If you’ve got dry skin like me, you may spend a chunk of your morning slathering yourself with store-bought moisturizer, like I did every day for many years. But you may want to stop and take note of the ingredients in your lotion. For many years, I didn’t pay any attention at all to what was going on – and therefore through – my skin.
Basically, I stopped using the junk. Who knows what kind of industrial waste and dangerous chemicals is in that stuff? If my great-great grandmother wouldn’t have heard of it, I decided, I would try to pass it by. But this personal declaration didn’t make my skin magically luscious and moist. I was on my own in that department.
So here’s what I’ve figured out over the years.
1) Eat more good fats – The low-fat fad that has been overwhelming our society – and making us all sick – is fading away. More and more people are realizing that fat is essential for good health, as long as the right fats are being eaten. Some great books on this subject are Sally Fallon’s Nourishing Traditions and Eat Fat, Lose Fat. High fat dairy is even good for your heart. The right fats will nourish every part of your body, including your skin.
2) Almond oil, coconut oil, and vitamin E – These are the ingredients in my homemade skin cream. I will often add some essential oil, vanilla or lavender or whatever I’m feeling like at the time, and keep it in a glass jar. It lasts forever and it’s actually good for my skin. More about the benefits of coconut oil later. Almond oil is great for lots of skin related ailments, including itchiness and inflammation. It’s a really mild oil that does well on most people. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, which means it protects your skin cells from potential cancer-causers.
3) Sun!Vitamin D is good for you. Most people today are detrimentally depraved when it comes to this nutrient. We have become afraid of the sun, and we’ve stopped eating many of the foods that are high vitamin D, such as liver – including fish, chicken, goose and cow, or pastured egg yolks and pastured dairy products. Of course, everyone’s skin type is different, and can some can tolerate shorter periods in the sun than others, but we all need the unique vitamin D that the sun gives us.
4) Water – Moisturize your skin from the inside out. Water is essential to life. Keep your skin hydrated by drinking enough water. Don’t forget that your skin is a part of you! What you put inside of your body will affect what’s going on on the surface.
5) Foods rich in Vitamin E – We’ve discussed how vital vitamin E is to your skin health. Some foods that are high in vitamin E include mustard greens, chard, sunflower seeds, spinach, almonds, olives, bell peppers, and broccoli. Include more of these foods in your diet and watch your skin glow.
I hope these tips help you, but remember, what works for me might not necessarily work for you. We’re all different, after all!
