How To Keep Your Skin Super Hydrated ~ An Artisan Guest Post

I’m so happy to be sharing a guest post written by blogger, Kristina Valisauskaite. She’s a keen advocate for all natural skincare and has been documenting about it on Homemade Wellbeing. Most exciting of all – Kristina’s received such a great response to her homemade skin products that she recently opened a dedicated storefront on http://www.etsy.com. (Etsy is one of my favourite websites!)

Kristina’s lotions are available to the global public, and I’m in love with the Orange Face Cream. It’s made for those who want to wake up refreshed and flaunt smoother looking skin! My skin is so sensitive and it reacted so well to this cream so treat this as a testimonial.

If you’d like to look at her line, take a peek here:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/fairskincare

Until then, enjoy reading Kristina’s tips!

A line of excellent products by fairskincare

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Kristina:

I was thrilled to have been asked by Marina to write a guest post on skin hydration. I have a big passion for everything natural, especially when it comes to skin care. I am blessed with great skin – it can handle everything! But I know that a lack of vitamins, lack of fresh air, and heat are the skin’s worst enemies. Being comfortable in my own skin is great, but it hurts me to see other people’s damaged and dehydrated skin, especially those who are close to my heart.

Bikram yoga can be pretty dehydrating and can also bring upon skin flare ups and the dreaded pimples says Marina.

via feather magazine

I’ve never experienced this type of Yoga personally, but Marina’s posts, inspirational as ever, made me look into it closer and do some research – I’m learning something new everyday! It seems to me that Bikram Yoga is similar to a sauna, when you are hit with a wave of heat. Therefore, the body can experience dehydration.

I’ve pulled together some soothing and natural recipes for your skin that you can make yourself and enjoy everyday, all year round!

OILS AND SERUMS

Every skin type needs a burst of additional nourishment. A serum is an intensive treatment that is highly concentrated yet easily absorbed. Consider this to be your beauty boost, says Sally, lead trainer at cosmetic products training school, Plush Folly.

via fairskincare

I’ve done lots of research on different oils and their properties and recently attended a course at Plush Folly where I learned how to blend those oils and make beautiful face serums.

I love applying oils on my skin because they are absolutely natural. If you choose the right one, it soaks in like a treat without leaving a greasy film on your skin. Of course, everyone is different and it is rather difficult to determine which oils are best for each of us, but here comes the joy of experimenting! Your body will tell you if the oils you’ve chosen are right for you.

OILS THAT CARE FOR DRY SKIN

From my experience, the best oil to use on extremely dry skin in Avocado Oil. It’s wonderful because it penetrates deep into skin, is quickly absorbed, and doesn’t leave the skin greasy. The oil is extremely nourishing and you only need a tiny bit to feed your skin.

For a lighter choice, I recommend Sweet Almond Oil. Not only is it easily absorbed into the skin which makes it smooth and beautiful, but it is inexpensive!

I always keep a bottle of wonderful Cherry Kernel Oil at home. It’s very nourishing and recommended for sensitive and dry skin.

If you combine these oils together, you will get a lovely face serum. Only one or two drops will make your skin feel better instantly. If you are adventurous, add an essential oil of your choice. If you are suffering from dreaded pimples, add a drop of Tea Tree Essential Oil – it is a natural antiseptic and used for problem skin. It will help you fight spots.

Another lovely essential oil is Cedarwood. I use it for its ability to calm and sooth dry skin. It also has general toning and healing properties.

Lastly, I can’t forget Jojoba Oil: it is famous for its anti bacterial, skin softening, rebalancing, and anti-wrinkle properties! The oil absorption speed is medium, so rather than apply it in the morning, better to indulge with it in the evening.

Sweet almond oil is extracted from the seeds of almond trees by cold pressing the kernels. It’s a source of vitamin A, B1, B2, B6 and E that rejuvenate the skin and promotes hair growth.

TAILOR MAKE YOUR OWN FACE SERUMS

It’s advised to apply oils before bed. You’ll wake up to beautiful, hydrated, and nourished skin.

NB: the recipes below list a range of different oils to those listed above so as to show as many oil combinations/options as possible. A kitchen scale will help with measurements.

MY PERSONAL RECIPE

Here is a recipe I use to make my own face serum. It is absolutely delightful and I use it every night after cleansing my face:

4g Coconut Oil* (soothing, skin softening)

3g Avocado Oil (soothing, healing, regenerating)

4g Hazelnut Oil (regenerating, rebalancing)

1 drop Rose Geranium Essential Oil (optional)

Combine the oils and then add a drop of your chosen essential oil. This recipe makes 12g oil and believe me, it will last you weeks! You only need to use a drop or two at any time. I use Geranium Oil because it’s so versatile – it’s good for dry, oily, combination, problem skin and has anti ageing properties.

RECIPE FOR ULTIMATE HYDRATION

For extremely dry and dehydrated skin I recommend Moringa Oil. The skin quickly absorbs the oil and it is ultra moisturising.

4g Moringa Oil (ultra moisturising)

4g Hemp Seed Oil (anti-inflammatory, rehydrating, good for irritated skin)

3g Kukui Nut Oil (softens, sooths, eases chapped skin, improves skin’s elasticity)

The shelf life of these combinations is 12-18 months so you can make larger quantities if you wish. Store it in a dark glass bottle.

via fairskincare

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING AN OIL

The average price per 100g of these oils varies, but they are very affordable and you only need a little bit at a time. Look for them in health stores or trusted websites.

Note: A good quality oil is certified (not necessarily organic). If properly stored, oils last for about 2-3 years, though some oils like Rosehip last for about 6 months. Every batch is different and the colour can change, so if you buy an oil from a different shop and notice that the colour is lighter or darker, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the oil is off. If the oil is off, it smells rancid and the oil around the lid will be dried out and flaky.

Things I’d recommend to do before purchasing oils:

• Contact the seller and ask questions. This way you will find out how knowledgeable they are. See how they respond.
• You can ask for a sample.
• Always ask for the oil or any other product MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet). Every online shop that sells natural products should have MSDS available for every product.
• Make sure that the web stores list the INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) name of each product.
• Read reviews and testimonials of other people.

I purchased Sweet Almond Oil from Amazon a few times and it was perfectly fine.

*WHY I AM TOTALLY HOOKED ON COCONUT OIL

I use coconut oil for everything: as a moisturiser when I want something super natural on my skin; as a hair conditioner to make it sleek and shiny. I might warm the oil in my palms and use as a body lotion; I put virgin coconut oil into my porridge in the morning or spread it on my toast to keep me healthy! It’s a natural treasure – it works wonders and doesn’t coast the earth. Coconut oil is suitable for all skin types. It’s enriched with Vitamin E and fatty acids (such as lauric acid, myristic acid, capric acid and more) which are anti-fungal, anti-oxidant, and anti-bacterial – just what we need! Free radicals harm the skin and speed up the ageing process causing fine lines on our skin, loss of elasticity, uneven skin tone, and dull looking skin. Being a natural antioxidant, Coconut Oil fights the free radicals and helps to protect our skin from premature ageing. Use it internally as well as externally!

via hybridrastamama.com

Tags: Avocado Oil, Cedarwood, Cherry Kernel Oil, Coconut Oil, essential oils, etsy, fairskincare, Hazelnut Oil, Hemp Seed Oil, hydration, Jojoba Oil, Kukui Nut Oil, Moringa Oil, Orange Face Cream, Plush Folly, Rose Geranium Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, tea tree oil