Easy Skin Care Tips For Dry, Itchy, Irritated Skin: June 2012
(for Babies, Adolescents and Adults)
The other day I had the best time giving facials to my friend's three sons ages 9, 10 and 13.
Last year I gave them facials for their birthday and this year their number one request, enthusiastically said, "facials!"
They are great kids, beautiful skin but dry. Very dry for their age. As I always do when I give facials, I ask questions: what are you using to clean your skin and even name brand if possible. I know their mom's philosophy on natural or organic products, but being mom to 3 active kids is hard to monitor their daily showers.
Two boys said they used the shampoo for face and body and of course hair each day. Too harsh for their face and drying. See below.
The other youngest one uses a body wash for face. Too harsh. Only use body wash on body and not face.
So their protective barrier on their face (acid mantel) had been stripped of its natural oils. The older son was afraid of getting hormonal acne so he was too pro active and used an exfoliating wash almost daily so he wouldn't get acne. His beautiful skin was so stripped of its natural lipids that he was irritated under the nose.
Praise them for cleaning their faces daily, but with just too harsh ingredients.
I recommended a gentle wash (sensitive) since we want to restore their skins' natural ph. balance. And use a sun screen while in vacation in Hawaii of zinc oxide and not chemicals. And let the natural sea water heal their skin....mother nature..the beautiful restorative ocean water will heal almost any irritation.
Adults make this common mistake of over scrubbing if they have breakouts or to prevent breakouts. It always is counter productive.
Their are some great natural products to calm, sooth, restore the ph. balance in your skin. Make sure you first eliminate the culprit causing these conditions in the first place, and then choose restorative serums, oils, cleansers, toners.
The names, "cooling, soothing, calming, ph balancing" are key words to look for in choosing a balancing product for irritated, itchy, dry skin.
Avoid these ingredients: sodium laurel sulfate, ammonium laurel sulfate, cocamdopropyl betaine, ester oils, silicon oil, mineral oil, dyes, perfumes.
The list goes on and on, and on, and on! Just look for natural or organic. It's easier.
Babies usually develop eczema, irritated skin from chemicals in diaper wipes and other chemicals in soaps, moisturizers. And don't over indulge in putting so much stuff on the baby's skin. Don't strip its natural barrier that is gently but assuredly developing. Don't rush mother nature. Warm water is better than too much soap or any soap. Also use cotton sheets which are safer, less harsh on their baby skin. Of course, always consult your pediatrician for his advice.
This is a good tip to make your BODY smooth and soft:
Do you want to have healthy skin on your Body? Then start using genuine plant oils like almond, sesame, olive, avocado, jojoba, sunflower, Shea butter,Argan oils, wild rose oils etc.
There are many to choose. I like oils for the body because it seems to penetrate more into the skin as oppose to lotions and some creams. Plant oils are more pure, close to the plant base and don't have emulsions like creams and lotions. I'm looking for purity and maybe some of these emulsions have silicon or mineral, esters oils in with the oils.
Remember your Body is your first defense from harsh chemicals, wind, sun, climate so restore it's natural lipid barrier (defense) by using natural plant oils!
Tips to thinks about: a facial every season can help unclog pores from the winter, clean the sweat, dirt from the summer and increase circulation and nutrients in your skin for more radiant youthful skin. Plus it's sooo relaxing!
Did you know doctors long ago use to mostly prevent diseases. Now, unfortunately they mostly treat diseases.
Sending love to your beautiful skin,
Beegee Stivers
Licensed and Nordstroms Certified Esthetician
www.beegee3.com
P.S. Please feel free to contact me at Sensoriellespa.com, Boulder, Co.
Sent from my iPad
