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Kalyx.com Herbs, Foods, Supplements, Bath & Body

Winter Skin Care for Youthful Looking Skin

By Andrea Lewis

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Cold, dry air and frost-bite winds can wreak havoc on your skin, at any age. What are some natural, low cost methods for protecting and even improving your skin's condition? Read on.

In this day and age, when so much more is known about how the skin works, it's good to know that one can care for skin with or without the latest store bought preparations. There are more than a few "pure" skin care items that come straight from nature, no mixing required. There are also herbal tea combinations that can purify the body and skin, leaving your skin clearer, smoother, and firmer than ever.

Since beauty starts on the inside and radiates outward, we will start with an internal skin care regimen and work toward the external.

Part One: Internal Skin Care

Daily supplementation should include:

  • 1,000mg Vitamin C, three times a day, for collagen formation and retention
  • At least 10,000 IU Beta Carotene (which safely turns into Vitamin A in the body), as it is essential for healthy skin.
  • 1,000 IU Vitamin D for enhancing absorption of Vitamins A and C, and proper neuromuscular function
  • 2mg Copper for strengthening collagen and holding muscle tissue together, meaning smoother, firmer skin.
  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids, in the form of fish, flaxseed, borage and evening primrose oils. Essential in cell maintenance and aid in the transport of nutrients to the cells.
  • Acidophilus for aiding in digestion, which helps clear the body of waste products.
Use the following recipe to hasten waste from the body, without breaking out the skin. Will firm, smooth and make skin radiant. This tea should be consumed at least three times a week:

Ingredients per 6-8oz. Cup of boiling hot water:

1 tsp. Schisandra Berries, whole or c/s.
1 tsp. Chrysanthemum (Chinese variety only)
1/2 tsp. White Peony Root

Steep at least 10 minutes, but the longer the better. You can multiply the recipe and make a large pot and store for future reheating and drinking.


Part Two: External Skin Care

External Skin Care for the 100% Natural Types:

There are two fruit oils that will work for everyone in the cold dry months ahead, whether they suffer from very dry or very oily skin, grape seed and apricot kernel.

Grapeseed Oil is great for all skin types, but especially for oily skin, because it is slightly astringent and won't clog pores, unless used in excess.
Apricot Kernel Oil is also good for all skin types, but especially prematurely aged, sensitive, inflamed and dry skin types.

Both are very high in antioxidants, but apricot kernel possesses natural preservative abilities that are almost unrivaled by any other fruit oil.

The key to effective use, of course, is application. This hold especially true for those who have oily skin. Your skin may be a good deal drier in Winter, but you should still be careful not to overdue.

In freshly washed hands, add a few drops of the chosen oil to your palms, rub together until your entire palm is lightly coated, then gently press against your freshly washed face until you have applied the oil all over. If your skin still feels dry, wait 5-10 minutes; if the feeling remains, repeat the process.

You say you want to be a natural beauty, but not on such a bare bones scale? There are many terrific herb and fruit oil based products on the market today, with binding ingredients that won't make you cringe.

For oily skin, there is Kata Ayurvedic Clove Cream for Oily Skin. For dry skin, there's Self-Heal Flower Essence Skin Cream or Emerita Day Face Cream for Mature Skin. Of course, there are many more "natural" skin care products on the market, but these three have superb ingredients and have been proven effective for the aforementioned skin types.

If you have "extra" skin problems, such as those that come with aging, there are effective "natural" products for that as well. Reviva Labs Brown Spot Skin Lightening Night Cream has been around for decades, with good reason -- it's effective. But your face and neck are not the only parts of your body you need worry about when cold weather hits.

Hand and Foot care

Rough hands and feet can give away your age just as easily as your face and neck, so don't neglect them!

For dry, cracked skin Shikai has great products: Shikai Borage Dry Skin Therapy Hand Cream and Shikai Borage Dry Skin Therapy Foot Cream. There's also Herbal Skin Crack Cream, which can be used anywhere you have a skin crack.

Summary
The cure to dry Winter skin is varied and quite effective. There are many natural means to achieving softer, smoother, firmer, younger-looking skin, and some are 100% natural... Others are not. The skin beautifying tea recipe is effective throughout the year, as are most of the products listed, but Winter makes skin care a bit more challenging. Just know that you can rise to the occasion without the use of petroleum products.

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