Aging Gracefully by Loving Your Skin

Your skin is the largest organ in the body.  Then why is it many humans treat it with the least amount of regard? I used to be one of them.   

After being diagnosed with heavy metal poisoning in 2012 and never knowing where it came from, I started paying more attention to what I was putting on and in my body. 

Skin is our first line of defense.  It acts as a barrier to keep pathogens out.  It is also the part of us that shows aging first.   Unlike skin, we can’t see an internal organ aging with the naked eye.  We can certainly see skin aging with fine lines and wrinkles, inconsistencies in pigment (age spots), frown lines, and saggy areas.

I don’t have all the answers; however, during the past decade, I have learned some great strategies to help you age gracefully while living a full and productive life. 

Before we get into a healthy skincare regimen let's also recognize that hydration, nutrition, alcohol consumption, smoking and sleep can also impact the skin.

The key message here is that you need to have a healthy inside to have a healthy outside. 

Adding toxins like botox or paying for collagen injections isn’t going to slow progression.  It’s simply a band-aid.  Having a healthy foundation is going to be the best method for aging gracefully coupled with the best skincare regimen.

There is no guarantee that these strategies will provide a solid foundation for your skin to defy aging; however, countless studies do show that they can’t hurt. 

1. There are thousands of products on the market for anti-aging skincare that is supposed to be the best. Reading labels is critical when choosing which skincare regimen to use.  The first five ingredients are what make up the majority of the product.  If you see alcohol, propanol, parabens, petroleum, or fragrance in the top 5 ingredients the company may be hiding toxic ingredients.
2. A healthy skin care regimen starts with an exfoliator.   Exfoliating enables the product we put on our skin to be absorbed and utilized.  One way to make sure that this is the case is by exfoliating and getting the lymphatic system activated.  Something that can be done for your body daily that will make you feel like a million bucks is dry brushing and then applying lotion.  Your skin will thank you for it.  Dry brushing is a very simple procedure. 

• Environmentally friendly wood handles with cotton straps and high-quality bristles made from agave or cactus plants work the best.

3. The proper way to dry brush is to start at the ankles and use long strokes up to the knee, long strokes from groin to knee, belly button to the breast area, wrists up to shoulders, across from middle to the collarbone, down from head to the back of the neck, down the back using a long handle to get to hard-to-reach areas and up the back of the legs from the ankles and over buttocks. This will improve the consistency and smoothness of your skin in about 4 weeks with daily use. 
4. Apply your favorite lotion. Remember that the skin is the largest organ in the body and provides support for everything underneath.  Love your skin.

A facial skin care routine is similar and typically it consists of the following 4 steps.

• Cleanse and exfoliate the goal is to get the old layers off.
• Once the skin is prepped, spray a light mist of toner to prepare the skin for serum.
• Apply serum and moisturizer with SPF 15 and then you’re ready for makeup.

As a survivor of melanoma and heavy metal poison, I am very particular about what I put in my body and on my skin. 

• Use a gentle wipe or makeup remover before bed to remove the dirt and toxins that you’re exposed to during the day.  Apply a night crème or moisturizer before bed.
• Use an eye cream under the eye and on the sides of the eyes.
• When applying anything to your face, always use a small dab on your pinky finger. When applying near the eye, keep it thin and away from the eye.

For questions about skincare and health, please check out my website at lambertandlambertcoaching.com or email me at [email protected]