Healthy Skin Tip - Cut down on congestion

So, today I decided to flex my esthetician and health-nut muscle for the good of all man-kind. I have a lot to share! Periodically I'm going to post exciting entries on tips for skin health, nutrition, and also on Naughty (yet common) Ingredients... Dun-dun-dun!

But let's not get ahead ourselves here. Let's back the knowledge train up to the station.

Healthy Skin Tip - Cut down on congestion - the healthy way!

As a practicing esthetician, the most common problem I see (apart from dehydration - drink that water, people!) is congestion. There is an eco-friendly, reusable alternative to harsh products, that works effectively without breaking the bank! I suggest investing in a dozen or so washcloths (more if you don't do laundry regularly). Have enough on hand so that you can use a clean one each time you wash your face. (If you wash twice a day and do laundry once a week, do the math... you'll need at least 14 washcloths so you don't run out.)

Also... this stops you from buying products that may not be good for you (more on the chemical aspect later). And now I'm officially going to talk crap about something: That St. Ives Apricot Scrub that every beauty magazine says is amazing, and everyone and their sister uses. Harsh scrubs such as this do not work to your benefit, trust me on this. This particular product, like many others, has more than 10 dangerous ingredients (I stopped counting after 10), not to mention crushed apricot pits, which sounds healthy right? Wrong. They tear at your skin leaving microscopic fissures. What's the big deal? Well, if you have an acneic skintype or are prone to breakouts, this actually makes it easier for the bacteria to invade your precious skin, you first defense against infection! Plus all the crappy synthetic ingredients destroys your skins protective barrier, called the acid mantle, leaving you even more susceptible to problems and speeding up the aging process.

Anyway... moving on:

Back to the washcloths - I like to use these before I apply a cleanser. In the morning when I don't have makeup on, I'll still wet a washcloth with warm water and rub gently in a circular motion all over my face - even my lips- just like I would if I were removing makeup. This is particularly beneficial in the colder, dryer months to ward off flaking skin and chapped lips. Then I apply a cleanser, working that in for a few minutes before removing. This is gentle enough to do every day.

And wa-la! Clean, glowing, congestion-free skin! (Of course finding the right cleanser is imperative, more on this later!)

For super dry skin, once or twice a week try applying a heavy coat of your favorite moisturizer and using a damp washcloth to lightly buff the dry skin off until symptoms subside. This also works on other parts of the body ;)

Where to find the washcloths? Well, you can surely pick some up at your local co-op for all-natural or organic lovers. If you are on a budget, Target sells packs of 10 for just a couple bucks... in all sorts of fun colors! Pick up a few packs, and you're ready to roll!