Everyone would love to have perfect skin. I guess that’s why we go ga ga over a newborn baby and how beautiful and soft their skin is. While we were all babies once, our skin has changed since then. But to what degree? It seems that we all would like to know the secret to the fountain of youth, for if we did, we’d keep an upright posture, a spring in our step and unwrinkled skin at the very least. While I can’t promise you the fountain of youth, I can examine the components of our skin and what we need to do to maintain it in the best possible condition. Whether we like it or not, we judge ourselves and others based on physical appearance, and the condition of our skin speaks volumes.

‘You are what you eat’ is a familiar maxim. That is a logical place to start. We are told to eat and drink as healthily as possible and get enough sleep to be in tip-top condition. For, it is during our sleep time that our cells (including our skin cells) renew and repair! If you are not waking up feeling refreshed, then I suggest that you actively research the topic of sleep and see what works for you. For example, getting the early morning daylight and the twilight light into our eyes helps set our body clock. And, not eating after say 7pm gives our body more time to digest food before we sleep. As for what goes in our mouths, I personally believe in eating (and drinking) your way to good health. (And that also means no, or moderate alcohol consumption! Funnily enough, I am a teetotaller! I wasn’t always, though now I fully understand the meaning of, ‘Name your poison’!)

Movement is what our bodies are made to do. A helpless baby will become a toddler who strives to walk, and we all know that kids just love to play. As adults, the idiom ‘use it or lose it’ really does apply. Our skin will stretch no matter what size we become. Are we designed to be obese? I think not, especially when you consider the health complications that often go with it. I hope that you (learn to?) love exercise. It stimulates blood flow and endorphins that give us a natural high. When we exercise regularly, our metabolism is increased, helping us to burn off those kilojoules. Overeating is easy to do – food comforts us. Like many people, I’ve been anorexic. I’ve also been bulimic. Luckily, I’m now into feeding my mind (with information) so that I know how to nurture my body. This is a kind of personal power that we are all capable of. 

In a holistic approach, good health is more than diet, exercise and sleep – there’s also our nervous system and our mental health. And how can I cover this topic in one paragraph? Of course I can’t, except to say, ‘You are what you think!’ Somehow, you need to be happy in your own skin. I hope that you can work through the problems that life throws at you and make wise choices so that you have no regrets. I know that you can’t change other people. Yet, the ability you have is to change yourself by changing your negative self-talk so that you have positive personal growth. I realise this isn’t easy and that it’s a constant. I encourage you to read and listen widely on this topic. There are many great books, internet sites and podcasts. Enjoy the journey.

Now, let’s understand more about our skin so that we can know how to take care of it. Our skin is two cells thick: the outer layer (the epidermis) and the inner layer (the dermis). It is our largest organ and functions as a waterproof covering to keep out pathogens and protect against temperature extremes and sunlight. It also contains nerve endings that respond to touch, pressure, heat and cold.

Because our skin is constantly shedding and perspiring, many experts recommend a daily skin care regime. For our facial skin, cleanse, tone and moisturise is the routine we have been told to do. Treat your skin kindly – use warm, not hot water and a gentle soap, such as one of our soaps. They are designed not to strip the skin’s natural oils. Because of this, I find that a toner is unnecessary. A toner is meant to restore the skin’s pH, so there’s no need for this if the skin is already toned. I do like to finish with an organic plant-based moisturiser. I repeat this process morning and night. (And every morning I will add a 50+ Sun-Protection-Factor (SPF) sunscreen with broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection.) My skin care regime also includes using a fine oatmeal face mask every weekend to gently remove dead skin cells and renew my complexion.

As for our body skin, it is generally suggested to wash daily to maintain good personal hygiene. I use any of our range of skin care soaps daily and find that I don’t need to moisturise my body skin, apart from my hands (as a result of using other handwashes when out and about). I exfoliate weekly by rubbing fine sea salt on my skin in the shower (except for my face and neck). I wash my skin, use the salt, then follow up with one of our soaps. I’ve had friends randomly comment on how soft my skin is. 

To close, I’d like to mention that the skin on our private parts is often more sensitive. In the past when washing down below, I often felt a burning sensation from the soap I used. I’ve talked to other women and they’ve told me I wasn’t alone in feeling the stinging from other soaps. Some harsh soaps can quickly upset the delicate vaginal microbiome. I’m pleased to let you know that I no longer have this problem because I only use the soap I make!

(For more information on skin microbiomes please visit this link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3535073/.)

GENERAL DISCLAIMER

The contents of this sharing are for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment . . . Read More →