Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Six Saviours, One Skin


(School Assignment)

Tuesday October 29, 2013 – 10:06 AM
Paige Grasby
Public Relations Representative for Gymnastics Ontario

As gymnast I understand how much our body goes through on a general day, especially our skin. Constantly sweating and clogging our pores with dirt and chalk all day can’t be good. As girls we are always looking for the search for the best fix to give our skin the clear, healthy, glowing skin we deserve.  So I went on a mission to find the best products I could to treat my skin the way it should be, but boy was I wrong, the 20 step procedures and the sky rocketed price tags attach did not make this an enjoyable experience.

Still, as a girl I understand the desire to look youthful and naturally beautiful, what women doesn’t want that? The upside is flawless skin is in your reach, and it doesn’t cost nearly as much as high-end products.

1.    Detoxify:

Your skin is the body’s largest organ. Toxins build up inside your body can make the skin on the outside of your body look less than beautiful. Detoxification is an ongoing process though periodic cleanses which can help launch you into a healthier long-term lifestyle. When you detoxify your body, the results show on your skin.

       Drink the fiber-rich Glowing Green Smoothie
       Avoid processed and fast foods that contain chemical ingredients
       Exercise
       Eat enzyme-rich foods
       Eat a high plant-based diet (or all, as I do)
       Drink a lot of water and avoid excessive caffeine

2.    Nourish:
You are what you eat. While this is true, it is especially visible on your skin. Eating toxic, chemical-laden foods can show up on your skin. Poor nutrition can also speed up breakouts. But here are some general suggestions to slow this process down:
       Stick to whole, plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds
       Eat a variety of produce from across the full spectrum of color
       Eliminate common allergens such as wheat, soy, dairy products, and peanuts
       Minimize or eliminate animal protein. If you do eat animal protein, choose organic, naturally raised, and pastured meats like free-range organic poultry
       Eat plant foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as chia seeds, walnuts and green veggies
       Start each day with a Glowing Green Smoothie
       Eliminate refined sugars

3.    Cleanse

Keeping your skin clean is also important. Many people use harsh cleansers that can actually strip the skin of important hydration and leave it dull. Use a mild cleanser. Because I have oily skin and used to battle acne, I used to think I needed a stronger cleanser. But now I’ve been using and love the Tamanu Organic Luxury Cleanser by Sally B’s Skin Yummies.  It cleans my face really well, but doesn’t strip it.  It works for all skin types. I don’t recommend using very drying cleansers or regular soaps on your face.

4.    Exfoliate:

Exfoliation removes dead skin cells on the surface of your skin that can cause dullness. You don’t need to buy expensive products or use harsh chemical exfoliators, however. You probably have a natural skin exfoliation agent right now in your kitchen: oatmeal. Oatmeal both soothes and exfoliates. To make an oatmeal exfoliation mask, mix ¾ cups of ground oat grouts (grind them in the food processor) or steel cut oatmeal with 1/3 cup of warm water and spread it on your skin. Allow it to dry, and then rinse off with warm water.

5.    Hydrate:

·      Drink plenty of pure water throughout the day
·      Drink 16-32+ ounces of Glowing Green Smoothie
·      Eat a lot of raw foods that contain their own water, like salads containing lots of brightly colored vegetables.
·      Avoid caffeine and alcohol, which are dehydrating.
·      Take in extra fluids on hot days, when you are ill or stressed, and when you exercise vigorously.

After seeing these five points, how many of them do you do a day? Do you drink at least 8 glasses of water a day? Well maybe this can be your first step.

6.    Protect:

As a girl, especially in the summer, we all want the perfect sun kissed glow and sunlight is important because it supplies valuable vitamin D. To that end, you do need to get about 10 minutes of sunlight each day on unprotected skin in order to allow your body to synthesize vitamin D. Too much sunlight, however, can be harmful, just like anything in excess. Practice healthy sun habits, such as covering up and wearing a hat.
As you can see there are tons of different “at home” remedies that can help you keep your skin looking, healthy and beautiful. Now it’s your turn, make a checklist and see which of these six steps are you’re currently doing and which ones you need to work into your routine. Hopefully some, if not all these, tips work for you. Let me know how it goes and which six steps you think really work.