Striving4Zen

If you wash your skin with a bar of soap (no matter how much you paid for it), you immediately strip your skin of all its water which instantly creates dead skin cell buildup. Then you have to quickly put moisturizer on to put back exactly what you just took out--makes no sense!

The binders that hold a bar of soap together have a high pH balance making it too drying for most skin types. But they they also reverse the benefits from any exfoliants that you're using (AHA's, BHA's and facial scrubs) since those are intended to remove dry skin cells. Bar soaps are a no-no, so look for mild, sulfate-free, soap-free gel cleansers.

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Labels: aha's, bar soap, dry skin, skin care, soap

In Ayurveda, milk, honey, yogurt, ghee and banana are considered to be the five perfect foods, so this bath would be a real treat to nourish, soften, smooth and re-energize your skin.

• 1 banana, mashed
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon yogurt
• 1 teaspoon ghee/clarified butter

Combine all the ingredients before massaging the sweet-scented mix onto your skin. Plunge yourself into a warm bath and feel your skin gradually becoming softer and smoother.

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Labels: ayurveda, DIY, dry skin, living holistically, skincare

Labels: dry skin, food, food for dry skin, healthy diet

Putting chemicals on your skin is actually far worse than ingesting them, because when you eat something the enzymes in your saliva and stomach help break it down and flush it out of your body. When you put these chemicals on your skin, however, it is absorbed straight into your blood stream without filtering of any kind, so there's no protection against the toxin.

The five pounds of toxic chemicals per year you may be absorbing from the use of toiletries and beauty products are largely going directly to your delicate organs. It's no wonder that they have been linked to deadly side effects like cancer.

Parabens, which may be listed on the label as methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, propyl paraben, butyl paraben, isobutyl paraben or E216, have shown particularly troubling links to cancer. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health stated nearly 900 of the chemicals used in cosmetics are toxic. Women are becoming more aware of this issue, and there are more natural cosmetics available today than in years past. But remember that labels do not tell the whole story. For more on how to select natural products, see Not All Natural Beauty Products are Natural.

There are no federal certifications or official guidelines for beauty products, so anyone can claim that such a product is natural or organic. Some "organic" beauty products contain only a single-digit percentage of organic ingredients.

If you want to stay beautiful, it is much better to do it by keeping yourself fit and healthy, rather than covering yourself with toxic chemicals. There are many great natural and safe cosmetic products out there. I hope to highlight some later this year, but in the meantime many of your health food stores are a good start to find them.

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Labels: beauty, cosmetics, dry skin, Mercola, natural products, personal care, toxins

INGREDIENTS

2 1/2 ounces avocado oil
1 1/2 ounces cocoa butter
1/2 ounce beeswax
4 ounces distilled water
1 teaspoon vitamin C powder
1/4 teaspoon vitamin A powder
1 tablespoon wheat germ oil
10 to 25 drops essential oil of choice (optional)

1. In a double boiler over medium heat, melt the oil, cocoa butter, and beeswax. Remove from heat and add the water, mixing with a whisk or electric mixer until thick and creamy.
2. Stir in remaining ingredients, and store in a glass jar with a screw top.

To Use:
Use a dab on your fingertips and gently massage into clean skin as often as needed.

This formula will keep for 6 months.

Labels: DIY, dry skin, moisturizer, natural products, skincare

Aka "the fountain of youth" occurs naturally in our bodies, helping to cushion and lubricate joints and organs. It's beloved by the beauty biz for binding moisture to the skin (take that fine lines!). It's particularly effective on damp skin (seals in moisture) before you apply your regular moisturizer (for a hydrating boost).

Labels: dry skin, hyaluronic acid, skincare

Here is a great moisturizing masque made with just avocados and eggs, courtesy of the California Avocado Commission.

Beat the yolk of an egg until it is light and frothy.
Add the mashed pulp of half an avocado, mix well in a blender.
Cleanse your face thoroughly before using this masque (or any masque, for that matter).
Spread the avocado mixture over the face and neck evenly, and just lie down and relax about 20 minutes.
Remove with clear tepid water and a face cloth, followed by a rinse of cold water or a mild skin lotion.

Labels: DIY, dry skin, skincare