Your skin is the largest organ of your body. It provides protection from harmful toxins and excretes wastes. However, according to "Organic Body Care Recipes," many commercial skin care products contain harmful ingredients that can cause complications including allergies, headaches, joint discomfort, reproductive abnormalities and cancer. According to "Ayurveda Science of Self Healing," day-to-day lifestyle and what you eat is as important for skin health as skin-care products. Dr. Bruce Berkowsky, author of "Dry Skin Brushing," recommends body brushing to help the skin perform its functions and maintain long-term health and vitality.
sleep
Step 1
Get enough sleep. Dr. Vasant Lad, author of "Ayurveda, Science of Self Healing," recommends going to bed before 10 p.m. and waking before sunrise. This routine allows all the body's organs to regenerate, rejuvenate and heal naturally.
Step 2
Nourish your skin with whole fresh foods. Stephanie Tourles, holistic esthetician and author of "Organic Body Care Recipes," recommends eating fresh fruits and vegetables, raw nuts and seeds, unrefined oils and whole grains. Limit your intake of meat and greasy, highly-sweetened or processed foods. Drink plenty of pure water.
Step 3
Stop using soap, Tourles recommends. Soap dries the skin and interferes with the body's natural system of oil-production. Instead, nourish your skin with a natural oat, nut, milk or lotion-based cleanser. Berkowsky recommends daily exfoliation of dead skin cells by brushing with a natural fiber skin brush. In the shower, use cool water and a rough washcloth or natural sugar or salt-based body scrub. Rinse with rosewater or an herbal infusion, such as chamomile or lemon balm. If you need to use soap for hand washing or body washing of oily skin, Tourles recommends olive-oil based liquid castile soap. For aroma or added healing benefits, mix in a few drops of the essential oil of your choice.
Step 4
Get rid of facial products with commercial chemicals, recommends Tourles. Use rose water as a skin toner and witch hazel as an astringent. Apply plain tea tree essential oil to reduce scars and blemishes.
Step 5
Use natural moisturizers. David and Debbie Mathis, creators of Ayurveda MD and certified physicians and ayurvedic practitioners, recommend daily abhyanga massage for health of the skin and nervous system. After skin-brushing and before you shower, apply refined sesame oil to your entire body. Massage to help your skin absorb the oil, then shower with cool water. For especially dry areas and all-over moisturizing in the winter, Tourles recommends raw shea or cocoa butter.
Tips and Warnings
- Add benefits to your natural skin-care products with a few drops of your choice of essential oil. According to "Aromatherapy Guide to Essential Oils," lavender has healing, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties. Chamomile calms irritated and dry skin. Neroli tones skin and imparts vitality. Rose geranium aids circulation.
- Don't exfoliate irritated or broken skin or skin with broken veins. Use a gentle brush on your delicate facial skin. See your doctor before adopting a new diet or health routine.
Things You'll Need
- Natural bristle skin brush
- Natural bristle face brush
- Rough washcloth
- Refined sesame oil
- Raw shea or coconut butter
- Liquid castille soap
- Rose water
- Witch hazel
- Tea tree essential oil
- Essential oil of lavender, neroli, chamomile or rose geranium (optional)
- Water
- Fresh organic produce and whole grains
References
- "Dry Skin Brushing"; Dr. Bruce Berkowsky N.M.D.; 2005
- "Organic Body Care Recipes"; Tourles, Stephanie; 2007
- "Ayurveda The Science of Self-Healing"; Lad, Vasant; 1984
- "Aromatherapy Guide to Essential Oils"; Farris, Melissa; 2001
- Ayurveda MD: "Therapies: Abhyanga"; Mathis, David and Debbie
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