Winter Proof Your Skin

Winter Proof Your Skin, from the inside out!
Our skin is the first place you will notice an improvement in, once you introduce anti-inflammatory foods into your diet. Winter weather and the change in temperature between indoors and outdoors tend to dry out the skin. Eating healthy, good quality essential fats, such as those found in avocado’s, nuts and oily fish (salmon, mackerel and sardines) are responsible for protecting the cell membranes in the skin and give it that healthy plump complexion.

Exfoliate
Moisturising and nourishing our skin when it hasn’t been exfoliated is next to useless, as the absorption rate will be less. A good facial can help rejuvenate the skin. Some of the over-the-counter products are cheap and therefore harsh facial scrubs, which will only damage the skin further. It’s very easy to make a homemade basic exfoliating cream. It is generally 1:1 i.e. equal parts wet ingredient to dry ingredient, be that 1 cup or 1 tablespoon of leaf roughage, seeds, fruit rind or even kitchen ingredients such as rice, salt or sugar. Wet ingredients can be aloe vera gel or fruit juice. Honey also makes a great base for an exfoliator.

Beauty Care Products
The skin is not only a major organ of elimination, but also of assimilation. We should be careful not to put anything on the skin that we wouldn’t otherwise eat. One tablespoon of lemon juice mixed with warm water makes an excellent and simple cleansing liquid.

Reducing Puffy Eyes
Ensuring the bedroom is as dark as possible helps provide a restful sleep. I can’t emphasise the importance of good quality sleep!  Many herbal teas such as chamomile, lemon balm and valerian can help to get a good night’s sleep. Drinking cool water throughout the day works to reduce inflammation and rehydrate. Cucumber and other chilled vegetables used as soothing eye pads also contain astringent agents to help reduce puffiness.

Exercise
Our lymph system travels throughout our body, helping to remove toxins and waste products. This system cannot do its job without being moved and the best way to do that is to exercise. Exercising helps us produce more oxygen, move our lymph system and eliminate toxins through the skin when we sweat. Now that sounds like a great way to get glowing skin!