Love the Skin You’re In: Simple Summer Skin-Care Routine

Reader Contribution by Shar Veda
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“Who cannot love herself cannot love anybody, who is ashamed of her body is ashamed of all life, who finds dirt or filth in her body is lost, who cannot respect the gifts given even before birth, can never respect anything fully.” —Anne Cameron, “The Women’s Society,” from Daughters of Copper Woman

Its mid-summer, are you showing off your gorgeous skin? No, why not? Anyone can have gorgeous skin and it doesn’t require a lot of time or money. So ditch the expensive lotions, spray tans, scrubs and chemical peels and try this super-simple detoxifying, five-step skin care ritual for your best summer skin ever.

TOOLS:
• Raw honey
• Coconut oil
• Natural loofah

TIME: 2.5 Hours

STEP 1: Exercise hard for one hour. Cycle, jog, hike, lift weights—do whatever, just exercise, push yourself and make sure you sweat! (I will follow up with an article on weights for strong arms and back and bum and legs separately.) Cool down with some simple, relaxing stretches.

STEP 2: Apply a face and neck mask. Raw honey is an easy-to-use, inexpensive, effective mask for all skin types, including dry, aging skin and oily acne prone skin, as it is moisturizing and antibacterial. It will leave you with a rosy, dewy complexion. Mix 1/8 teaspoon honey with a few drops of warm water in your hand and apply to your face and neck, leave on for 20 minutes. Now jump in the shower and rinse off.

STEP 3: Buff your body, all of it! If you have a private yard or sunny patio, wrap yourself in a towel and grab your loofah and coconut oil. Lay your towel in the sun and get comfy. I like this loofah by Bass. Make sure the loofah and your skin are dry to assist the lymphatic system in cleansing your body of toxins and metabolic waste and to slough off dead skin cells. Start at your feet—do the bottoms well—and in long, firm strokes buff up your legs, arms and entire body always moving toward your heart.


 

STEP 4: Oil up. If you are a lotion user, give coconut oil a try today. Once you see and feel the results of oiling your skin you won’t want to go back to lotions. Be generous with the oil. Start at your feet and work up your legs, paying special attention the knees and backs of the knees, groin, belly, armpits, elbows and chest.

STEP 5: Soak up D sun. When you are finished oiling your body, lay in the sun for 30 minutes on each side. Vitamin D is critical to physical and mental health. Vitamin D deficiency is the biggest reason people get sick. So skip the sun protection today and get outside before 10:30am or after 4pm (depending on where you are, of course) to avoid burning. Towel dry. If you need to rinse off go ahead. I never have to, I just towel dry and it soaks in.

Tell yourself, “I deserve to be healthy. I am beautiful. I love my body and my skin.” Repeat this mantra several times a day, aloud and to yourself. Remember to SMILE.

Practice this simple, decadent and deeply nourishing routine several times a week for best results. You are glowing! You are beautiful. I love you.



Shar Veda is an Ayurveda Lifestyle Counselor & Health Educator, Yoga Therapist, and herbalist living in Ashland, Oregon. She works with at risk teen-aged girls and offers compassionate health and lifestyle counseling anywhere in the world via Skype and or the good old-fashioned telephone. Shar has had the great gift of studying with leading teachers in Ayurveda, Yoga, and herbalism for nearly 20 years. However, it was her adopted grandma, Doe (English-American and Blackfoot Native), who instilled within her profound appreciation for the supreme power of loving touch, healing arts, and world family. Visit her website for a video, full bio and photos, or find her on Facebook!

  • Published on Aug 10, 2015
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