Love Your Face

Love Your Face

We all want to look and feel beautiful.  And what is the first thing people see when looking at us … our face!  So it makes sense that we should take care of it the best we can.  We need to love our face!

The first way to care for your skin is to find out the type of skin you have: oily, normal/combination, dry, sensitive or sun-damaged.  Tip:  most of us have combination skin - some of our skin is oily while some of it is dry.  No matter your type, knowing makes taking care of it much easier.  And a skin care routine doesn’t have to take long … the process I use below takes less than 5 minutes! 

Step 1: Cleanse

Cleansing your face is so important to healthy skin!  If all you can do is take care of your face at the end of the day, your skin will thank you.  Trust me.  Make getting the day’s dirt and makeup off part of your bedtime routine and teach your daughters the same.  When they are 40 they will thank you!  😉  Just like the rest of your body, your skin needs the opportunity to rest, breathe, and regenerate!

Keep cleansing simple.  Find a toxin-free cleanser, that your skin responds well to and stick with it.  The ART Gentle Cleanser or the Orange Blossom Facial Wash are both fantastic choices if you are still searching.  If you are a DIY’er, you can even cleanse your skin with things you normally eat, like milk or yogurt, or with natural oils!  And adding essential oils like Lavender and/or Frankincense is the equivalent to adding super powers!

Some basic tips:

• Do not cleanse too often. Most experts agree you only need to wash your face at night to remove dirt, makeup, and sunscreen, all which can clog pores. 
• In the morning, a splash of warm water is all you need unless you have super oily skin.  If so, you may need to cleanse again.  Remember to use warm water:  hot or cold water can cause broken capillaries.
• The area around your eyes is delicate so be sure to remove eye makeup gently with a makeup remover. You can also use olive oil or coconut oil as natural eye makeup removers.  Want a super easy trick:  try these Seedlings Baby Wipes!
• If you have dry skin, consider cleansing with a cold cream.  You can easily make your own with the recipe below.  Simply apply the cream and wipe off.  No water needed.
• Most women, however, prefer using warm water to loosen dirt and clogged pores. Use a bit of cleanser then rinse. 

Step 2: Exfoliate

Exfoliation is the step many people skip but when done properly, you will notice an almost immediate difference.  How often is a personal preference.  Again, know your own skin.  It should never look red or irritated, but rather refreshed, after you scrub.

Exfoliation does not have to be expensive or complicated.  You can buy a great scrub, such as Young Living’s Mint Satin Facial Scrub, or you can make your own.  Adding essential oils can make your favorite scrub even more fabulous!

You can also use a washcloth (part of my evening routine), a natural sponge (part of my morning routine), or a bath pouf.  Again, you can use only warm water or place a dab of your favorite scrub on your exfoliating tool of choice and massage skin in a circular motion. After a quick rinse, the dry, dead skin is erased.

I tend to combine steps one and two in the evening … I use an oil or oil-based cream to remove dirt and makeup and then use a warm, wet washcloth to remove it.  In the morning, I use a natural sponge with only water in my shower and it’s just enough to freshen up my face from its overnight sleepy state.

Step 3: Moisturize

A basic rule of beauty is that if you have dry skin, you should invest in a good moisturizer.  Consider trying the ART Intensive Moisturizer if you don’t already have a non-toxic favorite.

How much should you moisturize? Again, listen to your skin. When it is tight, it's crying out for moisture and on the flip side, over-moisturizing can clog pores.

Making your own?  Nothing beats a good oil! Try extra virgin coconut oil, olive oil, sweet almond oil, or jojoba oil. Again, adding your favorite essential oil will only enhance your moisturizer and bless your skin! 

There are many women that like to also use a facial serum.  I just like the word … sounds like magic for my face!  Try out this Essential Beauty Serum or make your own!

My facial serum recipe base contains equal parts of Raspberry, Grapeseed, and Apricot oils and then I mix in Lavender and Frankincense essential oils for their fantastic skin benefits.  Research which oils might be best for you.  There are more essential oil recommendations in the Cold Cream recipe below.

So, a quick recap: 

1. Cleanse
2. Exfoliate
3. Moisturize 

You can’t get much simpler than that but this basic routine is an effective way to support and enhance that gorgeous face of yours!  Go ahead … make your face happy!

Cold Cream Recipe

1 T jojoba oil

8 T virgin coconut oil (solid)

Several drops of your favorite essential oil or combination of oils

(Great choices for skin care are:  Lavender, Frankincense, Cardamom, Roman Chamomile, Eucalyptus Globulous, Lemongrass, Neroli.

1. Gently warm the jojoba and coconut oil in a saucepan over low heat until completely melted.
2. Remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes.
3. Add several drops of the essential oil.  (Do not add while first mixture is hot as this will decrease the effectiveness of the essential oils.)
4. Whisk until mixture thickens.
5. Pour mixture into a glass jar with cover. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
6. Can be used cold or at room temperature.

Traditionally, cold cream is applied in a thick layer over the face and then wiped off with a cotton pad; repeat as necessary to remove all dirt and makeup. Some women prefer the washcloth method: apply a thick layer then remove with a warm, wet washcloth. Massaging the face with the washcloth acts as a natural exfoliant.

Cold cream works best on combination or dry skin but can make oily skin feel greasy.