After all that we've discussed about how the inside of your body determines what your skin looks like you are probably wondering if I’m ever going to actually talk about your skin at all…Today, I am!
Just like what you put in your body, what you put on your skin really does matter. Anything that you put on your skin absorbs into your body in 26 seconds.
Most soaps and shampoos contain alcohol and other chemicals, that are harsh on the skin, as well as foaming agents like sodium laurel sulfate which is a toxic foreign substance to the body. Any chemicals that you put on your skin, or your hair, can potentially kill the good bacteria that lives in your skin, making it a fair game for bad bacteria to populate and cause skin infections.
Throwing out your favorite skin care products that you’ve been buying off the super market shelves for years does not come overnight. I understand. When I struggled with acne I had all sorts of face wash products which, after each use, left me hoping for good results but made my skin feel tight and dry. It took me a few months of studying to find out that your skin needs the oils it produces to heal itself and stay healthy. If you have problems with your skin being too oily that statement might sound a little funny. I assure you, there is a beneficial amount of oil for your skin to produce and also an excess.
After trying a few different home made recipes for face washes and seeing marked improvements, I persuaded myself to throw out all my store bought face washes that had been sitting on my bathroom self Un-touched and Un-used for 3-4 months while my skin started looking better and better.
I’m not saying go raid your bathroom cupboards right now but rather try a few natural products or homemade solutions and see how it works for you.
Do remember that most natural solutions help address foundations and underlying causes and are not meant to make your problems disappear overnight.
Oil cleansing is one of my favorite ways to wash my skin. It does seem a little strange to put oil on your face in order to clean your skin but I assure you washing with natural oils can heal acne, reduce scars, remove toxins, and moisturize your skin as well as help reduce excess oils on your face.
acne.com has a great explanation of how cleaning your skin with oil works.
“Fact: Oil dissolves oil. One of the most basic principals of chemistry is that “like dissolves like.” The best way to dissolve a non-polar solvent like sebum/oil, is by using another non-polar solvent similar in composition: Other oils. By using the right oils, you can cleanse your pores of dirt and bacteria naturally, gently and effectively, while replacing the dirty oil with beneficial ones extracted from natural botanicals, vegetables and fruit that heal, protect and nourish your skin. When done properly and consistently, the OCM can clear the skin from issues like oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, blackheads, whiteheads and other problems caused by mild to moderate acne–while leaving your skin healthy, balanced and properly moisturized.”
What oils to use:
Castor oil is a natural astringent meaning it pulls toxins out of your skin. Olive oil is another good one to use as it has moisturizing properties. Coconut oil is antimicrobial and can kill bacteria. Sweet almond oil has a high content of vitamin E which makes it great for moisturizing and healing scars.
I buy all my skin care oils from mountainroseherbs.com It is very important that all your oils are pure, and organic. Most castor oil that is sold on grocery store shelves, if not organic, is sprayed with a harmful toxin that contaminants the oil.
How to oil cleanse:
- Find yours skin’s favorite blend of oils by mixing small amounts of whichever oils together and trying different combinations. I have a small brown bottle In which I store a mixture of 1tsp of each coconut oil, castor oil and sweet almond oil.
- Having warm water and steam is an essential part of the cleansing process, therefore oil cleansing is great when done in the shower or can be done over a sink as well. Put a quarter size amount in the palm of your hand and gentle massage into your skin for 2 minutes. You can leave this on for 10 minutes if you have time or wash it off right away.
- Wet a wash cloth with warm water and place on your face gentle removing the oil. Do not scrub your face. It is ok if a little oil is left on your face as long as you remove the majority of it.
Everyone’s skin is different so play around with different oils. If you have never done oil cleansing before and have lots of toxin stored in your skin, you may have a detox reaction of your acne getting worse or your skin becoming more oily for a week. Do not loose heart, keep up your oil washing regime once a day for at least a few weeks before you judge weather or not it works for you!
Have you ever oil washed before? What is your favorite oil blend?
Come back next week to read about my face wash recipe that is good enough to eat for breakfast!
