Nature’s Secrets for a Beautiful and Healthy Skin

The Inside and Outside Story of Skin

The condition of your skin tends to reflect your overall good health and well-being, and your inner health will invariably show, sometimes dramatically, on your skin. Therefore, general health is crucial to the intrinsic health of your skin, the body’s largest organ. In addition to good health, your skin, because it covers your body, is subject to external elements such as air pollution, weather, UV-rays and other assaults, within and beyond your control. The good news is that the choices you make to care for your skin, with the help of nature’s secrets for a beautiful and healthy skin, can help your skin to overcome adverse conditions and shine on through.

Taking care of your skin as you age helps your inner glow show on the outside. Skin care products can be confusing and contain complex chemical ingredients that sound almost scary; thankfully, nature’s secrets for a beautiful and healthy skin are abundant! The fact is that all skin care products, with few exceptions, have some basis in natural ingredients, and these days there are hundreds of nature-based skin care products to choose from.

How (and how long) you expose your skin to the sun, what you eat and drink, the vitamins and supplements you may take, and the products you use in daily skin care have a direct impact on the condition of your skin. Because the skin is so visible, the effects of these elements show vividly and quickly. Nature is on your side when taking excellent care of your skin and its needs as it ages and changes. Skin is affected by what touches it externally and what nourishes it internally.

Hydration is Key

Your skin is made mostly of water and one of the easiest ways to keep it looking beautiful and healthy is to ensure it is adequately hydrated. This is especially important for people living in climates where there is a colder season and buildings are heated; skin dries out easily. The simple solution is, of course, to drink lots of water and hydrate your entire body as well as your skin. External application of a moisturizer helps, too. Look for products that contain little or no manufactured or mineral oil, and have the natural benefits that these beauty secrets from nature offer:

Bananas. That’s right, one of the world’s favorite snacks is also an excellent moisturizer! To help banana penetrate the skin, mix it into a mash with a small amount of good-quality olive oil. This is recommended for dry skins; people with oily skin should opt for a less “heavy-duty” skin moisturizer from nature.
Apricots. Like the banana mash, mix a few dried or fresh apricots with warmed olive oil in a blender; this is particularly good for very dry skin.
Avocado. Dig the flesh out of a ripe avocado, mash it thoroughly with a fork, and warm it slightly. The easiest way to do this safely is in a double boiler; be sure to wait until the avocado is just warm, not hot, before applying it to your skin. This not only moisturizes dry skin, it also delivers vitamins and protein to the skin.
Vinegar. A restorative and stimulant for the skin. Make a spritzer to spray on your face after you wash it, especially if your skin is prone to blemishes. To make the spritzer, combine one part apple cider or distilled white vinegar with eight parts water, place in an atomizer (spray bottle) and spray lightly all over your face. Feel it tingle!

A wonderful way to hydrate skin from the outside, especially refreshing on a hot, summer day, is a mineral water spray. Use a small spray bottle and fill it with a mineral water such as Perrier or San Pellegrino, and store it in the refrigerator. A few times a day, lightly spray your face, holding the bottle about one arm’s length away, with the mineral water. This is also excellent for the entire body. When we think of skin, we mostly default to facial skin, but our whole “epidermis” deserves attention!

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Sun on Skin

By now, everyone knows the dangers of over-exposure to the sun. Our Victorian-area ancestors knew the hazards of sun, and used parasols on sunny days to protect their delicate facial skin from the sun. They didn’t know back then as much as we know now of the harmful effects of UV-rays, but they understood that sun exposure changed the tone and color of skin, and the prized look of pale, delicate skin was compromised. Lucky for them that a beauty trend probably saved them from certain skin cancers.

There is no simple way to evaluate the pros and cons of sun on skin, but there are facts to consider:

Skin with dark pigment is much less affected by UV-rays from the sun than fair, freckled skin.
The aging of the skin tends to reduce its tolerance to sunlight, and continued exposure is an absolute factor in the drying and subsequent wrinkling of the skin.
Heredity has something to do with the way our skin looks and reacts to sun exposure.
We need sunshine in order to avoid vitamin D deficiency, which exists in 50% of the world’s population, most of those living in northern climates where sunlight is vastly reduced in the winter months.

The skin is the only part of the human body that can synthesize vitamin D, so it is an essential conduit to good health, with the side-effect of better skin. A win/win situation. A German study conducted in 2007 supported the use of vitamin D in the treatment of skin disorders such as psoriasis and acne, as well as the prevention of inflammatory skin diseases. Vitamin D is also proven to reduce depression (which can affect your skin, too, making it sallow) and the associated “seasonal affective disorder” or “SAD”, commonly known as the winter blues, and it boosts the immune system.

If vitamin D is so good for mind, body and skin, why isn’t lots of it even healthier? Depending on the factors stated above, such as skin color, age and heredity, moderate exposure to the sun is not only good for your health and your skin, it’s essential for life. That is why vitamin D has increasingly risen to a level of vital importance in the establishment and maintenance of good health.

Over-exposure to sun is not the best way to get your dose of vitamin D; tests have proven that an average person cannot eat sufficient vitamin D to prevent a deficiency of this pivotal vitamin. So, be good to your skin and take a vitamin D supplement of about 1,000 IU every day, unless you are sure you’ll be basking in the sunshine for about half an hour. This is especially significant for northern hemisphere inhabitants, from autumn through winter and into spring.

Skin-Friendly Vitamins

Besides vitamin D, vitamins A, B and E are known to have positive benefits to skin, but perhaps not in the ways and to the degrees you might have been led to think. The greatest misconception among these is probably the almost magical healing properties of vitamin E.

Perhaps because vitamin E is the single most significant lipid soluble antioxidant in human skin, it was wrongly credited with properties it evidently does not have. It was long believed that vitamin E could reduce the appearance of scars, even surgical ones that were deep and rather nasty. The University of Miami Department of Dermatology studied 15 post-surgical patients that had similar, if not identical scars; each of these individuals was treated with vitamin E applied directly to their scars, and then the condition of these scars was recorded at set intervals in the healing process. The results were not only dramatic, but also surprising. The study proved that vitamin E does not help the appearance of scars, nor does it expedite healing, but it can afford detrimental effects, such as dermatitis and other negative skin conditions.

Ingesting vitamin E as a skin-boosting supplement can also have a negative impact if you happen to be one of the majority of the population that has an occasional “cold sore” or carries the herpes virus. Because vitamin E is associated with an enzyme called “argenine”, which helps trigger cold sores (an opportunistic virus) and exacerbates an existing one, it can make a cold sore significantly worse. People should never ingest vitamin E when they have a cold sore, or, perhaps worse, open a vitamin E capsule and apply the oil directly to the sore. Vitamin E does, however, help the skin to retain moisture, but need not be ingested in supplement form to achieve that (more about that later!).

The A-B vitamin known as niacinamide, and comprised largely of vitamin B3, has been clinically tested and shown to improve the appearance of aging skin. Utilizing a control group of white females, a 5% solution of niacinamide cream was applied topically to one half of their faces and then reviewed for several months at four-week intervals. The results showed visible improvement to the appearance of fine lines, surface wrinkles, age spots, red blotches and sallowness, and elasticity.

Women more than men tend to be concerned about facial wrinkles, fighting the inevitability of the aging process and its skin deterioration. One of the biggest breakthroughs of the last few decades has been Retinol A, a vitamin A-based skin treatment that focuses on wrinkle reduction. In small doses, commonly less than one half of one per cent, vitamin A in a neutral emollient base (cream), vitamin A in this form proved to reduce fine wrinkles, the direct result of aging, in older women. The University of Michigan Medical School staged the study in 2007, and its 36 subjects were old age home residents, averaging 87 years of age. Not only did the topically applied Retinol A improve fine wrinkles, in part by stimulating an increase in collagen (the ingredient primarily responsible for the elasticity of skin), the skin became, in effect, stronger and more able to bear the brunt of injury.

Eat Your Way to Lovely Skin

Vitamins and minerals are essential to good health (on the inside) and therefore to beautiful, healthy skin (on the outside), but part of the trick of achieving and maintaining great skin through the natural benefits of vitamins is healthy eating that supplies the lion’s share of vitamins and minerals in the form of food.

All foods that contain vitamins, minerals and water are sensible for beautiful, healthy skin and overall excellent health. The majority of these are plant derivatives, but some come from animal protein sources, too. Here are some excellent foods that promote healthy, beautiful skin:

Seafood is the top animal-based protein we can eat to benefit our skin. Many fish and shellfish are abundant in Omega 3 fatty acids that reduce dryness and give skin a healthy look and feel.
Nuts, especially almonds, like seafood, are high in protein and if eaten in smaller quantities don’t add significant fat to the diet. They are rich in vitamin E, which holds moisture in the process of reducing wrinkles. Pistachios and walnuts are excellent, too.
Avocadoes are protein-rich and boast essential oils that make skin supple and smooth, reducing dryness.
Bright red and green vegetables (think red peppers and fresh spinach) are packed with vitamin A and beta-carotêne; they stimulate new cell growth and assist in clearing the skin of blemishes and impurities.
Mushrooms may look odd and seem a bit weird for all the time they spend in the dark, but while they’re quietly growing, they are becoming nutrient rich in properties that promote general good health, plus they are the only known fruit or vegetable (technically, they are neither; they’re a fungus, but they are plant matter) that contains vitamin D.
Whole grains contain lots of healthful fiber and keep your system running like a clock. This regularity ensures that your body rids itself of waste and can enjoy vitality. They promote general good health and also help to prevent dry skin.
Citrus fruits contain vitamin C, one of our best antioxidants. They protect against illnesses that make you feel awful and your skin look grey and sallow, and they help to keep skin firm and youthful.

We can ingest, in food or supplement form, the nutrients we need for beautiful and healthy skin, and that means improvements from the inside out. The opposite, treating our skin on its surface, can also show immediate and long-term improvements.

The Benefits of a Natural Facial Mask

It is essential to properly cleanse skin on a daily basis to prevent break-outs and keep the skin tone even, but we suffer from a litany of external elements that affect the cleanliness and beauty of our skin, including pollution, excessive sunlight and UV-rays, wind damage, dryness from overly heated or air conditioned buildings, and stress. Because of this assault on our skin, we occasionally need to deep-clean and restore.

Nature’s secrets for a beautiful and healthy skin include an excellent range of facial masks that deep-clean and help you to relax, another antidote to stress. Before applying a mask, wash your face and gently towel it dry; remove make-up thoroughly. Always avoid your eye area when applying a mask, and only leave the preparation on your skin for about 15 minutes. If you notice any adverse reaction, gently wash off the mask immediately with warm water and a face cloth or natural sponge, and then follow by splashing cooler or cold water on your skin.

Here are some wonderful natural facial treatments:

Almond facial mask. Ideal for oily skins, this is simply made by pulverizing almonds and a very small amount of water (using spring water ensures that chemicals are not involved) in a blender or food processor to form a paste; apply a thin layer of the paste to your skin. For optimum benefit, just before washing off the almond mask, gently massage it in to your skin with fingertips or a soft face cloth. The benefits are thorough cleansing, a sloughing-off of dead skin from the mildly abrasive action, softening of the skin, and protein-rich nourishment.
Brewer’s yeast mask. Also excellent for oily skins, the gentle abrasion will deeply clean pores and stimulate the surface of the skin. Use a small amount of water with the brewer’s yeast to make a light paste, apply to the skin, wait about 10 minutes and then gently massage the paste off your face, and rinse with cool water.
Carrot facial. Rich with vitamin A, this natural facial is best for oily skin. Peel a fresh carrot, and then using the peeler, shave off thin strips of the carrot. Mix those with some freshly squeezed lemon juice and apply to your face. Be extra careful to keep the lemon’s acid away from your eyes. Because this treatment is not a paste, you may find it best to either lie down, or rest back while you let the facial cure on your face for about 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water after removing the carrot facial.
Cucumber facial. Cucumbers are well-known to reduce puffiness around eyes (damp teabags work effectively, too) and their anti-inflammatory properties also work very well on the skin, soothing and smoothing, cleansing and evening skin tone. However, claims that cucumber can reduce the appearance of freckles and age spots are greatly exaggerated. Cucumber is particularly comforting and healing in the case of too much sun, and that applies to all parts of the body, not just the face. Simply slice the cucumber thinly and rest the slices on your skin (leave the seeds in place; they have astringent elements), or make a thick juice in a blender and apply to the skin. This one works best for normal to oily skin, and should be left on for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinsed off with tepid or cool water.
Hot oil facial. This is excellent for dry skin. Using a bowl of hot water, open your pores with steam for about 5 minutes. Apply olive oil (preferably) or another type of vegetable oil, massaging it into your skin lightly with your fingertips. Place a warm, wet face cloth on your face and lie down for approximately 10 minutes to allow the oil to penetrate. Use another warm-to-hot wet face cloth to remove the oil and tone with witch hazel.
Tomato facial. A great way to treat skin that is prone to blackheads and acne. Simply place mashed tomato or slices directly on the affected skin, leaving this natural astringent in place for about 15 minutes and then rinse it off with cool water.
Egg white facial. Lightly beat a couple of egg whites and paint onto your face. Leave on for about 10 minutes and then rinse off. You’ll see tightened, refreshed skin as a result.

Cleaning Your Skin Naturally

Most soaps these days are made from petroleum-based ingredients. A few craftspeople are making natural soaps with specific natural ingredients that answer to levels of dryness, types of skin, and skin conditions, but the soap you find at the local drug store or supermarket is made in huge commercial quantities with little respect for your skin. Here are some natural products and methods that cleanse and refresh your skin:

Barley water. Acting as an astringent, barley water cleanses, freshens and softens the skin. You can make it yourself by simmering 3 tablespoons of barley in 3 cups of water for about an hour. Strain the barley off, and cool the barley water before using it. Apply with a soft cotton pad or cotton ball, and rinse thoroughly with clear, cool water afterward. Barley water is suitable for all types of skin. You can keep your barley water for about a week if you refrigerate it. Use it twice a day, morning and night, to clean your skin.
Herbal steam clean. This relaxing and yet invigorating steaming of your face will open and clean out pores, soften the skin and help to refine lines and wrinkles. Place a combination of sage, peppermint and chamomile flowers in a large heat-proof bowl, and pour boiling water over the herbs. Covering your head loosely with a towel, lean over the bowl and let the steam perform is natural magic.
Honey and wheat germ. This is a sticky, potentially messy, way to clean skin, but quite effective, especially for oily, pimply skin. Heat the honey and combine with wheat germ, then apply the mixture you your face and leave it on for about 10 minutes. Remove the honey and wheat germ with a warm, wet face cloth, gently rubbing in a circular motion for abrasive action in treating the blemishes. Rinse off with warm water and finish with a very cool water rinse. Pat dry.

Can Wrinkles Naturally be Reduced?

Nature’s beauty secrets include the reduction of wrinkles. If you read advertisements for any wrinkle creams, you’ll see that they actually state, “reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles”. Once a true wrinkle has developed, odds are slim of making it vanish, but natural treatments can in fact help wrinkles to lessen in the severity of their appearance.

Cocoa butter and coconut oil are two such gifts from nature that can significantly tone down the wrinkles on your face. Apply sparingly and always avoid the eye area. If you have wrinkles at the outer edge of your eyes, then apply these natural products just below your eye, so nothing seeps directly into your eye; this also works for dry skin and wrinkles beneath the eyes.

A fennel facial mask is effective in the battle against wrinkles and facial lines. Using low-fat, plain yogurt as a base, add fennel (the herb and/or seed, not the bulb), and a good dollop of natural honey; mix well and place the concoction on your face for about 15 minutes; rinse off gently with warm water on a face cloth and then splash with cool, but not cold, water.

You are More than Just a Face

The skin on the rest of your body can also benefit from nature’s secrets for a beautiful and healthy skin. Herbal and floral baths will serve three purposes: 1. to cleanse your skin; 2. to impart a gentle, natural fragrance to your entire body; and 3. to help you relax. What could be better than a tub of warm scented water at the end of a busy day!

A herbal beauty bath is easy to prepare. The method depends on the strength of the infusion you add to the bath water. If you want a strong infusion, then boil the herbs before adding them to the water; otherwise, simply add them unboiled. Take a piece of cheese cloth, place the herbs in the centre, pull up the corners to form a little sac, tie the cheesecloth tightly and hang the sac directly under the running water as you fill your bath tub. Once the tub is filled, place the sac right in the water, climb in and enjoy!

What makes a great herbal bath? Thyme is one of the best herbs for cleaning and relaxing. Add a little lavender for fragrance, marjoram to calm your tired body, and chamomile flowers for softening. Rose petals are superb for the skin, but why waste their beauty by tucking them away in a sac! Float a few dozen rose petals right on the surface of your bath water.

Here’s a great tip for all your skin: dry oatmeal rubbed on the skin will remove dry, loose, peeling and flaky skin, and leave it with a natural glow! Mashed papaya is also terrific for getting rid of flaky skin.

Nature’s Secrets for a Beautiful and Healthy Skin Revealed

There is a plant for every purpose, and that includes the care and maintenance of healthy, beautiful skin. All of the ideas for masks, cleansers and moisturizers are effective if used regularly, even better if you learn to adjust them moderately for your specific skin type or condition. There are many more plants and herbs that have benefits for the skin; the list below speaks to the collection of plants that are nature’s secrets in treating particular issues with skin:

For cleansing. Geranium leaves, lovage, lemongrass.
For astringents. Sage, comfrey root, strawberry leaves, witch hazel, lemons.
For healing. Peppermint, chamomile flowers, elder flowers, rosemary.
As an antiseptic. Lavender, thyme, peppermint, wintergreen, eucalyptus.
For toning. Thyme, peppermint, nettle, milfoil, lavender.
For moisturizing. Chamomile flowers, rose petals, rose hips, orange blossoms.
For softening and reduction of wrinkles. Fennel, rose petals, elder flowers.
For stimulating circulation. Peppermint, thyme, rosemary, lavender.
For calming irritated skin. Marjoram, balm, hops, passion flowers.

Most herbs and flowers for the skin are readily available, fresh on a seasonal basis or dried from your favorite health food store, naturopath, homeopath, or herbalist. The vast majority of these plants are easy to grow and many also sport colorful blossoms that will make your garden as lovely as your skin. Nature is full of surprises, so it should be no surprise that nature’s secrets for a beautiful and healthy skin boast inexpensive and effective ways of making and keeping your skin in excellent condition at any age. It’s only natural!

Editor Kevin Belargo – Editor’s Google Profile

Author Pamela