New Year Resolutions for Herbalists
Follow me this month while I try to clear out my own chaos and get a few tips on how to get your herb cabinet and/or business back in order! January is a perfect time for reflection and planning, but also, we have time for getting things done since the rush of garden season is still a few months away, the snow keeps us at home a bit more....as does the promise of a warm house and hot cup of tea. Each day, I am going to tackle something that needs constant care or attention, but that is often left to become dysfunctional as the year goes on. Will this be the year, I actually keep on top of things? Who knows...but if not, I will repost next year!
January 12 ~
Presentation
What do you present to the world--aside from your fabulous personality? Your SKIN. There are all kinds of people on the attractiveness scale...some beautiful ones with dull skin and average folks with glowing skin, which ends up giving them the benefit of the doubt in the attractive category. Like everything else, we get into a skin care regimine that may or may not be healthy or appropriate. My grandma used to repeat a quote from the Bible that people shouldn't hide their light under a bushel basket. No need to hide it under neglected skin either.
Skin care changes with age and life events (pregnancy, illness), but there are some things that are always a bad idea. Sorry, but anything non-organic on the skin--or something that you could not eat---is not healthy. Anything that goes on your skin, ends up absorbed into the body, gets processed by the liver and then excreted. Heavy use of mineral oil products will have you losing a lot of nutrients with every bowel movement. Some noxious chemicals will be removed through sweating, but may cause rashes or blemishes. Many products sold for the improvement of one skin condition, can end up causing another.
Do we have to make all our own skin care products? There are many great organic brands--some may be too expensive, but if you find some you like and have evaluated your skin needs, then go for it. Beauty products are very easy to make, however, and several herbalist have good books telling you how. But, before all that, how do you figure out what your skin needs?
Many people say they have dry/oily/neutral skin--but unless your diet is pretty good, you probably really don't have a true idea of what your skin type really is. Start there. Your skin is your largest organ and all health begins with our food. Drinking healthy fluids is a necessity too--at any age. Water (not chlorinated or distilled), teas, broths, are the best. Sodas, fruit juices, hard liquor and flavored waters are not helpful. After a month of eating better, how is your skin different (the first several weeks of a dietary improvement may result in blemishes as you detox, but then should begin to clear up quickly). Then, look at all your store bought and home made products. Meaning well, some use herbal "fragrances" rather than essential oils when making homemade. Fragrances can cause allergic reactions and poor quality essential oils can, as well. Quality counts. Water should never be one of the top ingredients in any beauty product you buy or make. Artificial colorings are another uneeded and sometimes harmful additive.
What stage of life are you? Are you experiencing any health issues or treatment? Young people can really take care of their skin with diet and by gently removing make up and using a light moisturizer at night. As we age and or are experiencing illnesses and their related therapies, we need to make sure we are replacing oils, moisture and building up collagen with good emoillents that soften (avocado, jojoba oils, etc.) and humectants, which maintain moisture (vegetable glycerine, honey, sorbitol, etc.) and fats that are easily absorbed into deep tissue (cocoa and shea butters, etc.). Lists of possible ingredients are long, but read through and choose ones that appeal to your needs and don't get overwhelmed--make a few different ones, using a variety of ingredients. Your skin Ph will appreciate the occasinal change and you can see what actually works best. Thin skinned folks (mostly a genetic trait) need more moisture, while those with more stored fat need less. Though, the most important factor in soft, smooth skin is two-fold......regular exfoliation and applying your moisturizer while skin is still damp!!!
I just re-evaluated a few weeks ago and know I was neglecting my skin with a poor diet, lack of a regular facial routine and using the same moisturizer for years. Time for a change. so I already improved the diet, am drinking a lot more water, have started a bi-weekly facial regimine (herbal steam with chamomile, elderflower and calendula; exfloiation with ground oatmeal, almonds, french clay; mask of plain yogurt and honey--sometimes avocado; toning with a splash of rosewater) (*NOTE- Remember to bath using soap with the same or similar ingredients and use these preparations all over your body--not just the face!....and to not use really hot water on your skin) I moisturize daily, with a mixture of oils of olive, avocado, castor, rose seed, jojaba and at night I use a cream of the same oils and shea, mango, cocoa butters and honey. Sounds really extreme and messy, but the amount needed is very small and it is not at all greasy....but it is luxurious. Being "comfortable in your skin" is partially psychological, but can be physical as well.
The old SNL line was "It is better to look good, than to feel good." I think this approach to skin care allows for both.