Left: Sheetal Rawal, scientist (human genetics) & founder of Apsara Skin Care
By: Sheetal Rawal
Skin cells shed in roughly 3 weeks. However, with age, this time can increase. So dead cells build up on the skin and remain there for much longer. This results in a dull, lackluster appearance since the dead layers are not as vibrant or able to hold on to moisture.
It is not an overstatement to say that your skin’s glow remains hidden underneath waiting to shine through. So what can we do? We can speed up the removal of dead cells by an external process called exfoliation. Scrubbing your skin is not very different from scrubbing a vessel to clean it and let the cleanliness and sparkle come through. It leaves the skin immediately transformed, soft to the touch and glowing and clean to look at.
There are two ways to exfoliate your skin. One is by using fine grains in a
product. This method is most common and involves massaging the skin with circular strokes for a few minutes so the dead cells can be loosened up. Another is by using the powerful enzymes found in fruits like papaya and pineapple. These enzymes digest the proteins binding the dead cells together. This process can take 15 minutes and then you simply wash your skin with lukewarm water and follow with a serum and lotion meant for your skin type.
In addition to removing dead cells, scrubbing or exfoliating your skin can also help soothe dryness by encouraging the surfacing of skin layers that are healthier. Provided you use a nourishing serum and lotion daily, dry skin can benefit hugely by a regular exfoliation routine.
I get asked often if exfoliating or scrubbing every day is fine. I say no way! That is too much. Do it 1-2 times a week and no more. You want your skin to glow but you do not want to stress it out. In addition to the weekly routine that involves exfoliation, have yourself a complete daily routine and you are all set. Be sure your personal care products do not contain any harsh chemicals. I get asked often if exfoliating or scrubbing every day is fine. I say no way! That is too much. Do it 1-2 times a week and no more. You want your skin to glow but you do not want to stress it out. In addition to the weekly routine that involves exfoliation, have yourself a complete daily routine and you are all set. Be sure your personal care products do not contain any harsh chemicals.
Here are a few homemade scrubs and exfoliants that you can put together right at home. Made with all natural ingredients, creating these potions will leave you with no doubt about the efficacy and power of nature.
Brown Sugar & Almond Oil ScrubIngredients
1 tsp. of powdered dark brown sugar
4 tsp. of high-quality almond oilInstructions
Mix well and with your fingertips apply on your skin and very gently massage in with a circular motion. 2-3 minutes is plenty. Avoid areas with acne or cuts/wounds. Wash with your natural cleanser, then tone, apply serum and lotion.
Remember that your skin does suffer a bit of stress due to exfoliation. Therefore it is important to be gentle and nourish with your serum and lotion immediately after.
"I use this [Nut Shell Facial Scrub] every day. I love how it exfoliates the skin and makes you look clean and fresh. I absolutely love this. I highly recommend this product."
Strawberry and Lemon Dead Cell Remover
Strawberries are amazing for your skin because they are rich in folic acid, Omega-3 fatty acids, potassium, magnesium, and antioxidants that have anti-aging properties. Lemon juice provides natural citric acid, which is very well known for its dead cell removal properties.
Ingredients
3 mashed up strawberries
12 drops of fresh lemon juice
Enough oatmeal powder to make a thick paste
Instructions
Mix well and apply on your skin. Wash in 12-15 minutes and immediately after massage in your serum and lotion.
Pineapple & Papaya Glowing Skin Mask
Both papaya and pineapple provide your skin with natural exfoliating enzymes (papain and bromelain). Jojoba oil nourishes your skin. Brown sugar is a source of glycolic acid, which removes dead cells quite effectively.
Ingredients
1 tsp. of mashed up papaya
1 tsp. of mashed up pineapple
10 drops of jojoba oil
1 tsp. of brown sugar
Instructions
Mix well and add a few drops of water in case the mix needs to be thinned out before application. Apply and wash in 15 minutes.
Here is yet another face scrub you can use to get soft, glowing skin. Plus, it only has 3 ingredients! Enjoy and don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel.
Exfoliating Larger Areas of Your Body
If we want glowing and flawless skin, why must we restrict ourselves to the face only? Taking care of your legs and arms is equally important. Soft and glowing skin is so
desirable; face and the rest of the body included. So let’s not discriminate and learn how to make this superb body exfoliating mixture that is so effective you will want to make it over and over.
Ingredients
1/2 cup of coffee
5 tsp. of salt
1 cup of olive oil
Instructions
Mix and massage into larger areas of your body using a circular motion. Do not go over areas that are sensitive, cut or wounded (even a sunburn counts as a wound). Be gentle and spend some time on this. 5 minutes is great. Rinse with warm water. You may do this right before a shower, in which case washing with your gentle SLS free body wash is a great idea. Apply some massage oil afterward to soothe and nourish your skin.
CAUTION: I highly recommend you don’t use this in the shower. Olive oil can pose a slip and trip hazard. Be careful.
I sure hope you found these remedies useful. Share your thoughts with me in the comments below.
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Go natural. It is good karma!