Summertime can be just as hard on skin as wintertime; maybe even worse. Over exposure to the sun, chlorine and other chemicals in swimming pools and the water at water parks, chemicals in sunscreen and bug sprays, and increased frequency of showering all lead to dry, unnourished skin. As a result, rashes sometimes appear which can be painful, itchy and unsightly. When skin is irritated, bug bites can become a major problem. Hyper-sensitivity to bites, stings, and even some plants can put a real damper on summer fun.
Skin care has become a multi-billion dollar business. With so many products on the market that advertise the best scientific technology to give you radiant skin, unfortunately, many people believe that having beautiful skin is costly and time consuming. Gorgeous, glowing skin comes from the inside; it is a reflection of your overall health. Your skin, hair and nails are a major part of you and should be cared for in a way that benefits your whole body. No part of your body is independent from the rest, and each part has a specific function to perform to ensure that you are healthy. Your skin plays a big role in the functioning of your immune system. Skin is actually several millimeters thick, and acts as a sophisticated filter keeping germs from getting in, while helping the body to flush toxins out. When skin is dry and irritated it can’t do its job properly.
Soft, smooth, healthy, glowing skin, free of blemishes and having a beautiful color is what everyone wants. So, how do you get baby soft, beautiful skin without spending a fortune? Here are a few tips that will begin to improve the appearance of your skin immediately.
Drink plenty of water. A good rule is to drink half of your ideal body weight in ounces of water. That may sound like a lot, but if you begin increasing the amount of water you drink per day, you will soon start to notice that you are feeling better. Most people are dehydrated and don’t realize it. You may notice less frequent headaches and less sinus congestion. If possible, filter your water to eliminate chlorine and other chemicals.
Avoid sugar and processed foods. These foods are damaging to your whole body by making blood sugar levels erratic and creating free radicals which cause your body to work harder and accelerates aging. This is seen by appearance of wrinkles and discoloration of skin.
Increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. They provide vitamins, minerals and other important elements that help fight premature aging and brings out a healthy color to your skin. Choose organic when possible.
Limit exposure to environmental toxins. Reduce the amount of chemicals you use by switching to more natural cleaners. Vinegar and baking soda are very effective cleaners, and recipes for different uses are easy to find in books and on the internet. Also consider making cleaners and air fresheners with essential oils.
To help hydrate your skin, use an organic body oil after you shower. Sesame, almond, coconut, jojoba, or a combination of these oils makes your skin feel incredibly soft and wonderful. These oils are very therapeutic and soothe dry, irritated skin. Good quality massage oil often has herbs and essential oils infused in it which help to calm irritation even more than plain oil. Nothing soothes sunburned skin better than a good quality body oil. Have you ever noticed that even the most expensive lotions only make your skin feel better for a few hours? That is because they are water based and only go into the first couple of layers of skin. Body oil is like the oil that your body produces to keep it soft and elastic. It penetrates deeply into your skin and doesn’t evaporate the way lotions do. Another advantage of body oil is that it doesn’t clog pores. You can use it lightly on your face without worrying that it will cause pimples or blemishes because there is nothing synthetic in it; it is all natural.
Enjoy time outdoors, but limit time in the sun. Your body needs the UVB rays of the sun to touch bare skin in order to make vitamin D. Sunblock sprays and lotions prevent this from happening. You will get enough vitamin D before you get burned, so it is important to know your limit in the sun. It is better to avoid getting burned by moving into the shade or covering up exposed skin. The safety and effectiveness of the ingredients in common sunblock is questionable. More natural formulas are being developed which are supposed to be less toxic than traditional formulas.
And finally, look for soaps that have natural ingredients. Avoid soaps that list sodium laurel sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate, which is highly toxic to your liver. Health food stores generally have a good selection of products, but you still have to read the labels. You can also find good quality body/massage oil in health food stores.
Just by making a few simple changes, you can revive your skin, and go from dry, itchy, flaky skin to skin that is radiantly beautiful and soft to the touch. You can love your skin again!
