Did you know that your skin is your body’s largest and fastest growing organ?
That’s right, and it performs some very important functions too.
For instance, your skin helps regulate your body temperature, keeps all of your internal organs safe and protected, and it also forms a sort of barrier to germs and other external substances that could compromise your health and wellness.
That’s why it’s so important to take good care of it.
However, that’s much easier said than done.
Proper skin care can be really hard to get right due to the massive number of skin care products that exist (over 55 million if you do a Google search). And to make things even more confusing, there is tons of conflicting information out there.
With that said, it’s only natural to think…
Which products work? Which ones don’t? Which ones are actually good for your skin and which ones can potentially harm it?
In fact, some experts say that you shouldn’t put anything on your skin that you wouldn’t eat. Because the truth is, your body still absorbs things that are put on your skin.
To help you cut through the clutter and take care of your skin in the best way possible, here are five natural ways to healthier skin that are both good for you and safe to use:
1. Rehydrate Skin with Warm (Not Hot) Showers
If you like to start your day by standing under water that’s so hot it makes your skin red, you may be doing yourself more harm than good as doctors at Baylor College of Medicine state that taking hot showers can make your skin dry out unnecessarily.
Instead, aim for lukewarm temperatures and limit your time to no more than 15 minutes. You’ll have suppler, glowing skin as a result.
2. Get Rid of Acne with Apple Cider Vinegar
Instead of buying tube after tube of acne medications that may or may not irritate your skin more than help it, simply go to your kitchen cupboard, grab the apple cider vinegar and use that instead. Vinegar has a high pH, making it beneficial when dealing with skin issues related to bacteria or inflammation, such as acne and even eczema.
But if you take this route, you should be using organic apple cider vinegar. That way you don’t expose your body to any nasty pesticides or other chemicals.
You can easily pick up a bottle of raw apple cider vinegar here.
If you can’t handle the taste, trying mixing some into a juice or smoothie!
3. Smooth Rough Skin with Dead Sea Salt
Have you noticed that your skin feels rough and scaly lately? One natural way to remedy this is by bathing in Dead Sea salt.
In fact, one study published in the International Journal of Dermatology found that not only did Dead Sea salt help smooth rough skin, but also made the skin more efficient as a barrier, improved rehydration, and even eased inflammation. Researchers believe that the salt’s high magnesium content is what leads to these types of benefits.
4. Age More Gracefully with Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has been touted as a natural remedy for countless health conditions. Among the many benefits of coconut oil lies its ability help you age more gracefully because of the advantages it offers your skin.
Coconut oil acts as a protectant for the skin. It does this by acting like the oils your body naturally secretes. It also protects your skin because it has antiviral and anti-fungal properties.
As a result, coconut oil can leave you with healthier, glowing skin.
If you choose to take it internally versus rubbing it on your skin, simply add it to your juice or smoothie. The increased vitamins and minerals from the fruits and veggies in these fantastic beverages are good for your skin as well.
Like any products or food, you should be buying them organic because not all coconut oils are created equally. Some companies get their coconut oils are processed with harmful chemicals and we don’t want any of that.
If you’re not sure what brand to get, here is a high quality brand you can try.
5. Exercise for Younger Skin
Another way to help your skin age more beautifully is with exercise, according to researchers from McMaster University. Based on their findings, engaging in physical exercise enables you to not only slow the aging process, but almost reverse it as far as your skin is concerned. In fact, when people 65 years or older were subjected to exercise sessions three times a week, they had skin similar to that of 20 to 40 year olds.
So get out there and get moving!
Taking care of your skin doesn’t have to involve using unnatural ingredients. As you can see, you can remedy most any skin issue with positive health actions and ingredients that only nature can provide. Now all you have to do is use them. Your skin will thank you when you do.
This is a guest post by Shelly Stinson, a Denver, Colorado-based freelance writer specializing in all things related to healthy living (food, exercise, and all that good stuff). You can follow her on Twitter here.