Integrate Skincare with Self-care to Improve Your Wellness
Skin: so critical to health and little understood
We eat “clean” to keep our body healthy, so why not follow the same philosophy with what we put on our body as well as what we put in it? What are the benefits you might wonder? When we are given ample healing tools from mother earth, why choose something made in a lab?
Our body does amazing things for us. It keeps us strong and healthy; it allows us to move and grow etc. Our body deserves to be cared for and nurtured. “Your skin is the organ that comes into contact with the rest of the world. It holds body fluids in, prevents dehydration, and keeps harmful microbes out—without it, we would get infections. Your skin is full of nerve endings that help you feel things like heat, cold, and pain and helps keep your body temperature even. If you get too hot, blood vessels near the surface of the skin, called capillaries, enlarge to let the warm blood cool down. Additionally, your skin plays important roles such as making vitamin D when the sun shines on it. Vitamin D is important for the health of your bones and other parts of your body.” (Healthy Skin Matters - How to Take Care of Skin for Kids | NIAMS (nih.gov)
How does skincare affect your health?
Since the U.S. does not regulate cosmetics, many companies and large corporations take advantage and use cheaper ingredients such as chemicals, synthetic ingredients & preservatives in their products that can be toxic to our health and skin over time. Additionally, they have been linked to health issues such as cancer, birth defects, hormonal disruption etc. “The average woman puts 515 synthetic chemicals on her body every day without knowing.” – (HuffPost) Our skin is our largest organ and like a sponge absorbs around 60% of what you put on it. Think about what that does once it gets in your bloodstream. In fact, the FDA in the U.S. does not regulate cosmetics. However, in Europe several of those ingredients are banned or restricted. If you are unsure of a product or some ingredients, I like to refer to Environmental Working Group or (EWG.com), a website and app where you can conveniently enter products, and it identifies any potential unhealthy and/or toxic ingredients.
Why is less more when it comes to skincare?
Growing up with bad acne and rosacea, I did not notice the change in my skin until I switched over to a natural, simple routine and started utilizing self-care to help combat stress and anxiety. If you look at your skin as an eco-system, it can help you gain a better understanding of how it works. By keeping your routine natural, simple, and unpolluted with unhealthy skincare additives, it encourages a balanced PH. When your PH is balanced, your skins immune system and natural barrier function are at their highest functioning potential, making your skin less vulnerable to daily stressors which can cause acne and aging of the skin over time. I specifically practice the minimalist oil method, where I use one oil, (Balance Oil) for oil cleansing, make-up remover and moisturizer. The only additional product I use is sunscreen. This simple routine keeps my skin clear and healthy year around. Additionally, I allow my skin to fully breath by going foundation and concealer free.
Ever notice how when you are upset or stressed you end up with a breakout and/or red inflamed skin? Conversely, when you are relaxed or just feeling good, your skin seems to have a clear and healthy complexion. This is because when you are stressed, your body releases cortisol (the stress hormone), which triggers inflammation and excess oil to the surface, which can cause breakouts and skin irritations. Moreover, it can cause muscle tension in the face which can cause wrinkles over time. When you feed your skin with nourishing ingredients that are simple and easy for the skin to “understand,” and absorb, your skin can fully utilize them without any stress or irritations.
A gift from Maia to you.
Implementing Skincare in Your Daily Routine
Implementing just a few minutes of self-care a day that’s focused on your skin can make all the difference. Skin health and mindset have a strong correlation, so utilizing skincare as self-care can be beneficial for stress, while helping to maintain a healthy mindset. Additionally, it can empower productivity and help you come back to the present and combat anxiety.” “Self-Care also empowers self-love, by taking care of ourselves and our needs, we’re telling ourselves, “I deserve things” and we do.” – (Psychreg.org)
You can make the simple act of applying skincare a daily self-care ritual through adding aspects that make it feel special to you. For example, I like to ground myself every morning and evening through taking a few drops of Balance Oil, setting an intention, and breathing in the grounding scent of lavender essential oil, while giving myself a simple short face massage.
EASY STEPS TO GET STARTED
Take a moment to set an intension followed by a deep breath
Massage in your enhanced face-oil using upward circular motions
Cycle through message from chin to forehead as time allows
The simple act of devoting time to yourself is an act of self-love. It is a large extension of us. “With regular self-care our self-awareness is greatly enhanced.” When our self-esteem and self-awareness improves, it has a positive effect on our overall mindset.” –(psychreg.org) Through taking care of our skin, we are also taking care of our body and health. I have a strong belief that natural skincare and how you feel strongly connect with wellness, when you feel good on the inside you project vibrancy and beauty on the outside.
Maia Willow Pursell
Licensed Holistic Esthetician
Maker of Wellnessbywillow natural skincare