March 10th, 2017

CHOOSING THE BEST EXFOLIANT FOR YOUR SKIN'S NEEDS

The monkeys have it folks! We're grubby; we live in a pile of dead skin. If you want any moisturizer to work on your skin, you've got to remove that flaky dry layer off first to get to the healthy layers. Your skin is layered, like an onion. Now onions make most people cry but you don't want to cry when you exfoliate!

Here are some key things to have in mind when incorporating exfoliating into your skin care routine. For oily and normal skin, lots of scrubbing and sloughing may not be the answer to reducing your oil production. You may be exacerbating the problem by over-exfoliating. Think of it as gently brushing off the old dead skin rather than scrubbing at the young, living skin. For dry and sensitive skin, be mindful of how your skin is feeling. Go slow and less often.

WHICH EXFOLIANT IS RIGHT FOR WHICH JOB?

Natural exfoliants range in hardness, sharpness and durability. General rule of thumb? Soft and gentle for the face; mid-range hardness for the body and full on hard for calloused feet. As always, do a patch test first to make sure your skin isn't irritated.

NATURAL EXFOLIANTS FOR THE FACE

Here are some natural options for Face Exfoliation

• Ground Oatmeal helps normalize skin pH levels, relieves skin irritation and gently exfoliates dry, sensitive skin.
• Dried Rose Petals have been used since ancient times for skin care. They cleanse, moisturize, fade blemishes and gently exfoliate, leaving a bright, healthy glow. Rose Petals work best for Dry and Normal skin.
• Organic Cane Sugar, small grains, exfoliates while drawing moisture to the skin, leaving a healthy glow. Sugar has rounded edges that won't be too abrasive, especially for Normal skin. The other good news is that it melts quickly so that, by default, you don't over-scrub.
• Dried Lavender flowers gently exfoliate while countering the effects of pollution with their anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties. Lavender flowers work best for Normal and Oily Skin.
• Gram Flour, an Indian Beauty routine staple, removes dead cells, excess sebum and dirt, leaving skin clean and smooth. It's brilliant for all skin types.
  

THE BEST NATURAL EXFOLIANTS FOR THE BODY

Here are some of the best natural options for exfoliating your body's skin

• Epsom Salts, high in magnesium and sulfate, can reduce inflammation, kill bacterial and flush out toxins while removing dead skin cells. The edges on these crystals are harder than sugar but just the right range for body skin.
• Ground Coffee invigorates and tightens up the skin, decreasing the appearance of cellulite. Ideal for thighs and butts.
  
• Ground Apricot Shells are just hard enough on the skin for a thorough, deep cleansing
  
• Ground Brown Rice exfoliates, detoxifies and deeply cleans the skin while tightening and smoothing
  
• Ground Adzuki Beans have been a staple in old school Japanese Beauty care for centuries. They exfoliate, detoxify and deeply clean the skin while tightening and smoothing and leaving a healthy glow.
  

FEET DON'T FAIL ME NOW! NATURAL EXFOLIANTS FOR THE FEET

Here are some natural options for exfoliating your feet.

• Ground Walnut Shell boasts a higher level hardness to scrub tough, calloused skin. Keep this one just on your tough skin bits--it will strip off more than you need on more tender skin. There are other blogs that advise using walnut scrubs on the face. Ok, we tried it and were red and raw for days after, taking a full week to recover.
  
• Pumice stone, for feet that are hard as a rock. This volcanic rock with Swiss cheese like pockets is ideal for scrubbing off callouses. Soak feel first to soften hard skin.
  

Photo: Hans Mauli

BE GENTLE WITH YOURSELF, INSIDE AND OUT

When you look in the mirror, consider and reflect on the thoughts that rumble around in your mind. Are they who you really are or someone else's idea about who you should be? Our minds are fluid and we can shift our thoughts at any time. Compassion comes with choice and self-care. Slough off the old expectations and images of yourself so you can nourish and grow the liberating and living pictures of who you actually are. Life's an adventure; enjoy yours!

The Free Lion Team