Detox & Exfoliate for Refreshed Skin

by Karen Kerk March 01, 2013

It’s nearly spring in most parts of Canada and our skin is showing some of the effects of winter: dry, itchy, rashy, flaky… time for some quick at-home exfoliation tricks to get your skin healthy and glowing again in time for shorts and tank top weather…

Internal Cleanse

You guessed it. H2O. LOTS of it. Our bodies – and therefore, our skin – are especially dehydrated in winter. We need to drink lots of water to keep our internal and external organs lubricated. Plus, the water helps flush out any toxins and impurities.

Sauna Steam

Sauna steam helps the body sweat out toxins and eliminate impurities. The best to do this is to find someone who knows how and follow their lead! Bring along your body brush or loofah, a washcloth, favourite soaps, scrubs and body oils. Ease into it, and then enjoy as often as you’d like. It does a body gooood!

Body Brushing

Body brushing is a very effective way to remove dead skin from your body. It’s also excellent for stimulating lymph nodes so they will eliminate impurities from within. So if you don’t have a body brush yet, go and find one with natural bristles and get on the body brushing train.

How to use a dry body brush:

• Find 10 minutes of alone time and lock yourself in the bathroom. Get naked and stand on a towel.
• Starting with the soles of your feet, use firm, short, sweeping brushes to brush the soles of your feet. Repeat 10-20 times on eat foot. Then begin with the tops of your feet and brush from your toes to your ankles. Still firm, still short, still upwards towards your heart. Repeat.
• Slowly make your way up to your knees, buttocks, go gently on your belly and chest (avoid nipples!), and again hands (both sides), arms, as much as you can reach on your back, shoulders, neck, and again gently on your face.
• The whole process should take 5-10 minutes. Afterwards, follow with a warm shower.
• Repeat 3x a week for maximum benefits.

Face Scrubs and Masks

And after you’ve hydrated, steamed and brushed your way to healthier skin, you can add some extra nutrients to your poor, always-exposed face. Grab any of these from your fridge and make a mask: eggs, grounds oats, ground almonds, mashed bananas or avocados or berries, honey. Even add cinnamon or turmeric for extra benefits. Mix together, apply to your face, and sit and relax for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

For body scrubs, use any dry ingredients like ground oats, ground almonds, baking soda, brown sugar, cinnamon, turmeric and add to honey, yogurt or water to make a paste. Then using circular, upwards motions, gently scrub on the desired area for 2-3 minutes. Rinse with warm water and air dry. This is also a great time to apply an oil-based serum or balm, gently massage onto wet skin and let it soak in.

Your skin should look and feel great!

~Mama Bare

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