Taking excellent care of your skin is one of the best things you can do to combat aging and maintain your youthful glow, but with so many skin-care products and treatments out there it can be really confusing to know how to best care for our largest organ. That’s where we can help! Our approach to skin care is simple and is centered around good habits and natural (we mean TRULY natural) products and ingredients. Here are our skin-care basics:

Use Products and Ingredients that are in Harmony with Nature
Mainstream cosmetics are chocked full of toxic chemicals, parabens and sulfates that can wreak havoc on your skin as well as your health. Some of these chemicals may help to temporarily alleviate symptoms such as acne, skin rashes and puffy eyes, but in the long run they can cause more damage than good.   For long-term skin health, opt for clean, natural and ideally organic products made without synthetic ingredients or additives. Our favorite natural skin care brand is Pangaea Organics, whose line of all-natural skin-care products includes all sorts of yummy products such as Australian Wild Plum & Willow Facial Cleanser and Italian Red Mandarin with Rose Facial Cream.

Adopt a Solid Skin Care Routine
A good skin care routine consists of 4 steps: Step 1. Cleanse your face and neck with a gentle cleanser. Apply cleanser to your face with a splash of warm water and massage your entire face and neck area in small circles. Rinse off with a moistened warm washcloth, Step 2. Restore your skins natural ph balance with a hydrating toner, Step 3. Rub a dollop of moisturizer between your hands and slather all over your face and neck, working it into your skin using a gentle circular motion, Step 4. Give some focused attention to any problems problem areas such as fine-lines, wrinkles, blemishes or scars. Dab a small amount of specialty cream on any of these areas. CELSUS scar cream works great for all the above mentioned problem areas. To recap, cleanse- tone- moisturize- and treat.

Consistency is Key
Healthy, glowing skin requires consistent TLC. So what exactly does that entail? Simply execute the 4-step skin care routine detailed above twice a day, once in the in the morning and again in the evening before bed and you’ll be golden. Make this routine a habit and do your best to avoid missing any days. Remember, consistent care is key!

Add Occasional Bells + Whistles
A few occasional treats round out an optimal skin care routine. The essentials? We recommend a few. For starters, use a gentle facial scrub once a week to help slough off dead skin cells and promote cellular regeneration. Next, add a deep cleansing or moisturizing face mask to your monthly repertoire. We love homemade masks made with fresh, simple ingredients such as the Antiaging Avocado and Honey Mask we shared on our blog recently.   The possibilities for homemade masks are endless, so go ahead and get creative with your own beautifying concoctions. And finally, treat yourself to an all-natural European facial once per quarter. A professional esthetician is indispensable in helping to give your complexion a treatment that will deeply cleanse, restore and regenerate your skin. Think of it as a quarterly “oil change” for your skin. After all, our skin deserves at least as much maintenance as our cars do, don’t ya think?

Ditch Unhealthy Habits
Unhealthy habits can wreak havoc on your skins health and appearance. These habits include (but are not limited to) smoking, excessive sun exposure, lack of proper hydration, use of recreational and certain prescription drugs and chronic high levels of stress. Try to ditch as many of these naughty habits as possible. Your body and your complexion will thank you.

Get Glowing from the Inside-Out
If your diet includes high amounts of unhealthy fats, processed foods, sugar, preservatives and “junk” foods, the condition of your skin (as well as your health) will mostly likely suffer. Skin cells take about 2-4 weeks to regenerate and the foods you eat are the building blocks of these new cells. Focus on eating clean, organic, whole foods that high in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and your skin will radiate. Think fresh fruits, veggies, pastured meats, raw nuts, fresh-pressed juices and smoothies!