Having beautiful skin is a common wish and essential in terms of beauty. The most prominent problems when it comes to maintaining great skin are dryness or oiliness. Many people have dry, oily or combination skin and the causes for these are numerous. But the good news is that if your skin condition is not caused by a medical condition, then it is very possible to rectify the problem yourself with all natural products and solutions. The first and most important rule for achieving beautiful, soft and radiant skin is getting your hands on a good all natural moisturizer. No matter what kind of skin you have, moisturizing is essential! The main advantage of an all natural moisturizer is that it’s a healthy choice because it doesn’t contain synthetic or toxic ingredients like petrochemicals or parabens. Also, it should be noted that natural moisturizers are just as powerful and effective as the ones containing artificial ingredients, if not more. This article aims to inform you about what you can do to achieve beautiful skin and how to choose (or make) the right natural moisturizing product.
The most important thing to do when choosing the right all natural moisturizer is to read the ingredients. Do not trust the front label. Just because it says “all natural”, “botanical” or “organic” doesn’t mean it is. You must check the ingredient list of that product and make sure all the ingredients are earth-derived. So plant extracts from herbs, roots and flowers, essential oils and water are what you should look for. Stay away from products that list any of the following as part of their ingredients list: fragrance, colours, Imidazolidinyl Urea and Diazolidinyl Urea, Isopropyl (alcohol), Monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), and triethanolmine (TEA), Parabens (Methyl, Propyl, Butyl, and Ethyl Paraben), Polyethylene glycol (PEG), Petrolatum (Petrolatum is mineral oil jelly, and mineral oil), Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). As common rule - if you can barely pronounce the ingredient, chances are it’s not natural.
If you are conscious about what you put into your body, then you should probably also be concerned about what you put on your body. Your skin is your largest organ and has a super absorbing quality. So much so, that it is common to find medications and drugs that can be administered via skin absorption by using patches or creams. So it’s really important what you put on your skin because it definitely will be absorbed into your body. If you have dry skin, look for an all natural moisturizer that contains rich oils such as sesame or olive oil. Normal to oily skin should be treated with products that contain light oils such as jojoba, grapeseed, or avocado.
An easy way to achieve and maintain great skin in a natural way is to make your own moisturizers. It’s a good way to save money and to be sure of what you are putting on your skin, but requires preparation time. You can find millions of recipes online (so have fun searching!) but here are a couple of homemade recipes I found and liked:
For normal skin:
1 ripe avocado
1-2 tablespoons wheat germ oil
Slice the avocado in two lengthwise. Remove the pit and discard. Take only half the avocado and place in a glass bowl. Add the wheat germ oil. Mix well. Apply to your skin and let it set for 15 to 20 mins. Rinse off with lukewarm water.
For oily skin:
4 drops rose essential oil
¼ cup distilled water
¼ cup rose water
½ cup almond oil
5 drops galbanum essential oil
2 tablespoons grated beeswax
Mix the beeswax with distilled water and place on the stove (low heat). When the mixture is thoroughly blended, pour it into a blender. While blending at a low speed, add rose water and essential oils and gradually add the almond oil. Afterwards, the mixture should look a bit like frosting as it thickens after cooling down. Finally, pour the mixture into a jar and use when ready.
For dry/sensitive skin:
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons grated beeswax
½ cup cocoa butter
2 teaspoons distilled water
3 tablespoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons coconut oil
Mix the water and beeswax and place over low heat on the stove. In the same pot, add cocoa butter, followed by sesame, coconut, and olive oil. Be sure to blend thoroughly. Next, pour the mixture into a jar and allow it to thicken as it cools down. That is when it will be ready to use.
Also, don’t forget, we are what we eat. In order to maintain good skin you must also practice a good diet that includes vegetables, fruits, grains, seeds, and nuts. Eat quality protein from vegetable sources. Eat foods such as garlic, onions, eggs, and asparagus that are high in sulfur, which helps to keep the skin smooth and youthful. Consume plenty of yellow and orange vegetables because they are high in beta-carotene, an antioxidant. Avoid soft drinks, sugar, milk chocolate, potato chips and other junk foods. Avoid alcohol and caffeine. These substances have a diuretic effect, causing the body and skin cells to lose fluids and essential minerals. But most importantly, drink at least 2 quarts of water every day to keep the skin well hydrated.
To summarize, the keys to healthy, good looking skin are to use a natural moisturizing product daily and to eat healthily. If you purchase your product make sure to read the ingredients, if you make your own product, have fun and be creative. Hopefully, you are now better equipped with the necessary knowledge to purchase or make your own all natural moisturizer. Healthy, beautiful skin is just around the corner.