8 simple steps to radiant skin...

Small steps that can be practiced, bought and considered...please feel free to add to the list...

• Exfoliate using a scrub or washcloth.
  
• Drink lots of water.
• Sweat at least 3-4 times a week. You will clear your pores and add a nice glow to your skin.
• Eat more Wild Salmon and Olive Oil for your fatty acids.
• Cleanse your face with wash like Saaf Organic Pure Face Cleanser that doubles as a moisturizer.
  
• Fake it with a bronzer, my favorite, Dr. Hauschka Bronze Concentrate.
  
• Give yourself a sweet honey mask.
• My all time favorite trick, add highlights is all the right places with Weleda Skinfood.
  

eleven quick tips for keeping your skin young...

I came across these tips for keeping your skin young and healthy. Do you agree? Disagree? Have anything to add? I agree on most but have heard mixed reviews on applying moisturizer at night.

1. Cover Up from the sun between 10AM and 2PM.
2. Upgrade your SPF to a broadspectrum SPF 30.
3. Sleep.
4. Moisturize at night when your body temp is higher.
   
5. Drink lots of water.
6. De-stress, don't make your defense mechanisms work overtime.
   
7. Do Cardio to move oxygen through the body and sweat impurities from the pores.
   
8. Give Yoga a try to tone and condition the muscles your skin is attached to.
   
9. Eat antioxidants, the skins best friend.
10. Trade your coffee for green tea and sip the powerful antioxidant EGCG.
11. Pick the right wrinkle fighters for your skin type.
    

smooth skin from head to toe...

I have a habit of slathering myself from head to toe with moisturizer. This should be done daily (I believe) and immediately after bathing while skin is still damp to lock in moisture. Moisturizing can be time consuming but after a few weeks you'll have your routine down and see the difference. This is an easy step towards smooth skin. Shikai is a great body lotion and one of my long time favorites. The scents are fresh and clean. Also available non-scented. The lotion feels light on the skin and is perfect for sweaty summer months. Experiment until you find a lotion or body butter that suits you. Just avoid anything containing mineral oil!

cool down with Saaf...

Summer is quickly approaching, time for quick cool down showers. Rinsing with cool water increases circulation in the body and adds a rosy glow to the skin. Also a good trick for people with dry or itchy skin which is easily irritated with hot water. While rinsing, clean with Saaf Pure Shower Gel. Light, refreshing and just right for summer with hints of mandarin, lavender, patchouli, ylang-ylang and Clove. Available at Beautorium. For an extra treat, moisturize your skin afterwards with Saaf Body Balm.

a healthy start to the new year...

Everyone wants a healthy start to the New Year so I decided to recommend some books with great advice on diet and lifestyle. The most important step to follow for flawless skin (aside from drinking enough water) is eating a healthy diet!

My friend Daisy gave me an adorable book called Wonderfoods by Natalie Savona. The book is broken into nine chapters ranging from energy to heart. In each chapter foods and recipes are listed that are recommended for that area of the body. In the skin portion, Natalie recommends almonds, strawberries, avocado, carrot, mango and sweet potato. Flawless Beauty has recommended some of these foods as topical treatments for the skin but I want to put emphasis on the fact that consuming these foods in your diet will give you the most direct results.


Another fabulous book on food and lifestyle change is The New Detox Diet by Elson M. Hass. This book is full of different types of meal plans and just good lifestyle advice in general. Earlier this year I did a seven day detox from this book and was very pleased with the recipes and advice given. I was trying to kick my love for sugar which is very bad for the skin!

flawless basics...the importance of sleep

Image courtesy of Toast.com.

Much of the body’s healing work takes place while you sleep. Without the need to attend to all of the functions of daily life, your immune system and organs that detox the body (kidneys) can focus attention on cleansing and restoration. This is the time when your body does major housecleaning, taking care of wastes that have accumulated during the day and repairing cellular damage. This is also why it is important to try to refrain from putting anything on your skin at night, your body is working hard to expel waste from your skin. When you wake in the morning use a cleanser to eliminate the toxins expelled during the night.
You may notice when you are stressed and tired your skin is more prone to rashes, blemishes and lacks vitality. If you are going through particularly stressful times try to nap on the weekends as well. So how much sleep do you need? Most likely 7-10 hours a night, you have to figure out what your body needs and be willing to make sure it receives. Here are some tips for getting a good nights sleep and figuring out how much you need...

:: cultivate the habit of going to bed early, your body is naturally set to fall asleep when it gets dark out so in other words, the earlier the better :: avoid eating for at least 2 hours before sleeping, if you need a snack eat fruit because it is easily digested :: avoid caffeine in all forms, alcohol, cigarettes and drugs :: use cotton bedding/sleepwear to let your body breath and crack a window for fresh air if you can :: do NOT fall asleep to the television, you have to make sure you create an environment that is peaceful and quiet :: take baths and drink herbal teas, both are natural sleep remedies that help the body relax and unwind :: also try meditation, peaceful conversation, or reading ::

If you listen to your body and get on a schedule you naturally will find yourself falling asleep and awaking at the same time. This isn't always realistic in our busy lives but trying some of the above tips can hopefully provide the body with and extra restful night...

water...and yes, more water

Bottom line, water makes up 60-65% of our body weight and is needed for everything; without water of bodies cannot function efficiently. Our emotional, metal and physical health is often affected when we do not drink enough water.
Drinking 8-10 8oz glasses of water a day has a stunning effect on the skin, relieving the body of toxins and helping flush out debris therefore helping the skin reach its optimum glow.

Most importantly, remember to drink before you're thirsty. These SIGG bottles are great for keeping nearby and saving on plastic bottle waste.