Practical Natural Skin Care Tips

by Christine H. Farlow, D.C.

All natural skin care includes taking care of your body on the inside as well as on the outside. Your skin is the largest organ of your body. To have truly radiant skin, you need to be healthy - from the inside out and the outside in.

The best natural skin care routine starts with eating nourishing foods. Eat fresh, whole and organic if possible. Stay away from junk foods, processed foods and anything with a long list of ingredients on the back of the package. Learn to read labels so you know what’s safe and what’s not.

Remember to exercise and avoid excess sun exposure as well. Outdoor physical activity is important. Just use good sun sense. Start out slow. Avoid the times when the sun is at its hottest. And cover up when you’ve had your daily quota of sun.

When choosing your organic and natural skin care products, it’s imperative to keep in mind that the industry is unregulated and the term “natural” is not legally defined. For this reason it’s important to make your decision to buy based upon the safety of the ingredients listed on the back of the package rather than on the pretty pictures on the front of the product label.

A good natural skin care program starts with choosing a quality all natural skin care product line, preferably certified organic by the USDA National Organic Program.

Select natural skin care products that are designed for your specific skin type. You’ll probably find that you fall into one of the following four categories:

• Normal/combination skin
• Oily/problem skin
• Dry/mature skin
• Sensitive skin

Make sure that your all natural and organic skin care products include a cleanser, an exfoliant, a mineral mask, a conditioner or toner and a moisturizer. Using all these products will give you the best results and the healthiest complexion.

The basic steps to follow in your natural skin care regimen include:

Cleanse twice a day, in the morning and in the evening. Prepare your face for cleansing by gently pressing a warm washcloth to your face. Then massage the cleansing lotion into your face and neck. Rinse thoroughly.

Exfoliate once a week using a gentle exfoliant if you have dry or sensitive skin. If you have normal or oily skin, you should exfoliate several times a week. This removes the build-up of dead cells and promotes a healthy and glowing appearance. If you have blemishes, don’t use an exfoliant. Heal the acne first, then you can exfoliate.

Deep cleanse with a mineral mask once a week if your skin type is dry or mature; twice a week if you have normal/combination or oily skin. If you have acne, this is the step that will help you heal your skin. For a blemished complexion, use a mineral mask daily for a week. Use it every other day for another week. Then use it twice a week until your skin clears up.

Be sure to use a conditioner or toner after every time you cleanse. Conditioning or toning nourishes the skin and provides a base for the moisturizer.

Finish with a moisturizer. Even those with oily skin need to moisturize. Just make sure it’s formulated for oily skin. Moisturizing provides your skin with a layer of protection against free radical damage and moisture loss. Losing moisture is one of the primary reasons for developing wrinkles.

These are the basic steps to a glowing and healthy complexion. If you have special needs, you may want to add an additional all natural skin care product or two to your daily ritual.

The most important thing to remember is to use a top quality certified organic natural skin care regimen on your face every day, twice a day, and you will reap the rewards - a vibrant, glowing, healthy-looking complexion.