Natural Skin Care

Guide to Achieving and Maintaining Beautiful Skin, Naturally

Understanding Skin

Although the basic condition and appearance of our skin and the way that it ages is largely inherited from our parents, there is much that can be done to maximize its condition and appearance.

In order to create an effective personal skin care regime, we need to understand how the skin behaves, what it needs, what can affect its appearance and what type of skin you have.

Approximately seventy per cent of the human body is composed of water, with at least fifteen per cent of this being contained in the skin. It is the top layer of skin, known as the epidermis that reacts temporarily to skin care products, but its long-term dewy appearance is reliant on a continuous supply of water from the deeper layers of skin and its ability to retain that water. The epidermis is microscopically thin and since it is this layer that is exposed to the elements, the cells are constantly being worn away and replaced from below with new cells.

The next layers of the skin, known as the dermis, contain all the structures that give skin its strength and elasticity, including blood vessels, nerve receptors, sweat glands, hair roots and connective tissue. The blood vessels are responsible for oxygenating and nourishing the skin. Below the dermis lies subcutaneous tissue, which consists mostly of fat. It is this layer that also contains larger blood vessels and nerves.

The skin also contains sebaceous glands, which secrete a fatty substance known as sebum. The combination of sebum, sweat and water forms a protective emulsion, which helps to prevent excessive evaporation of water.

When everything is functioning well, the skin appears glowing and healthy, but there are many factors that influence the skin and upset the balance of the system.

What Factors Adversely Affect The Skin?

" Smoking
" Exposure to the sun or harsh weather conditions
" Air conditioning and central heating
" Hormonal imbalance; menstruation, pregnancy, menopause, birth control pills
" Air travel
" Excessive dieting/poor diet
" Use of harsh products
" Poor cleansing routine
" Illness
" Medications
" Recreational drugs
" Lack of sleep
" Stress

In a healthy person, the blood carries plenty of oxygen, giving the skin a rosy color. In a person with a sluggish system, the blood carries less oxygen, often giving the skin a bluish color. However, the blood vessels are also sensitive to changes in temperature; hot weather will cause the vessels to expand, giving the skin a flushed appearance, but in cold weather the vessels constrict, thereby restricting the amount of red blood cells flowing through and hence the term "blue with cold".

Most of us lead busy, complicated lives that are far from stress-free and often the first area of our body to suffer is our skin. It's like a barometer to our general health. Whilst it is not always possible to change certain aspects of our lives, it is possible to counteract some of the adverse effects by taking control of our health and skin care regime.

Of course, we are all part of the ageing process and no matter what we do, our skin changes with time. Its natural oil and moisture content diminishes as we grow older and its support fibers, collagen and elastin break down. Although there is little we can do to turn back the clock, there are steps that we can take to maintain the youthful appearance of our skin for longer and help to prevent the premature appearance of wrinkled, lackluster skin.

What is natural skin care?

It seems that we are being continually bombarded with advertisements about new and exciting skin products that promise radiance, youthfulness, firmness and wrinkle reduction. We hear of so-called miracle ingredients such as AHAs, retinol, pentapeptides and glycolic acid, all claiming to be non-invasive alternatives to cosmetic surgery, but not really proven and often expensive.

The best route is the tried and tested natural one. Natural skin care involves using gentle, but effective formulations containing ingredients such as herbs, plants, vitamins and essential oils that in particular will not irritate sensitive skin or upset the pH balance.

Basic Skin Care Routine

Although it may seem as though your skin changes on a daily basis, everyone still has a basic skin type and it is that type that you should use as a guide to choosing the right products. Having said that, it is still a case of finding the products that suit you personally, rather than rigidly sticking to the information that is offered by the cosmetics' industry or the salesperson at the cosmetic counter. Whilst you may have mature skin, for example, not all the products defined as being good for mature skin will be suitable for you.

Your choice can become complicated if you have combination skin and most of us will have suffered from dry, sensitive and oily patches on the face at the same time. You may therefore need to use separate products to deal with the different skin types on your face.

Choosing products should also depend on the actual condition of your skin, not your age. It is difficult to fall into the trap of believing that your age should dictate the products that you buy. A middle-aged person, for example, may still suffer from acne, eczema or oily skin, while a teenager may have dry, sensitive or even sun-damaged skin.

For all skin types, a basic skin care routine of cleanse, tone and moisturize contributes towards the look and feel of your skin and exfoliating once a week removes any build up of dead skin cells and helps to eliminate dull, tired-looking skin.

How to Determine Your Skin Type

Dry: The skin has fine, barely perceptible pores. It can be flaky, easily irritated and feels tight after washing.

Normal: Normal skin has a relatively good balance of natural oils and water, but is very rare. Normal skin also has fine pores. The skin is smooth, clear, silky, firm and has a good tone.

Oily: Oily skin tends to have larger, more visible pores with a tendency towards spots and blemishes. The skin often appears shiny and makeup does not often settle well.

Combination: Combination skin tends to display characteristics associated with both dry skin and oily skin. The oily area is typically in the T-Zone (forehead, nose and chin), whilst the cheeks tend to be dry. It will probably be necessary to use different products for different areas of the face.

Sensitive: Sensitive skin is particularly reactive to environmental factors and substances that come into contact with the skin. Sensitive skin suffers frequently from flakiness, itchiness and dermatitis.

Dehydrated: Even if you have oily skin, it can still be dehydrated. It is actually water, not oil, that gives skin its dewy, plump appearance. Signs of dehydration include flakiness and a dull appearance to the complexion, with a crepe paper effect on your cheeks if you gently lift up your skin with your forefinger.

Vitamins and Supplements For Great Skin

" Omega-3 and Omega-6: Found in salmon, halibut, sardines, albacore, trout, herring, walnut oil, shrimps, clams, tuna, cod and spinach

" Vitamins A & D: Vitamins A & D are stored in the body and can be toxic in overdose. If you are eating a healthy diet, it will not usually be necessary to take additional Vitamins A & D supplements. Sources of Vitamin A: liver, eggs, butter and cod live oil and beta-carotene. Sources of Vitamin D: sunlight and fish oils

" Vitamin C: Found in citrus fruits, strawberries, tomatoes, legumes, nuts, soy, broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts. Vitamin C is necessary for the absorption of iron

" Vitamin B complex: (B1 - thiamine mononitrate or thiamine hydrochloride, B2 - riboflavin, B5 - calcium D-pantothenate, B6 - pyridoxine hydrochloride, B12 - cobalamin, Folic Acid - pteroylglutamic acid, Biotin - d-Biotin). Sources include: brown rice, egg yolks, fish, legumes, liver, nuts, peas, poultry, rice bran, kelp, wheat germ, whole grains, potatoes, tomatoes, mushrooms, broccoli, sunflower seeds, carrots, and spinach

" Vitamin E: Found in wheat germ, almonds, peanuts, vegetable oil, green leafy vegetables and walnuts

" Iron: Found in meat, fish, poultry, beans, dried fruits, whole grains, fortified cereals and bread.

" Zinc: Beef, pork, chicken, oysters, mussels, shrimps, Lentils, kidney beans, cheese and rice.

Top Tips For Beautiful Skin

" Drink plenty of water, ideally 8 glasses of water a day
" Cleanse your skin thoroughly every night, even if you do not wear makeup. In fact, makeup has a protective effect on the skin, acting as a barrier to the elements, but it must be removed thoroughly every night to prevent blocked pores
" Always use a moisturizer
" Avoid sunbathing or using sunbeds and always sunscreen on your face, even in winter
" Exfoliate once a week to get rid of dead skin cells, expose fresh new cells, make your skin super soft and give you a radiant glow
" Don't smoke, use recreational drugs or drink too much alcohol
" Eat as much raw food as possible, in particular fruit and vegetables
" Get plenty of sleep
" Touch your face as little as possible. Your hands are constantly coming into contact with many substances and bacteria, which you don't want to transfer to your face

Quick and Inexpensive Skin Boosters

For The Eyes

" Relax with two slices of cool cucumber over your eyes for 10 minutes. This helps to reduce puffiness and is a great pick-me-up first thing in the morning
" Place caffeinated teabags over your eyes for 10-15 minutes, preferably when they are slightly warm. Again, this helps to reduce puffiness and dark circles

For The Lips

" When you brush your teeth, run the toothbrush across your lips. This has an exfoliating effect and also stimulates blood flow, making your lips appear plumper as well as softer

For The Face

" For a quick skin conditioning treatment, mix 1 egg, some lemon juice, olive oil and water and smooth across your face. Leave for 5-10 minutes and then rinse off with a gentle facial wash and cold water. Pat dry and moisturize as normal

Recommended Product Ranges

Dermalogica : All Dermalogica cleansers are soap-free and acid-balanced to protect the skin's natural moisture barrier. Dermalogica uses only the finest ingredients available, with none of the products containing mineral oil, lanolin, irritating artificial colors or fragrance and no drying S.D. alcohol.

Liz Earle: Liz Earle uses herbs, plants, vitamins and essential oils in quantities that benefit the condition of the skin. Where possible the ingredients are harvested from wild, sustainable sources or grown organically.

Yaoh: All Yaoh hemp seed oil cosmetics contain organic hemp seed oil, which is renowned for its healing and rejuvenating qualities. Hemp oil contains a fully balanced spectrum of essential fatty acids, which are readily absorbed by the skin and are particularly good for anyone with sensitive skin.

The Body Shop: The Body Shop is against animal testing and supports community trade, which ensures that disadvantaged communities around the world receive a fair price for the natural ingredients and handcrafted products they provide. The Body Shop believes in protecting the planet, doesn't use PVC in its packaging and uses recycled plastic.