Asked 10/12/2009
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Tips for Natural Skin Care? Tips for Natural Skin Care |
Answer 1/3 - Submitted 10/12/2009
A good diet is often overlooked and is a very important factor in skin care. In alternative medicine, good skin is a reflection of a good digestive system. People with skin disorders such as acne, rosacea, and psoriasis often suffer from constipation, imbalanced "good" vs. "bad" bacteria, leaky gut, and other digestive conditions. The two most common sluggish digestion culprits are:
* Culprit #1: Not Enough Water.
Water bathes cells and eliminates waste products, preventing constipation.
* Culprit #2: Not Enough Fiber.
Most people lack fiber in their diets - the average person eats only 12 g of fiber a day. In 2002, the National Academy of Sciences Food and Nutrition Board established recommended fiber intakes. For men aged 19-50 years, 38 g fiber is recommended, and for men over 50, 31 g fiber is recommended. For women aged 19 to 50 years, 25 g fiber is recommended, and for women over 50, 21 g fiber is recommended.
Apples are a great addition for many health reasons, including for the skin. The retinoic acid in the skin of the apple is a great moderator of floral bacteria and helps prevent blemishes. Flax seeds, beans, and whole grains are also a great addition and will help keep the skin healthy and moisturized. A good multivitamin taken daily with food is very important.
Exercise is also important and will help to maintain the elasticity and vitality of the skin. 60 minutes of activity a day also decreases the risk of heart attack and heart disease so you're doing yourself a favor in the long run as well.
Lastly I would recommend fish oil supplements, which also helps with cardiovascular health to improve circulation and moisturize the skin.
Answer 2/3 - Submitted 9/30/2010
Answer 3/3 - Submitted 3/3/2011
Beautiful looking skin comes from healthy skin cells which come from a healthy body so you must care for the entire "self" in order for your skin to have that healthy, glow from within. There is nothing more natural than that! From the inside out - That is the route!
One must eat at least five or more servings of fresh fruits (Grapes are great skin food) and vegetables daily and drink eight or more large glasses of water. I like to put a slice of lemon in water because of the internal cleansing properties of the lemon. In addition, get plenty of exercise and fresh air, do not smoke and try to keep the stress level in your life as low as possible by balancing with yoga and meditation! Yes, even worry and stress can show on your face!
Now here are some things you can do externally for radiant skin! The number one tip for a "natural" skin care regime is to keep it simple! Less is always more. You don't want to introduce every new skin care product on the market, especially to your delicate facial skin without first reading the contents contained in the product and taking the time to determine what kind of skin you have. So let's first determine what kind of skin we will be caring for:
1.) Oily Skin: If you notice a shiny appearence to your complexion not long after cleansing and if can blot with a tissue and see oily spots that have transfered to the tissue, you probably have oily skin.
2.) Combination Skin: Combination skin is the most common skin type and means that you have both oily and dry skin patches on your face that should be cared for accordingly. Typically combination skin will have an oily strip down the center of face, nose, chin and center of forehead. The outer cheek area will actually be dry with the exception of the hairline. If you notice a break-out or irritation along the hairline it is probably from something you are using on your hair, or if it is oily, it must be cleansed more frequently to avoid trouble in that area.
3.) Dry Skin: With dry skin you will notice dry flakey patches, it will feel tight and sometimes rough to the touch. Skin cells are not hydrated and so they will not produce supple elastic skin that is smooth, dewy and radiant.
For all skin types, I recommend a natural mild cleanser like Cetaphil. This gently removes any impurities and surface dirt and oil without stripping the skin of the beneficial oils that it needs. From this basic cleansing routine, I would then use Witch Hazel to tone, removing any traces of make-up and dirt, use a little extra on oily patches. For oily and combination skin you can also add a few drops of fresh lemon to a water bottle and spritz face or rub a lemon wedge directly on to oily patches. (Rinse off if and when it burns or stings) For dry skin I recommend a basic Aveeno moisurizer, after your cleansing and toning, then spritz with a mist of plain water to "set". All of these basic products are either free or very inexpensive and will give you the same results as many of the more pricey products, you just have to take the time to experiment until you find a routine that your skin respons to, The only other thing I would recommend is to exfoliate the skin several times a week with an oatmeal or sugar based scrub. Mix either with water to form a paste which is then applied gently to face to sluff off the dead skin cells. Skin should not feel tight afterward, just smooth.
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