Clear Complexion

I’ll admit it; I first got into skin care because I had awful Cystic Acne from being a poorly educated vegetarian in my youth. I was shocked when I was hired by an upscale skin care company in San Francisco to work in their store, but they taught me proper skin care and ever since then my passion has been helping others solve their frustrating skin dilemmas.

Acne is usually caused by dirt and dead skin cell debris clogging pores, and is more common in oilier skin types, but there are also some more severe forms of acne that are caused by bacteria. Indicated by very severe wide spread lumps and lesions. Acne is also highly dependent on hormonal balance, which is why it begins in the teens when humans are “Chaos Soup” hormonally. Most products marketed to teens with acne can be very harsh, and often contain a high content of alcohol that only aggravates angry skin and makes it oilier. I remember one product I was using as a teen dripped onto my shirt and bleached a spot white!

And I hate to say it girls, but daily use of a powder or liquid foundation will also wreak havoc on your pores. Most make up uses minerals to make colors and those are heavy molecules weighing down on your skin and suffocating pores as well as exacerbating oil production (which only makes you want to apply more) as your skin tries to survive the strangulation!

A regular facial care routine consisting of cleansing, toning and moisturizing is the key to clearing up your appearance. Look for a gel cleanser like Mychelle’s White Cranberry Cleanser, or Zia Fresh Cleansing Gel to remove dirt and dead skin cells. Follow with a toner (this is VERY important for acne prone skin) because a toner will remove any excess soap residue, neutralize bacteria, deliver nutrients deep into your skin and further clean out pores. Try Zia’s Rose and Aloe Toner, or Grateful Body’s Toner for oily skin. And always moisturize! I know it seems like a zany idea to put oils on your already oily skin, but your skin gets that way because it thinks it’s actually dry skin and overcompensates by pumping out oil. But if it freaks you out too much there are Oil Free moisturizers out there by Mychelle and Zia.

I noticed a remarkable difference when I started doing facial steams at home on a regular basis. The steam opens pores, which allows you sweat out toxins and dirt while simultaneously absorbing mini molecules of nutrients from the herbs deep into your skin. Always follow a facial steam with a clay mask to further absorb gunk and oils and reduce the appearance of pores. Frequent exfoliation with a scrub like Suki’s Lemongrass Cleanser or Mychelle’s Fruit Enzyme Scrub is also helpful to unclog pores and encourage healthy cellular regeneration.

There is a great new kit available to get you started by Mychelle that uses Willow Bark Extract and Neem to clear skin and balance oil production-their Clarifying Pads are amazing! Check it out!

Healthy skin comes from within, so remember to eat a balanced diet of organic vegetables, fruits, whole grains and protein. You’ll be surprised what a difference it makes.