The weather is changing and your skin and overall mood may be the first indicators. So what can you do to improve the situation?
OIL.
Yes- oil is your friend!
When the weather gets colder and our indoor heaters come on, moisture is literally sucked right out of our skin and body. It’s time to rehydrate and replenish what’s lost. Internally that means lots more water and whole foods. Externally that means oil. Your skin is made up of oil- it is the barrier to the outside world, keeping the good things in and the bad things out.
Years ago, everything was “oil free” and “matte” in skin care, so oil got a bad rap. It is important to know that not all oils are heavy or “comedogenic (pore clogging),” when all is in balance, skin should have a soft healthy glow. Many oils are lightweight and readily accepted by the skin- they can help to restore the skin with many essential vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids. Linseed, or flax oil, for example is full of omega fatty acids that absorb beautifully into the skin. It has the ability to enter the cell and literally plump it up with hydration–talk about restoring skin with youthful health.
Oil based serums are making a major comeback in skin care due to their ability to:
- reduce lines & wrinkles
- restore essential vitamins, antioxidants and minerals
- promote skin rejuvenation
- provide smooth & supple skin
- lend an immediate healthy glow
My all time favorite is Duchess Marden’s Anti-Wrinkle Serum. Every single ingredient in the serum is there for its many benefits to your skin.
(I love how clean and pure it is)
A few highlights:
- Jojoba oil- contains zinc, copper, silicon, iodine, chromium, and vitamins E and B. It closely resembles your skin’s own oil, so it easily absorbs without making the skin feel greasy and does not clog pores.
- Rosehip seed oil- has a high amount of essential fatty acids, Vitamin E and Vitamin A. It helps to stimulate skin cell regeneration, increase collagen and elasticity. Very useful when treating stretch marks, sun damage, scars, burns, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, age spots and wrinkles.
- Linseed or Flax oil- skin is made of protein and requires protein to restore its health. The omega-3 protein found in flaxseed oil smooths the appearance of wrinkles by helping to repair skin cells. In a study by Donald Rudin, M.D., the skin of those subjects who applied flaxseed oil for one to four months was more “firm and elastic, with improved texture and tone,” according to Herbal-Powers.com.
Need an overall pick-me-up? Try Oil Pulling for detoxification and immunity boosting benefits. Every morning, before drinking or eating anything rinse your mouth with 1 tablespoon (10ml) of oil for 15 to 20 minutes and spit it out. It may seem odd at first, start off slowly doing two to five minutes and work your way up to the full 20 minutes.DO NOT SWALLOW the oil or allow it to seep down your throat. Drink a minimum of two full glasses of water afterwards.
“Oil pulling brings out phlegm from the body. Phlegm is poison. Removal of this brings life, energy, light and shine to the body. I can say with 58 years experience in Ayurveda, that oil pulling is a therapy of potency and power to bring health to body. Dr. T. Madhusudhana Rao, Nuzvid.”
Give it a try-embrace the benefits of oil!