The fountain of natural youth: How to heal dry, damaged skin

I just read a post online that started with "Are you concerned about wrinkles, sun damage, and dry skin?" I mean, isn't that kind of a no-brainer? I can't think of a single woman who wants skin that could be even remotely described as damaged, dry, or wrinkled. Rather than slathering my face in potentially toxic "cosmeceuticals" like retinol creams, alpha hydroxy and glycolic acids, skin whiteners, and peptide complexes, though, I'd prefer to coax out my skin's radiance with the natural help of good ol' Mother Earth.

Sometimes a less-than-perfect complexion is the result of genetics; sometimes we can blame age, sun exposure, or an unhealthy lifestyle. Whatever your concern—be it dry skin, pigmentation problems, or sun damage—an all-natural, gentle skin care routine can help heal past wounds and allow your skin to reclaim its natural moisture balance. Most of us need no more than four good-quality products in our daily regimen to achieve smoother, hydrated skin.

Cleanser:
Your cleanser is really the first step to taking good care of your skin. To help heal damage or prevent dryness, look for creamy, soothing cleansing lotions (rather than gels), which contain high concentrations of oils, water, and emollients. Kahina Giving Beauty Facial Cleanser's high concentrations of vitamin E and fatty acids in argan oil, combined with organic willow bark and papaya extract, replace moisture loss, eliminate toxins, gently tone and exfoliate, and brighten skin. I also love Pai Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser. Suitable for all skin types, this alcohol- and detergent-free cleanser is bursting with omega 3 and vitamins A, B, and E to replenish the skin's natural moisture barrier.

Exfoliant:
Approach exfoliation sparingly—those of us with dry or damaged skin probably only need to exfoliate once a week, twice at the most to help slough off dead skin cells and reveal newer, smoother skin below the surface. If you have especially sensitive or reaction-prone skin, a Pai organic muslin facecloth might be all you need. Massage a few pumps of your favourite cream cleanser onto damp skin and remove with a warm, dampened muslin cloth using a circular motion to gently exfoliate. Or mix One Love Organics Brand New Day Microderma Scrub & Mask with warm water or cleanser, gently massage into face and throat, and rinse. Its soothing silk peptide, milk powder, and pineapple enzymes will polish away dead cells and help protect new ones.

Facial Oil or Serum:
Hands down, my facial oil is my favourite skin-care product. Used on their own or added to moisturizer, oils can penetrate deeply to restore hydration and cure—rather than cover—dryness. They're definitely a superhero when it comes to repairing damage and replenishing moisture:

Soapwalla Restorative Face Serum uses sweet almond, apricot kernel, sea buckthorn, and rosehip seed oils to provide hydration, alleviate sensitive skin, reduce pore size, diminish signs of aging, and promote elasticity.
Makeup artist Lina Hanson spent two years researching and developing her Global Face Serum, which contains the most pure anti-aging essentials oils from around the world. Its eleven wonder-working ingredients include camellia seed oil, which moisturizes, brightens, lightens, and prevents wrinkles; argan oil, which protects against premature aging, hydrates the skin, and neutralizes free radials; neroli oil, which improves elasticity, stimulates new cells growth, and softens scars; and baobab oil, which helps prevent and treat dry skin conditions.
Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Fruit & Seed Oil Blend was voted Best Organic Miracle Worker by Harper's Bazaar last year—and with good reason. Clinical studies show that rosehip is effective at improving the appearance of scars, stretch marks, sun damage, and fine lines—without the side effects of clinical retinols. Boost your skin's natural healing process with the most concentrated rosehip oil on the market today.
Kahina Giving Beauty's new Brightening Serum can visibly reduce discolouration, hyperpigmentation, post-acne spots, and dark marks after four to six weeks of regular use. With a blend of white lily, wakame seaweed, and the powerful antioxidants in argan oil, this wonder serum will protect against environmental toxins, support your skin's natural defense system, and boost radiance and even skin tone.

Moisturizer:
Choose a moisturizer based on your skin type and personal preference, avoiding the usual nasties like phthalates, synthetic fragrance, siloxanes, and propylene glycol (rest assured that no Fresh Faced products contain these ingredients!). The idea is to heal, rather than hide, whatever ails your complexion, and the best way to do so is by following a pure, natural skin care routine.

Posted in face oil, kahina giving beauty, natural skin care, one love organics, pai skincare, soapwalla

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