Veggie Blog

What is natural skin care?

Put simply, natural skin care means caring for your skin in a natural, chemical-free way. Natural skin care is about letting the skin take care of itself, without help from synthetic materials or chemicals. It is mostly about building good habits into your day-to-day life. In fact, many natural skin care measures are the same as those for looking after your body in general.

So let’s look at what these natural skin care measures are.

The first and simplest natural skin care measure is to drink plenty of water. Around 8 glasses a day is a common guideline, though your needs depend on your size, activity and climate. Water helps your kidneys flush waste products out of the body. It supports the overall upkeep of the body and the health of all your organs, not just your skin.

General cleanliness is another inexpensive way of natural skin care. A daily shower, clean clothing and sleeping on a clean mattress and pillow are all part of general cleanliness. After all, clean skin helps keep many skin problems at bay.

Regular exercise is next on the list. Exercise improves blood circulation, which helps keep your skin and your whole body healthy. Exercise also helps in beating stress, which is one of the worst enemies of good health.

Healthy food and eating habits are also recommended for natural skin care. Some people find that certain foods, such as very oily or sugary food, make their acne worse, so watch how your own skin reacts. Your diet should be a healthy mix of nutritious foods. Fresh fruits and vegetables provide vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that your skin needs.

A good night’s sleep is also important for maintaining good health and beating stress. As a natural skin care measure, enough sleep helps your skin look fresh and rested.

Beating stress is another everyday skin care measure. Stress takes a toll on your body and your health. Drinking plenty of water, getting sound sleep and exercising have already been mentioned as stress busters. A warm bubble bath, listening to music and playing your favourite sport are also good ways of beating stress. Yoga is yet another way of beating stress, and it is fast gaining popularity.

Avoiding too much exposure to the sun (by wearing long-sleeved clothes, a hat, an umbrella etc.) is another simple skin care strategy. Sunscreen lotions are also recommended.

Many traditional and home-made natural skin care remedies are also known to work well. Such measures are not only natural and easy to follow, but also relatively inexpensive.

Besides that, a range of natural skin care products is available in the market. These include things like lavender oil and aloe vera. Natural does not always mean free of side effects, though: plant oils and extracts can cause allergic reactions in some people, so test a new product on a small patch of skin first.