Raise your hand if the first thing you think when you hear the word “skincare” is your face.
While most skincare products are meant for the face, we can’t, and shouldn’t forget, that our skin is our largest organ. And just like all our other organs, it deserves to be well taken care of.
There is exercise for the health of the heart and lungs, there is detoxification for the liver and gallbladder, there are even cleanses for the kidneys!
Eating well, moving the body, breathing correctly, reducing stress, and minimizing the use of alcohol and drugs all help keep our internal organs healthy and strong.
But what about our skin?
What do you do to keep your skin strong, healthy, and happy?
While we often fall into the thinking trap of “it all goes downhill with age…” there are simple things that you can do to keep your skin healthy, happy, and glowing.
Here are 3 skin-loving routines to add into your day.
Dry Brushing
Dry brushing is a gentle way to help detoxify the skin while also providing a gentle exfoliation and increased circulation. Using a dry, natural-bristle brush and gentle strokes, you brush your skin starting from your feet, and going up towards the heart, ending with the arms.
Dry brushing is also said to help with lymphatic drainage, which is the bodies way of removing toxins and waste throughout and out of the body. If your lymph is stagnant, you might find your skin dimpling more, holding more fatty deposits, and even find yourself catching a cold or two more than normal, as stagnation can also lead to lowered immunity.
Instructions on how to dry brush:
Lower Body:
Use the dry brush for all strokes against the skin and apply light, even pressure moving from ankle to knee.
Pick the brush up after the stroke is complete and start again repeating each area 3-7 times before moving onto the next spot
Begin at knee cap and stroke up towards groin and continue in the same movement around your thigh until your whole upper leg is has been brushed
Repeat on other thigh along with glutes
Once both legs have been done, using long even movements, brush from the ankle to knee, knee to groin, then brush over the entire leg.
Repeat on other leg
Upper Body:
Using the same technique as lower body, raise arm above heart and stroke from wrist to armpit
Repeat on other arm
Gently brush chest towards the centerline of the body or armpits
Use the brush in a clockwise direction on your stomach making circles around your betty button
Once the entire body has been done, using your fingertips, apply light pressure to stroke down your neck from your jawline to your collar bones.
This entire process will take about 5 minutes and can be done first thing in the morning to kickstart your day.
Follow this with a shower or simply apply a moisturizing body oil afterwards.
Abhyanga
Rooted in Ayurvedic tradition, abhyanga is a form of self massage using a copious amount of oil on the body. Using sesame seed, coconut, or jojoba oil, gently massage the skin using long gentle strokes.
The process is very similar to dry brushing however you are massaging the skin instead of brushing it. Around joints, use small circular motions.
This is a beautiful, nourishing, amazing way to show your skin some love.
Once your entire massage is complete, you can allow the oil to soak into the skin for a few minutes before rinsing off.
Your skin will absolutely glow.
Abhyanga can help promote the health of the skin and joints, can help with the integrity of the skin, and is a beautiful expression of self-love.
Sauna
Ahhh, the sauna. If accessible, the use of a sauna is tremendous for skin health and overall health. Touted benefits of sauna include a boost to heart health, boost in immunity, and overall relaxation. Aside from these health benefits, sauna can also help cleanse pores and increase the integrity of the skin.
When we sweat, nutrients are brought up to the skin’s surface. This gives the skin a natural glow and it also helps to detoxify the pores in the process all while helping to rejuvenate the skin. This sweat session is also deeply moisturizing for the skin.
Adding any one of these into your daily routine is sure to get your glowing from head to toe.
If you are looking for an body oil to use as well, definitely check out our nourishing body oil.
Filled with delicious oils like jojoba, coconut, and squalane, to help nourish dry skin, along with the slightest hint of rose, this oil is sure to provide the big gulp of hydration your skin needs.
Glow on.