SKIN CARE

NATURAL BEAUTY

Do you read the ingredients on body care products with the same attentiveness that you read the ingredients on a food label? 

Your skin is the largest body organ, and whatever you apply or rub into it is absorbed into your entire body.  "Tub Full of Toxins" in the June 2010 issue of Natural Awakenings magazine states "Over 10,000 chemical ingredients are used in the personal care industry.  That is why it is important to consider the ingredients used in the formulations of skin care products.  
 
The most attentive consumers will read a product label for a skin care product, and ask, "Could I eat these ingredients and be okay with it?"  The Natural Awakenings article cautions us to avoid parabens, phthalates, sodium laauryl/laureth sulfate, and anything with "glycol" or "methyl," among other chemicals.
 
Skin products made from all natural ingredients will provide softer, smoother, younger looking skin than most of the chemical formulations found in the mass market.  Your skin regenerates itself every 28-31 days on average, and you can encourage healthy regeneration with simple methods, such as regular exfoliation with a loofah sponge and proper application of natural oils..
   
Several small businesses in Rhode Island grow their own herbs and use them to create some luscious skin care products.  One such company is Earth Essence Herbals, owned by Marlene Wojcik, who sells both online and at farmer's markets.  Her Wonder Cream is made from Almond & Coconut Oil Lanolin, Beeswax, Rose Water, Aloe Vera, Rose & Lavender Essential Oils & Flower Essences.  The cream is soothing, its scent is heavenly, and it works.  The $12 price is extremely reasonable.  You can purchase Earth Essence Herbals at http://www.earthessenceherbals.com/ 

Natural Awakenings is available online in a pdf format.
 
ISLAND MIST

Johanna Ross, a certified herbalist and aromatherapist living on Block Island, started Island Mist to seek out a healthy way of living, providing high quality skin care products that are natural, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly.  I found her products in Yes Gallery on the island.

Island Baby baby oil is not just for babies.  This  gentle and natural skin treatment combines apricot oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, evening primrose oil, vitamin E, calendula, chamomile, lavender, and lemon balm.  It will make your skin irresistably baby soft.

Island Mist Taste of Summer Sea Bath is a pamperingsoak for a tired, sore body.  The mixture includes sea salt, dead sea salt, french white clay, orange petals, roses, orange peel, dulse, bladderwrack rose, and geranium essential oil.  Well priced at $8.50 for a 5 oz. bottle.

Find out more about Johanna and her products and maybe do some holiday shopping at http://www.islandmistnaturalproducts.com/ 
 
ALL NATURAL SPLASH DEODORANT

Nature's Lather, a family owned Rhode Island business, has created, among their many fine products, a deodorant with Alum - minerals salts that serve as an anti-bacterial, eliminating odors.

the Nature's Lather store is located at 3055 West Shore Road in Warwick, or you can visit them online at www.natureslather.com.  Nature's Lather: Where Goddness Bubbles Up.

To learn more about how water quality affects your skin, visit our water page.

How can exfoliation help regenerate more youthful skin?

Old skin cells that remain attached to the surface of your skin create challenges for healthy regeneration of new skin.  Gentle exfoliation of your skin using a loofah sponge helps to enhance and ensure the effectivenss of  serums and oils. When products don't have to penetrate a layer of dead skin cells, they can target the new skin cells, which is where they need to work. 

The loffah is most effective when used prior to showering or bathing, while your body is dry, gently rubbing off the dry flakes of skin.
 

 
THE TRIPLE BENEFIT OF
A COLD WATER SHOWER

Did you know that hot water tends to dry out your skin by washing away the natural oils help lubricate your skin and retain moisture?

A cold water shower will help maintain the oil in your skin.  A cold water shower will most certainly wake you up.  A cold water shower will reduce both water use and energy used to heat up your water tank.  It will also save you some time, because it pretty much guarantees that you will get in and out more quickly. 

If you need to cut the chill, turn off the cold water while soaping up, and then turn it back on to rinse.

PAMPER YOURSELF
WITH A POST SHOWER
SELF-MASSAGE
 
Abhyanga is a method of ayurvedic self-massage that is easy and effective.  Your skin is likely to look and feel remarkably smoother and healthier in a fairly short amount of time.  Dharma Nutrition owner, Sandi Andersen instructs her clients in this practice, and recommends organic extra virgin coconut oil, and the use of an old cotton towel or mat along with some paper towels.  Avocado oil also works well.
     
You can fill a squeeze bottle with oil and warm it up by placing it in a pot of warm water.  Or, you can set up a small jar into which you can dip your fingers to get a small amount of oil, which you can rub between your palms to warm and liquify before applying.

Abhyanga massage can be practiced before or after showering.  If you massage after your shower, do so while your skiin is still damp to help seal in moisture.  As you stand on your towel or mat in a comfortably warm room, use your palms and a small amount of oil; apply to your body, working systematically down until your enitre body is anointed with oil.

Next, massage the oil into your skin, giving each part of your body adequate attention.  Use up and down strokes on limbs and circular strokes over joints, and more lightly over chest, and abdomen.  Spend 10 -12 minutes.

Sit quietly with eyes closed for five minutes, breathing deeply.  Then pat excess oil off with paper towels.

Note: the towels you stand on for abhyanga will get stained and eventually oil saturated.  Do not put them in the washing machine or dryers.  They should periodically be thrown out and replaced.