How we take care of our skin

Add Moisture to the Air: Consider investing in a humidifier for your home to combat the drying effects of heaters and furnaces. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the water to increase the healing power of the hydrated air. Try lavender, rosewood, or chamomile. Bathe in Lukewarm Water: Hot water and soaps that contain detergents and anti-bacterial ingredients can dry out your skin. Bathe in lukewarm water and choose a mild soap or body wash containing moisturizer, glycerin or plant oils. Apply body oil while still damp to help seal in the moisture after bathing and then gently pat your skin dry with a soft towel. Best Moisturizer – Water: The best way to hydrate the skin is to soak in lukewarm water for 15 minutes. Diet and Skin Care: Increase your intake of essential fatty acids found in whole grains, nuts, seeds and certain types of fish. Cook with olive or canola oil and use olive or flaxseed oil in salad dressings. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day to stay hydrated and moisturize your body from the inside. Greasy foods take a toll on your skin; try to eliminate saturated fats and fried foods from your diet. General Skin Care: The skin is the largest organ of the body and often the most neglected. Taking good care of your skin should be part of your daily routine. Intact skin is our best defense against bacterial invasion. Winter weather often results in dry, itchy skin. Here's some advice on relieving irritation and revealing soft, smooth skin. Remember, a good skin care product doesn't have to be expensive to be effective. Lotion While Damp: Lotion is much more effective for dry skin treatment if you apply it while your skin is damp after bathing rather than when your skin is totally dry. Moisturize Daily: Moisturize daily! When choosing a moisturizer, look for healing ingredients such as plant extracts, plant oils, sea algae, lanolin, glycerin, Vitamins A, B, C, and E and pure aloe vera. Lotions with mineral oils, perfumes or alcohol may produce an allergic reaction or have a drying effect on the skin. Shaving Moles Is a No-No: Moles should never be shaved off. There is always a possibility of infection, excess bleeding, or scarring. The only safe alternative is to see a dermatologist. Sun Exposure: Avoid sun exposure during the peak intensity hours - between 10 am and 4 pm (10:00 - 16:00). The risk of burning also increases at higher altitude. Udderly Helpful Skin Care: Two of the best products for easing dry skin, IMHO, are manufactured for healing cow's udders. Try Udder Cream and Bag Balm when your skin feels like alligator hide. What's a Hygrometer? Purchase an inexpensive hygrometer to measure the humidity in your home. Lowering your home's heat and using a humidifier will keep your home in the comfort zone and help prevent dry skin and hair. Winter Skin Tip If your skin tends to be dry and itchy in the winter, turn down the heat in your home. You'll be a lot more comfortable in a cooler house. Natural Skin Care Methods Baking Soda and Vinegar: Soothe bee stings, other insect bites, and burns by spreading a paste of baking soda and vinegar on it. Baking Soda as Deodorant: Mix equal parts baking soda and cornstarch, then add water until it can be poured into a mold. After it dries you have a ball of deodorant that you moisten and apply. Be careful though, if you apply it to raw or tender skin (i.e. after shaving your armpits) it will burn. Baking Soda as Deodorant II: Mix a cup of baking soda and 2 T. of cornstarch (to keep baking soda from clumping) and put it in a plastic container with a short-handled blush brush. Then after your shower you just brush on your deodorant. Since you're still a little moist, it doesn't have a problem sticking. Baking Soda Foot Baths: Regular footbaths with water and baking soda will control foot odors. Exfoliating Facial Scrub: Use 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water as an exfoliating facial scrub. Gently massage into face using a circular motion after washing with your regular cleanser. The recommended frequency of use is three times per week. Facial Scrub: Visitor Tip: I add a little baking soda to my facial cleanser instead of using facial scrubs. The little "grains" are round and tiny, so are very gentle. Foot Odors: No more expensive foot powders-- just sprinkle baking soda on dry to control athlete's foot and odors, also dust the inside of shoes with baking soda to reduce foot moisture. Insect Bite/Sting Relief Apply a baking soda and water paste or apple cider vinegar via a cotton pad to bee, jellyfish, or sea nettle stings or mosquito bites to relieve the itching and pain. Natural Treatment for Dry/Irritated Skin Treat dry skin during your bath with following mixture: combine 1 cup oatmeal, 1 cup warm water, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, and 1/2 cup baking soda in a blender or food processor until you have a smooth paste. Pour this paste under the running water while drawing your bath. It's very soothing to dry, irritated skin. Neutralize Battery Acid In the event of a spill, neutralize battery acid quickly by applying a baking soda paste to the affected area. Poison Ivy Relief To relieve the itch from poison ivy, make a paste with water, spread it on the affected area and let it dry. This also promotes healing. Smooth Skin Diet A veggie a day keeps the wrinkles away, according to the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, which reports that subjects who eat vegetables rich in antioxidants -- specifically, vitamins A, C and E -- have smoother skin. (The findings applied whether subjects lived in a sun-drenched or sun-deprived country, and when age and smoking were factored in.) Other nutritious (and beautifying) foods to feast on: beans, olive oil, nuts and multigrain breads. Soft Hands To soften hands while you do dishes, add a tablespoon of baking soda to your soapy water.