February 08, 2010

Glowing Skin!

We’ve been experiencing a mild winter and have been seeing the sun a lot more often lately. Seeing the sun shining reminds me of many things but one of the first thoughts that pops into my head is “did I remember sunscreen today?” So, did you remember your sunscreen today? This brings me to the topic of glowing skin and what we can do to achieve it.
One thing that we all have complete control over is what we put into our bodies. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables along with whole grains, seeds, nuts and legumes will nourish your skin with the essential vitamins and minerals it needs. Avoid animal and saturated fats while leaning more toward cold-pressed vegetable oils, fried foods should be avoided as well. Making an effort to drink at least ten 8oz glasses of water a day will hydrate the skin and aid in flushing away toxins. A regular exercise routine increases circulation, this supplies oxygen and nutrients to the cells.
When it comes to your daily cleansing routine there are a few things to keep in mind, like always wearing sunscreen. We often remember this step in the summer or when we are on a tropical vacation but we should be applying sunscreen daily, even in the winter and on rainy days. Something to avoid is alcohol based toners. There are some great DYI recipes online for natural toners or you could pick up an herbal or flower water instead. Stay away from harsh soaps or solid cleansing creams, another thing to avoid is applying heavy oils around the eyes at night, this could be a contributing factor in puffy eyes in the morning. A gentle exfoliation several times a week removes dead and dry skin cells and helps to stimulate circulation. After cleaning your skin, apply a moisturizing lotion while the skin is still damp for better absorption.
Alcohol, caffeine and cigarettes all dehydrate the skin and so should be avoided.

Thinking of facial rejuvenation acupuncture? Here are some of the benefits;
• improves muscle tone and dermal contraction
• increases collagen production and has an effect on its dispersal
• helps to firm and reduce bags around the eye and neck as well as sagging tendencies
• helps to eliminate puffiness by improving metabolism and thus eliminating excess fluids
• helps to eliminate fine lines of the face and has a diminishing effect on larger wrinkles
• improves hormonal balance thus acne can be successfully treated
• moisturizes the skin by increased local circulation of blood and lymph to the face
• improves facial color by the increase of peripheral circulation
• reduces stress
• promotes overall health and well being
• nerve pathways in the head and the whole body are opened, allowing for and enhancing the free flow of vitality throughout the body
• crystallized emotions held in the face can be released allowing one to present a fresh relaxed radiant appearance
• bring out one’s innate beauty and radiance