Beautiful Skin

Beautiful skin - What's The Secret

Following is the four part series about caring for your skin that appeared in my newsletters.

Click below for:
Part Two - Caring For The Surface
Part Three  -Nutrition For The Skin
Part Four - Feelings Matter

Part one - Beauty Within

Our skin is the main organ of elimination in the body; we release a massive amount of toxins and waste products through the simple process of sweating which goes on in a steady, usually unnoticeable way throughout the day. When internal organs, in particular the intestines and liver, become congested and overworked the skin has too much to do and the effects begin to show.
The effects of congestion will show in skin that becomes dull, yellow, greyish or pale; more breakouts, rashes, skin conditions and wrinkles will appear.
A healthy clear body is apparent in skin that is clear, relatively unlined (apart from laughter and frown lines), smooth, pink (I can see healthy "pink" or "pale" skin no matter how dark the skin colour!) and also seems to glow.
For more about how a congested colon affects your health please go to symptoms of an unhealthy colon.
Having clear skin does require work - you cannot put on the latest cream and expect miracles; in fact most chemically laden creams on the market do more damage long term, you need natural nourishment and as few chemical substances as possible.
It also doesn't matter how good your external cleansing routine is if debris is constantly working it's way out from an overloaded body!
So, to the first secret, though it's not really a secret just the plain truth! The key is internal cleansing; below are some suggestions:

• Colon cleansing - I would only recommend oxygen cleansers or colonic irrigation.
• Water - drink enough for you and your lifestyle. The best times to drink water are first thing in the morning, about twenty minutes before a meal and in-between meals. Avoid drinking more than sips of water with a meal, or for up to two hours after a meal, as it could interfere with digestion.
  
• Cleansing foods - fruits and vegetables. Your body type will determine whether cooked or raw is best. In Ayurvedic medicine for example some types (Pitta) thrive on raw food while others (Kapha and Vata) have difficulty digesting large amounts of raw food. If you have found that raw doesn't agree with you try cleansing soups and lightly cooked fruits instead.
  
• Good breathing - I cannot overstate enough just how important this is for well being in general; poor breathing will show in skin health very quickly. Learn how to breathe fully - read a book on breathing or go to yoga or meditation classes.
  
• Movement and exercise - anything that works up a sweat and stimulates lymphatic flow will do wonders for the skin, the trick is to find something you enjoy, that makes you feel good. Though you may have to push through the initial discomfort to get to the feel good high of exercise.
  

The above list may seem a bit daunting but just start somewhere and start small; you will find natural impetus takes over. Here are some tips...
Cleansing the colon is not not hard work nor is it about self-denial; in fact it's fairly passive.
Get into the habit of carrying water around with you and have a glass of water beside you as you work or relax - drink in sips, don't gulp it all down at once, as it's not so good for the stomach.
Dietary changes - start with one small change, when that becomes a habit introduce something else. Banish the "all or nothing" attitude, it is severely detrimental to health!

Part Two - Caring For The Surface

In part two we are looking at the outer routine of skin care. Let's start with the whole body and a look at the lymphatic system. In part one I mentioned exercise as a means to clear skin; the chief reason for this is that it boosts circulation, by increasing blood flow to give you a healthy glow and also to boost lymphatic flow.
The lymphatic system, unlike the vascular system, has no central pump to propel it round the body. It needs the action of healthy muscles that regularly engage in movement to achieve a good flow.
Lymph is where we find the white blood cells that make up our immune system; this deals with all the toxins, pollutants and pathogens that make their way into the body. Lymph helps to heal and repair cuts, injuries and determines how fast we recover after operations and illness. Of course there are many factors that determine the above but lymph is the physical means by which this all takes place. We can boost it or overload it.
Body Brushing
Anything that helps pump more lymph round the body will help towards health and clear skin. Massage, even self massage, will help but body brushing is also excellent. About 4/5x a week before you shower, brush your body with light stroking movements all over, work towards the heart and the main lymph clusters - these are under and at the side of the under arms, at the groin/tops of legs, near backs of the knees, abdomen and down the front of the neck. Use a long handled, medium bristled brush; you can find them in large chemists and beauty counters.
Be prepared for softer smoother skin after the first week!
Face Care - Massage
I cannot recommend regular, weekly, face massage enough. If you can afford to see a beauty therapist for this you will see the benefits very quickly. It is however quite easy to do it yourself.
I suggest spending a good twenty minutes on the following. I also suggest watching TV if you like.
No need to wash your face first as the oils and massage will draw out a lot of dirt; take about two teaspoons of vegetable oil (any decent oil that you have in your kitchen will do, you can also try a variety of wonderfully nourishing oils such as peach kernel, jojoba, carrot, evening primrose and many others that all have healing/nourishing properties of their own).
Spread the oil over your face and down the neck, start with small sweeping movements down the neck, there are a lot of lymph nodes here so you want to clear and stimulate them first.
Now work your way all over the face with small, circular movements, when you reach the forehead dig a little deeper. If you find a slightly tender spot place two fingers of one hand on each side of the sore spot and with the fingers of the other hands work into this place firmly. You need to hold this small area firmly to avoid dragging the surrounding skin and eyes.
The tenderness indicates muscle damage - this is what will form, or deepen, wrinkles. Doing this every week is like performing a mini facelift!
In the final part I will say more about facelifts through EFT - free and do it yourself!
Cleanse your face thoroughly after the massage, I would recommend using an exfoliating wash. Remember to moisturise at the end.
You could also apply a face pack after cleansing to really complete the whole process.
There is so much more I could say about face massage, acupressure and facial exercise for anti-aging here, but would take up too much space - it will have to wait for the book!
Face Care - Cleansing
Some kind of exfoliation is good - not harsh abrasives as they can damage skin. Low cost options are best as they are natural - two simple choices follow:

• Mix a dessertspoon of oatmeal with water, leave for a few minutes to get sticky. Gently spread over the face, massage in and lightly pat up and off the skin. The stickiness of the oatmeal will remove d Use a white or cream flannel (only use for the face and wash frequently as germs will multiply!).
• Soak in warm water and apply soap that is very mild or is specially formulated for the face (Lush has some great cleansing bars and solid washes, I also love the incredibly gentle and pure soaps that a small Scottish company, called Caurnie, make). Gently rub the flannel all over the face and neck, taking care to wash areas where breakouts occur. Use the well-rinsed flannel to remove all traces of soap.
  

Face Care - Moisturise
When applying eye creams pat around on and around the lower eye socket all the way up the sides and the upper socket of the eye. There is no need to apply cream up close to the eye as the cream will naturally gravitate here; if you apply too much cream close to the eyes you will end up with puffy or damaged skin as the excess will remain inside the skin for months.
Use eye cream very sparingly, one tube will last several months so cost is not an excuse when it comes to buying a good one that is also as natural as possible.
Apply face moisturiser as it forms a protective mantle over the skin as well as hydrating it to plump out and prevent wrinkles - if you have greasy skin buy an appropriate cream. Apply in upward strokes and avoid pulling and stretching the skin. Apply at least half an hour before bed or your pillow ends up with half of it!
If you want to use a very simple and pure substance try solid, organically produced coconut oil - it's extremely nourishing for the skin (and the body if you cook with it) it can also be used as an anti fizz or shine product for hair. I use this on my hair with good results (there is the odd day I apply a little too much and end up looking as if I don't wash my hair, so be careful, you only need a very small amount!)
Sunscreen?
I know the general advice is to apply this daily but I personally only apply sunscreen if I am outside all day, in the summer. The chemicals in it are more carcinogenic than the sun. A little sun every day directly on our skin and unshaded eyes actually boosts immunity. Just avoid midday and cover up if out for several hours.
General

• Remove makeup every night. Not doing this does show! Also don't wear foundation every single day. After doing Colour Me Beautiful (includes make up application) for nine years I saw first hand the effects of less than helpful skin routines.
• Don't try out every chemical laden new fad. You could end up with what is called in the beauty industry "beauty editor skin". This is where beauty therapists or fashion magazine editors eventually end up with skin that looks ten years older than it is due to all the stuff that's been put on it.
  
• Use natural as much as possible - all those so-called anti-aging products actually age the body because of the toxic chemical overload. This is a well-known fact in the industry - remember big business's aim is money not health... You can make your own products quite easily.
  
  

Part Three - Nutrition For The Skin

A varied and healthy diet will provide most of the nutrients we need for good health and subsequent skin beauty, however, we can still be deficient due to modern farming methods that strip the soil of the rich nutrient mix that nature provides. We also need more nutrients than ever before to help our bodies cope with the excess pollution and stress we undergo on a daily basis.
What we are deficient in varies with each individual; as far as skin health is concerned the following may give you a clue as to what to top up on. If you suspect you are deficient in certain nutrients but don't know which perhaps try a good vitamin and mineral supplement. You could visit a Kinesiologist or Touch For Health practitioner who will determine, by conducting a "balance" that involves muscle testing, what your optimum nutritional needs are.
You can also learn how to self-muscle test through Touch For Health introductory courses or through other courses such as Theta Healing or EFT.
MSM (Methyl-sulfonyl-methane)
Sometimes called organic sulphur to distinguish it from inorganic, toxic forms such as the type used to preserve wines and dried fruit (to keep the colour bright -think about dried apricots that are orange as opposed to brown dried apricots that are not only healthier but much more tasty).
MSM is a form of biological sulphur that is found in plentiful supply in good quality soil, transfers itself to fruit vegetables and red meat. The more raw fruit and veg you eat the more MSM you have so we can usually become a bit deficient by late winter/early spring.
It also decreases as we age and as it is a major part of our bodies’ natural makeup; a deficiency leads to a myriad of health concerns, including joint problems, fatigue, tissue and organ damage.
For the purposes of skin care it has been dubbed "natures beauty mineral" as it increases collagen and keeps hair and nails healthy and strong (both will grow faster when you take MSM as a supplement), it will soften skin helping it become more youthful and elastic.
Varicose veins can improve and scar tissue fade.
Can also be used in a cream with many beauty and health benefits for the skin.
CoQ10 (CoenzymeQ10)
Coq10 is added to cosmetics for its free radical clearing effects.
In the body it enhances nutrient uptake and is vital for energy production in the cells. Is naturally abundant in oily fish.
Lutien
In skin care it increases hydration, elasticity and superficial lipids (fats) while decreasing oxidation. It is abundant in dark leafy vegetables, broccoli, corn and egg yolks.
Evening Primrose Oil
Good for maintaining the healthy oil balance of the skin.
Omega 3 and 6
Omega 3 prevents skin dryness
Omega 6 makes new cell membranes
Bioflavenoids
Excellent antioxidants and are needed to boost the action and absorption of vitamin C.
Vitamins
Vitamin A
Controls the amount of Keratin in the body, which is responsible for the softness of our skin.
Pantothenic Acid
Stimulates new cell growth, which slows down as we age. This is one of the reasons our skin appears less bright and dewy as we age!
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is one of the vitamins responsible for the skins collagen content; also needed for tissue repair and strength.
Vitamin D
Crucial for several aspects of skin health.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E prevents free radical damage. Add vitamin E rich oil (such as wheat germ, or just squeeze out the content of a vit E capsule) to face massage oil.
Minerals
Copper
Needed for collagen production
Selenium
One of the vital antioxidant minerals.
Zinc
Promotes new cell growth
Food/Diet
Eat food that is as fresh and varied as possible. It is ok to enjoy treats such as chocolate and alcohol in moderation - in fact small amounts of dark chocolate are good for you and a small glass of red wine most evenings a week has strong antioxidant properties.
The best fruits and vegetables to eat for their nutritional benefits are all dark or brightly coloured.
The best fish for the skin are oily fish being high in omega 3 oils.

Part Four - Feelings Matter

This final part is about the impact our feelings and thoughts have on the body and how they affect our skin.
Our skin can suffer from the effects of general prolonged stress and over time the signs will show such as an increase in wrinkles or sagging, a greyish or pale complexion or simple breakouts to more chronic conditions such as eczema which usually flare up or worsen during periods of stress. (In the case of eczema cutting out dairy products often makes a huge difference.)
At other times our skin can have a temporary reaction to specific events we may be going through; for instance as I was separating from my husband whenever my temperature rose a little I would come out in a rash that covered my neck, arms and upper chest - very uncomfortable! This cleared by itself however. What if you develop a condition that's quite distressing and just doesn't go away?
A whole ago someone was telling me about a skin complaint she had developed despite never having skin problems before and nothing she did brought relief. I suggested a Kinesiologist I knew and through a kinesiology "balance" she discovered that because of a current stressful situation she "wasn’t comfortable in her own skin". Her skin completely healed after this session.
How to glow!
Even when our skin is fine doing anything healing or releasing for ourself will usually show in our complexion. I remember several years ago watching an episode of the Oprah Winfrey show where she was showcasing a therapist who had taken a group of people for a week to work through a major issue. There was one person that really stood out for me, as when he was interviewed at the start he was an ordinary looking, balding, a bit overweight man you would hardly notice. After an emotional breakthrough and release he was interviewed again; this time he was glowing with an almost angelic beauty yet it was the same day! That has stayed in my mind for years as an illustration of how rapidly physical change can occur.
Skin is one of the first things people notice when we first meet and when there is an obvious problem it can be distressing and confidence sapping which can actually worsen the condition.
Release the stress
So if you have something you are not happy with take some time to question whether it could be stress, or perhaps even belief related. I would suggest using EFT (refer to "Why does stress make us ill?" for instructions) as an aid to not just to clear the stress but also to do some detective work. For example:
As an opening statement "Even though I have this (state or describe skin issue) and don't know what it's about what if I just let the answers/insights come to me as I tap"
Repeat this three times as you rub the "sore spot" then slowly and thoughtfully tap through a couple of complete rounds of EFT, repeating short statements such as: -
"Don't know why I have this"
"What is this related to?"
"What if the answer just comes to me?"
And so on...
Then sit for a minute or two and expect something to arise. If nothing does then simply tap on the problem itself - remember all tapping is good for you; it relieves stress and boosts immunity so something will be happening!
If something does arise - a feeling, thought, memory or realisation then tap on that.
Personal Peace Procedure
If you know exactly what is causing the skin problem then of course just go straight for it. If it's prolonged stress then usually frequent tapping is the most affective, i.e. about 15-20 minutes a day on whatever has bothered you that day. A huge amount can be cleared with the little and often method - some people have found that by applying this (Gary Craig, founder of EFT, calls it the Personal Peace Procedure) that a few months down the line several things in their life have been transformed - just from dealing with seemingly small things.
Here are some suggestions of possible beliefs about self that could be affecting your skin: -
I am unattractive/ugly
I don't see or appreciate my own beauty
I have to hide behind this mask
I cannot be seen for who I really am
My skin holds all my stress/problems
I'm not good enough
I could suggest more but I'm sure you could come up with variations on the above.
How do you know if any of the above is relevant? One way is to repeat the above statements thoughtfully to yourself and notice any reaction you may have. Or give each statement a rating of 0 - 10 to indicate your personal level of belief about it (0 being no belief, 10 being very strong belief) just allow your unconscious mind to give you a number. You can then apply EFT until the belief or feeling is diminished.
EFT as Botox...
Finally, I once read an article posted on Gary Craig’s' old EFT newsletter (it has since changed) written by an EFT teacher who was relating an incident from her training when they where doing the "tearless trauma technique". One of the students had no trauma to work on and after thinking for a minute decided to treat a couple of facial wrinkles as a trauma! Her class partner tapped on the wrinkle "trauma" for a few minutes and when the teacher came over they could all see that her face was visibly more taught and the wrinkle a little diminished!
All I can suggest is you try it out and see!

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