Natural Beauty
Do you ever wish you could turn back the clock? If so, you are not alone. The search for the fountain of youth has travelled through the ages, and today funds our billion dollar beauty industry. Anti-aging products are the fastest growing sector of the cosmetic industry, but unfortunately they are looking in the wrong direction – to chemicals, rather than to nature.
It’s horrifying to know that some of the chemicals being used in our so-called beauty products have been scientifically proven to increase the rate of wrinkling, rather than decreasing it.
Methyl paraben is commonly used as both a preservative and antibacterial agent, and by 1984 it was already present in over 13,200 products.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is an inexpensive foaming agent used in soap, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, and toothpaste. It’s used in such high concentrations that it is often listed as the first ingredient on the label. Yet it’s such a harsh detergent that it was originally created to degrease engines!
It denatures protein, and has been shown to have a degenerative effect on the cell membrane, leading to:
(As reported in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology and the Journal of the American College of Toxicology – Vol. 2, No. 7, 1983) .
Real beauty comes from the inside and radiates out.
When we are punishing our bodies with a diet of fast foods and sugary snacks, we rob our body of the nutrition it needs in order to “glow”. However, all is not lost. We can compensate for some degree of shortfall in our diet if we are accessing mineral-rich skin foods. Here are your top 4 from Young Living:
This delicious whole-food drink is based on 55% pureed wolfberries (also known as Goji berries) from the NingXia Province of China. These mineral-rich berries have been shown to have more Vitamin C than oranges, more betacarotene than carrots, and more protein than bee pollen!
NingXia Red is also fortified with other high-antioxidant fruits, including Blueberry, Plum, Aronia, Cherry and Pomegranate. It’s sweetened with Stevia, and it even contains 4 citrus essential oils in it – Orange, Yuzu, Lemon and Tangerine – which are very high in d-Limonene.
60ml of NingXia Red is equivalent in biological activity to 118 heads of broccoli, 200 oranges, or 45,628 almonds – so it’s like a whole fridge/freezer full of fruit and vegetables in a single serve. Drink 60ml, once or twice a day, and more if your body desires.
According to Dr. Gary Price Todd, MD, the human body requires at least 60 minerals for optimal health, yet only 8 minerals are available in any kind of quantity in most of the food we eat today. This is because many of our soils are now depleted in minerals, so even the very best organic food can be mineral-deficient.
That’s why an ionic mineral supplement like Mineral Essence is so beneficial for long-term good health. Ionic minerals are the very best type of mineral supplement – they are the most easily absorbed by our intestines, according to Dr. Alexander G. Schauss, Ph.D.
Mineral Essence contains 60 minerals, which is the critical number for the human body. It also contains Honey (a natural emulsifier and sweetener), and Royal Jelly, which is rich in amino acids, minerals and Vitamins B5 and B6, and which provides wonderful energy for the body. And it contains Lemon, Cinnamon Bark and Peppermint Essential Oils.
Use 5 droppers (5ml) in water, juice or NingXia Red daily.
MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) is a naturally occurring form of sulfur – a critical building block for our skin. MSM helps us to build healthy collagen and keratin, thus keeping our skin smooth and youthful, and our hair glossy.
But just having MSM is not enough – you can eat as much as you like, but it won’t be absorbed unless you have the necessary co-factors present. That’s why Young Living’s Sulfurzyme has been formulated to contain both high quality MSM and NingXia wolfberry fruit powder. The wolfberry supplies the nutrients to enhance the assimilation of the sulfur.
These softgels contain therapeutic-grade Clove, Frankincense, Orange and Thyme essential oil in a base of coconut oil. Take 1 cap per day of these fat-soluble antioxidants, in order to protect your cells from the damaging effects of free radicals (ie. the underlying cause of aging).
This Master Supplement combines 3 super-nutrient that work synergistically to help the entire body, including the skin:
Beauty starts in the mind. When we believe we are beautiful, when we have self-love, we radiate that to everyone we meet. It’s a lot like Dr. Emoto’s water crystals, where he showed the dynamic response in frozen water crystals to different words being used. And after all, our body is 70% water, so why wouldn’t it affect us in the same way?
So if you are used to judging that reflection in the mirror, why not tap into the power of essential oils to transform your emotional viewpoint? The aroma of oils directly accesses the limbic region of the brain, which is our subconscious. Because of this, they have a profound ability to bring thoughts and emotions to the surface, so that we may address and heal those limiting thoughts.
Apply your chosen oils, and take 5 minutes each morning to think about all the things that you are grateful for in your life. And remember to smile….this reduces stress, one of the causes of aging. Here are some great places to start:
Maintain this simple 3 step process and watch your skin shine!
Our skin is the largest organ of elimination, so it needs care and cleansing to remove dirt and grime, as well as toxins that are being released. Properly cleansing your face helps to remove not only makeup and perspiration, but also dead skin and environmental toxins.
Young Living’s gentle cleansers do not strip the natural oils out of the skin.
Cleanse your skin twice a day using the ART Gentle Cleanser, the Orange Blossom Facial Wash, or Young Living’s Dead Sea Mud Soap. Remember to wash your hands before you cleanse! It’s a great idea to do a “double cleanse” each time, for the best effect on your skin – the first one starts to remove the grime, the second one has a deeper cleansing action (and that’s what you want!!!). It’s a great idea to also cleanse after intense activities, when you’ve built up a sweat.
Did you know that your skin replaces itself every 30 to 60 days? Exfoliating helps to eliminate dead cells from the skin’s surface, and allows new cells to flourish. It also cleans clogged pores, promoting healthy, glowing skin. This means that you will better absorb the nourishing products you then add to your skin.
Exfoliate your skin once a week, using Young Living’s Satin Mint Facial Scrub, mixed with a little bit of water so it’s gentler on the skin. Your skin will look smoother and younger, and feel more rejuvenated.
Satin Mint Facial Scrub contains:
The optimal pH for your skin is 5.5, however this is disrupted when you cleanse your skin, or exfoliate. Using a toner does 3 things. It:
After cleansing and exfoliating, tone your face by putting some toner onto a cotton makeup pad and using it over your face. Always work in an upwards direction, ie. against the pull of gravity.
You can use the ART Refreshing Toner. This beautiful toner helps to minimise pores and restores pH balance to the skin. It is a blend of:
If you prefer to make your own facial toner, here’s a great recipe:
This is both soothing and revitalising to the skin, with an icy kick because of the cooling effect of the Peppermint oil in it. It is great as both a toner and an aftershave. Mix the following ingredients together in a 50ml glass bottle:
Beauty Serums are typically based on ingredients that have a lower molecular weight than a normal moisturiser, so the nutrients can easily access the deeper layers of your skin. This is why it’s advantageous to use a serum before you apply your moisturizing cream.
Young Living’s ART Renewal Serum contains an intricate blend of traditional Chinese botanicals, orchid flower extract and essential oils. It is uniquely designed to protect, nourish, hydrate and soothe the delicate skin of the face.
The real secret weapon in here is the Phalaenopsis orchid flower extract. This remarkable ingredient is protective, restorative and hydrating. It helps to:
It also contains:
Regardless of your skin type, make sure you feed your skin both morning and night with a natural moisturizer. You can do additional applications if your face feels dry. Young Living has several moisturizer options based on plant botanicals and infused with essential oils. These moisturisers protect sensitive skin, improve skin tone and texture, and smooth skin complexion:
ART light moisturizer
Perfect for everyday use and youthful skin, the ART light moisturizer increases skin elasticity, nourishes and hydrates, evens skin tone and helps reduce the appearance of fine lines. It contains:
ART intensive moisturizer
Pamper your skin with this deep, ultra-hydrating lotion. Containing therapeutic-grade essential oils of: Hinoki, Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Ylang Ylang and Frankincense, the ART Intensive Moisturiser is design to help:
Sandalwood Moisture Cream
This ultra-hydrating moisturizer softens skin and helps promote skin elasticity. It was developed many years before the ART Intensive Moisturiser, so explore both products to see which is the best fit for your skin. Sandalwood Moisture Cream contains:
These targeted products are designed to take your skin to the next level of radiance.
ART Sheerlume
Did you know that an “older looking” face is defined by age spots, skin dullness and rough textures, more than it is by wrinkles? Sheerlume helps to balance and visibly improve skin tone, at the same time protecting the skin from external stressors. It contains:
Wolfberry Eye Cream
The first signs of aging usually appear in the delicate skin around the eyes. Wolfberry Eye Cream nourishes the skin around the eyes, helping reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
It is based on the youth-giving properties of wolfberry seed oil, mixed with other nourishing oils such as avocado oil, jojoba, sweet almond oil, rosehip oil, mango seed butter, shea butter and Kukui oil, and containing therapeutic-grade essential oils of Lavender, Coriander, Roman Chamomile, Frankincense, Geranium, Bergamot and Ylang Ylang.
Boswellia Wrinkle Cream
Help your face to relax at the same time it is being moisturized. Boswellia Wrinkle cream contains:
ART Crème Masque
Deeply moisturizing and cleansing, the ART crème masque is designed to leave the skin feeling velvety. Use it as a deep facial moisturizer or an all-night skin treatment. If desired, it can be washed off after it has dried. It contains:
Lip Balms – Lavender, Grapefruit and Cinnamint
The thinnest skin on the body is found on our lips, which is why they are more vulnerable to the elements. Young Living’s lip balms are formulated with a base of nourishing and protective oils and waxes, including sweet almond oil, beeswax and wolfberry seed oil, with the added benefits of therapeutic-grade essential oils.
This picture is pretty amazing, if you know what you are looking for! The Ancient Egyptians loved the aroma of oils – they believed that the more beautiful they smelled, the more favour their Gods would bestow on them…so the women wore wax cones on their heads, with essential oils mixed in the wax (see the blue cones in the pic!!!). As the hot sun melted the wax, their hair and bodies were covered in essential oil!
These women are holding Blue Lotus flowers, which produces one of the most prized essential oils in the world! Did you know that Young Living has an oil blend called “Build your Dream”, which contains the prized Blue Lotus oil!!!!
Dr. Sabina DeVita, author of Saving Face, describes essential oils as pure frequency or “liquid light”, and an incredible gift to our skin.
Because they energize our skin, it means that our skin cells reproduce at a healthy and fast level, hence the time lag between new skin growth and the elimination of old cells is reduced, which in turn helps our skin behave like more youthful skin.
Essential oils also penetrate and moisturize the deep layers in the skin, bringing light and energy to these layers. They help reduce puffiness and irregularities of the skin, as well as reducing visible signs of aging….oh, and did I mention that because they relax us, they also help to counterbalance the everyday stresses and tension that contributes to skin aging?
So apply a mix of essential oils to the skin each evening, after cleansing and toning. Although some oils can be applied neat to the skin, others can be irritating. So by using a good quality carrier oil, it slows down the penetration of the essential oil into the skin, meaning your skin (rather than the rest of your body) gets the benefits of the essential oil for longer.
There are many different carrier oils that can be used, including Young Living’s V6 mixing oil, or Jojoba oil, Sweet Almond oil, Avocado oil, Argan oil, Fractionated coconut oil (fractionated just means it doesn’t solidify in cooler weather), Grape Seed oil, Hemp Seed oil, Olive oil and Rosehip oil. You can even add a little bit of beeswax if you want! Alternatively, you can add the essential oils directly into some of Young Living’s ART light moisturiser.
Recipe: MAKE YOUR OWN “NEFERTITI’S SKIN BALM”
There are so many beautiful essential oils for the skin, just as there are carrier oils. Here are just a few that you can use, or adapt according to what feels right for you. If you don’t have all these oils, start with the ones you do have, and use Lavender as a substitute.
Lavender is a great universal oil. It’s calming and soothing to the skin and wonderful for skin circulation, so it can be used in place of any of the .oils that you don’t have.
In 2 tablespoons of ART light moisturizer or coconut oil (or any other carrier oil of your choice from the list above), put the following:
Geranium oil – Did you know?
Geranium oil has “cytophylactic” properties? This means it helps to “slough off” dead cells from the skin. It is an ultra-moisturiser, feeding the skin and keeping cells hydrated and free of excess oils. Not only that, it gives facial muscles a toned appearance, and assists in preventing sagging and wrinkling skin…WOW!
Oh, and did I mention that it’s relaxing AND stimulating to the brain, it uplifts our moods and lessens fatigue as well? Who wouldn’t benefit from this wonderful oil!!!
Choosing Oils for your Skin Type