Daily Regiment Part 3 - Scrubs - Masks

You’ve been cleansing and moisturizing and you find that your skin needs something else. Have you been drinking lots of water? How is your exercise routine? Are you getting enough fresh fruits and vegetables? Have you just sat outside (with or without a hat) and just been in the moment with your garden, the forest, the lake or the mountain?

Things are really starting to transform, we are coming out of winter and transitioning into spring, now is a good time to look at your skin and determine what else it needs.

Whether your skin is dry, sluggish, acne prone or blotchy there is a scrub or mask out there for you. And it is a great idea to use a scrub/mask regularly as it helps to deep clean your skin and impart a healthy glow. First, I will give an overview of ingredients and their purpose, and then we can see how all of the ingredients can be beneficial to each other in synergistic blends.

Almonds: Almonds are rich in vitamins, minerals and beneficial oils, which are used to cleanse and heal the skin. Almonds are very rich in Vitamin E which is essential for healthy skin. Almonds also have significant quantities of Vitamin B and several other minerals that help to keep the skin well nourished. It has a very high omega-3 content. Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid that helps to keep the skin supple. Crushed almonds are an effective emollient as it is easily absorbed by the skin. Almonds have been known to prevent premature appearance of wrinkles, black heads, pimples and dry skin as well.

Clays: Clay is a great ingredient for detoxifying and purification as it draws impurities from the skin and imparts trace elements and nutrients into the skin. Traditionally, clays are used to reduce swelling and inflammation, and to draw impurities from the skin. Cosmetic clays are made up of different mineral contents, and each clay type has a different effect on the skin. Regular use of clay facials will remove dead skin cells, improve circulation to the skin, remove debris from the pores and bring about a smooth healthy glow.

Kaolin (white) Clay: Kaolin clay is the mildest of the clays and is great for sensitive skin. It helps stimulate circulation while gently exfoliating and cleansing.

Kaolin Clay is high in calcium, silica, zinc and magnesium, which are beneficial for oily, blemished skin. The clay's mildly drying and disinfectant properties help heal existing blemishes and inflammations, while preventing new ones from forming. The high mineral content of White Kaolin Clay rejuvenates the skin while the clay exfoliates and stimulates blood circulation to the skin. It does not draw oils from the skin, so it can also be used on dry skin types without negative results.

French Green Clay: French Green Clay is amazing for the face. It is still very gentle but also very rich in essential minerals. It assists the skin by bringing fresh blood to damaged skin cells, revitalizing the complexion, and tightening pores.

French Green Clay (AKA Illite Clay or Sea Clay) contains valuable elements, which include montmorillonite, several important mineral oxides, magnesium, calcium, potassium, dolomite, silica, manganese, phosporous, silicon, copper, and selenium. In French Green Clay, each element is responsible for working the outer epidermis (skin) in its own way and in dispensing their biological constituents as best as possible. This clay has a long history of being the clay of choice for spas and health care professionals.

Flaxseed: Flaxseeds are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, flaxseeds create an emollient gel when water is added, used to soothe, nourish and heal the skin. Flaxseed also balances sebum production.

Honey: Honey's natural antioxidant and anti-microbial properties help to protect the skin from the damage of the sun's rays, supports the skin's ability to rejuvenate and refresh depleted skin, leaving it feeling silky soft and supple. One of the most common skin benefits of honey is related to minor acne treatment. Honey absorbs impurities from the pores on the skin, making it an ideal cleansing agent.

Honey's ability to absorb and retain moisture make it an ideal ingredient in a lot of cosmetics as it helps keep skin hydrated and fresh and prevents drying. It is known that ancient beauties regularly applied a mixture of honey and milk to the face to keep the skin young-looking, radiant, and smooth.

Oats: Oats have naturally occurring gluten in the form of avenin protein, creating an emollient gel when wet, and amino acids and trace elements that are highly soothing to inflamed and irritated skin. Oats are very gentle as a facial scrub for sensitive skin.

Pumpkin Seeds: It appears that the biggest skin benefits of pumpkin seeds are the very high levels of the natural antioxidants and polyunsaturated fatty acids. They are a rich source of vitamin k, also containing manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, iron, copper and zinc. Pumpkin Seeds are also an anti-inflammatory. Adding pumpkin seeds to your skin care regiment will help your skin retain moisture, maintain normal cell structure and keep your skin looking and feeling healthy.

Rice bran: Known as an ancient Japanese secret for smooth, soft skin, rice bran is a gentle exfoliating powder. Rice bran is rich in oil, makes an effective exfoliant and contains phytic acid, a B-complex vitamin that can help improve blood circulation and stimulate cell turnover when used topically. It is said to prevent wrinkles, heal blemishes, absorb dirt and oil from pores, balance natural oils in the skin and moisturize.

Sunflower Seeds: Sunflower seeds provide a lot of vitamin e, a powerful antioxidant that helps slow down the aging of skin. The seeds also provide essential fatty acids that help keep the skin lubricated and soft. This food for the skin is thought to reduce the appearance of blackheads and acne, helps prevent psoriasis, and other skin problems such as atopic dermatitis.

For exfoliating try our Mystic Seeds Scrub made with rice bran powder, granulated honey, ground pumpkin seeds, ground sunflower seeds, ground oats, essential oils and vibrational essences for mature skin. A synergistic blend of ingredients containing high levels of powerful anti-oxidants that helps slow down the aging of skin, retain moisture, and revitalize complexion.

Or Almond Facial Scrub made with ground oats, ground almonds, kaolin clay, flaxseed meal, essential oils and vibrational essences for problem and sensitive skin. This scrub has anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-septic, and bactericidal properties. An exfoliating scrub or nourishing mask containing amino acids and trace elements that soothe inflamed and irritated skin leaving face soft and vital.

For a purification or detoxification try the Green Goddess of the Earth Facial Mask made with french green clay, kaolin clay, organic oats, roses, organic chamomile, organic calendula, organic lavender and essential oils.  This mask is a plant based formula that firms skin, removes impurities, gently exfoliates and absorbs excess oil. It also encourages wound healing, soothes eczema is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-septic. It is astringent, great for aging and wrinkled skin and is rich in trace elements to replenish skin cells, leaving skin feeling smooth and refined.

The ingredients I have written about have been used for hundreds of years and are safe, natural and effective.  Do you know what the ingredients in your scrub are for?  If not, send me a list and I will tell you.  Send to marianne@giftsfromtheearth.com.