Let’s get one thing out of the way: there are no quick-and-easy solutions for long-term skin conditions. Anyone who says otherwise is probably trying to sell you something. However, there are ways of improving your skin’s health, and in a relatively quick manner, by changing your daily habits. This is key. The best way to implement a new habit, is to start it off in the easiest and simplest way possible. This is done in order to “trick” your brain into forming the habit, by introducing a change which requires a minimal investment on your part. Start small, and build up your routine gradually, eventually adding products and procedures. The skin is (mostly) a tough yet sensitive organ, and it responds well to the proper treatment. So, here are a few ways for you to get healthier and better-looking skin:
1 - morning/evening rinse
While you may think this step is way too obvious, you’d be surprised at how many of us mess it up. There is more to a proper face or body rinse than water and soap. If you want your skin to be clean, use only clean water, a light non-detergent, non-chemical cleanser, and a towel which is designated for your face, and for your face only! Don’t use your body towel on your face, since that would be counter-productive. There is no point in drying yourself and then using the (relatively) dirty, germ-laden towel on your face. Remember, the face is exposed a lot of the time, and it responds to anything and everything which is around us, on a molecular level. Use a towel once or twice a day, then toss it in the laundry. The following day, use a fresh face towel.
Goal: rinse face with a cleanser, morning and evening; rinse body (or specific areas) with water and soap, at least once a day; designate a face towel, and change it daily.
Initial change to implement: rinse your face in the morning, and dry with a special face towel.
Tip: a few single drops of avocado essential oil or pure lemon essential oil, combined with olive or coconut oil, can work wonders for your skin. Experiment and see.
2 - diet and nutrient intake
What you eat becomes a part of you, and your largest organ is the skin. Want it to become better-looking? Smoother? Tighter, with a healthy glow? Change what you eat. I know, this is a major change to implement, which is precisely why I am all about making the smallest and easiest change as possible, but with the larger goal in mind. Alcohol, dairy, certain meats, and foods packed to the brim with gluten - these have the potential to unbalance your inner-chemistry, even to a point where it is visible on your skin. Now, to be fair, this would probably happen with any food if you overdo it, but the ones I mentioned have greater potential for damage in the long run. Moderation is the key to a healthy and happy diet, even with the healthiest of ingredients. On the other hand, if you take in more foods which are high in vitamin E and healthy fatty acids (like oatmeal, sunflower seeds, carrots, and avocados) you can change your skin’s appearance dramatically. Obviously, this also has to do with your age, sex, genetic makeup, and other factors, but the point still stands. You are what you eat.
Goal: adopting a more health-conscious, plant-focused nutrition plan; consuming animal products in moderation; consuming foods high in vitamin E and Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids.
Initial change to implement: sunflower seeds and/or carrot sticks. Relatively cheap; easy to obtain and prepare; simple to carry around and munch on throughout the day.
Tip: drop cow’s milk as an addition to your tea/coffee/cereal, and switch to a plant-based milk. Some of them are so much tastier, you’ll be kicking yourself in the arse for not using them sooner.
3 - sleep
We've all heard of the phrase “beauty sleep”? This isn’t just a reference to Disney’s Sleeping Beauty, but a viable concept which holds real consequences. A good night’s sleep will provide the body with the means to develop properly. Looking for a way to get rid of spots, or banish those bags from under your eyes? Don’t cover them up with concealer - instead, get some sleep! And please, get some good sleep. Quality sleep is not to be taken for granted. Make a conscious effort to sleep properly. That means falling asleep in as calm an environment as you can find or create for yourself. Turn of the TV, or at least put it on sleep mode, so it will turn off later and provide your mind with some much-needed peace and quiet. Keep your mobile or tablet computer away from your sleeping head. Skin cells regenerate faster when the body is at rest. Light some lavender or argan oil in a diffuser, and enjoy a more blissful rest. Just make sure there is someone awake to monitor the candle. Otherwise, light it up an hour or two before bed, and let the scent fill the bedroom before extinguishing the flame.
Goal: sleep at least seven hours at night, in a calm and safe environment. Use essential oils to better your sleep, and enhance the body’s natural nocturnal processes.
Initial change to implement: a single drop of lavender oil on your pillow or headboard, before turning off the lights and crawling under the blankets. If the scent is too strong for you, apply the drop 10 or 15 minutes before getting into bed.
Tip: using an atomizor or nebulizor is also an option with certain essential oils, and it can get the oil to a more inviting and inhalable state, without the use of a candle.
So, there you have it. These three natural ways of improving your skin are ones which require some level of commitment, but the benefits and rewards you are bound to reap are worth the trouble. This same rule of thumb generally applies to all natural products. Remember, if ever you find yourself stuck or lazy, revert back to that initial change you have already implemented. If things seem too complicated, go back to that first step for as long as you require. But commit to that first, easy step.
