, Americans are exposing themselves to one of the most potentially toxic personal care ingredients on the market multiple times per day. Most natural hand soaps are triclosan-free and just as effective at killing germs.
Product Recommendation: Method Gel Hand Wash ($3.99 at drugstores)
2. Nail Polish
Nail polish can be filled with toxic chemicals. The most dangerous chemicals found in nail polishes are the Big 3: formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl phthalate. The majority of popular nail brands have removed these chemicals from their formulas. Even without the Big 3, nail polishes contain other controversial chemicals, which make it a water-resistant varnish. In fact, nail polish is extremely flammable and emits fumes. In landfills, it can leak harmful toxins into the soil and water...all red flags that should make you question how safe nail polish actually is. Although nail polish in general can pose health risks, natural products pose fewer and come in many of the same pretty colors :)
Product Recommendation: Zoya Nail Polish ($8 at Ulta)
3. Deodorant
Attention women! A recent study conducted by the Journal of Toxicology found that 99% of women with breast cancer had at least one type of paraben present in their breast tissue. Why? Drugstore deodorants often contain either parabens, which mimic estrogens in the body as well as aluminum. In addition, many breast cancers develop in the area that is close to the armpit, where the large pores can absorb anti-perspirants. In general, these parabens and aluminum can be dangerous, but on your armpits, you are putting yourself even more at risk. Keep in mind that the study was preliminary, did not consider how many parabens were present in non-cancerous tissue, and did not actually prove any causal link. But, my philosophy is better safe than sorry!
Product Recommendation: Desert Essence Dry by Nature Deodorant ($6.25 at Whole Foods)
4. Body lotion
Many grocery store body lotions are filled with parabens, phthalates, and mineral oil...yikes! However, most people end up smoothing this stuff over their entire bodies and allow it to sit on the skin for hours. Since body lotion is a product that you are exposing your entire body to, you should put extra effort into making sure that your moisturizer is a healthy one.
Product Recommendation: Kiss My Face Moisturizer ($11.95 at drugstores)
What products do you buy natural?
