When I was asked to write an article on natural skin care, I JUMPED on it. Here’s why: In the past, having horrible skin was just my ‘thing,’ and I had accepted this about my appearance. I am not kidding when I say I had skin bumps and lumps SO bad that I used to hide behind my hair. I tried with makeup to cover these purple marbles, but there was really no hiding it. Severe acne really is a skin disease. While staying out of sight as a young woman from ages 13-23, I knew I had something to contribute to the world. Yet, I did not want to be seen, socialize, and the thought of being kissed, well that was a terrifying thought.
I took a lifetime’s worth of antibiotics from ages 13-21. Then, I moved to the heavy hitter, Accutane. It’s a drug that is so damaging to the liver, and it’s so toxic that if a woman gets pregnant while on it, the baby will be severely deformed. At age 21, with purple marbles protruding from my face, I didn’t stop to consider the consequences. However, that was not the end of my acne. In my 40’s, it turned from acne to ‘back-ne’. I had a back full of these marble lumps. I wore no sundresses, no tanks, and I kept my hair long to cover it all.
Because I grew up on processed and fast food, I did not develop a strong constitution. Meaning, I was always sick. Since acne, I’ve faced breast lumps, Graves’ disease, vaccine reactions with my kids, and for ALL of it I have found solutions to overcome naturally. Impeccable eating comes first, then advanced plant therapies and natural techniques.
We’re living in the most toxic era this world has ever seen. Thousands of chemicals are now legal in our food supply, our water is contaminated and so is the very air we breathe. Turning to advanced techniques is no longer optional. It is a must.
Let’s Talk Skin
The average woman leaves the house every day after applying about 500 chemicals topically to her skin. These chemicals SKIP the built-in filtration process the body brilliantly has, and the chemicals go directly into the blood. This is a BIG problem!
My solution is natural products and essential oils. Not only are you skipping the chemicals, but you are also nourishing your skin with some of the most potent, yet well-balanced plant therapies on the planet. The best anti-aging serums come from plant extracts. They have the ability to encourage robust cellular health inside and out which translates into making your skin look years younger.
When I was first introduced to essential oils, I was told they were anti-microbial and anti-bacterial. I was told they would be great for acne. I was SO programmed since the age of 13 and always told that I had ‘oily’ skin, I could not emotionally bring myself to apply oils to my skin. It was counter-intuitive to everything I’d been attempting to do for decades. For decades, I had been trying to DRY UP my oily skin!
One day, I brought myself to apply something called HD Clear, a blend of oils for healthy skin, which included melaleuca oil. To my shock, it cleared up my skin. I started to experiment with other essential oils on my face. Remarkably, they have different properties and are used for different things such as fine lines, collagen support, and robust cellular health.
Let’s Talk Daily Routines
7am – Ready for a super cool, anti-aging tip? DON’T wash your face before your morning workout! Use the natural oils you wake up with on your face. Apply directly to your unwashed face 1-2 drops of essential oils, plus 3-4 drops of fractionated coconut oil, which is also anti-bacterial. Best oils for beautiful skin: Frankincense, Myrrh, Immortelle (a beautiful blend of Frankincense, Myrrh, Sandalwood, Helichrysum, Rose and Lavender), Geranium or Fennel.
Next, I apply my workout oils! These are some of the best-kept secrets that professional and Olympic athletes are using to improve circulation and improve breathing during a workout. You can apply Cypress Oil (for circulation) to the bottom of your feet and Breathe Oil (for improved oxygen intake) on your chest.
8:30am – Use essential oil shampoo, conditioner, body scrub and shower gel. My face wash is called Verage. The base is the Immortelle Oil, for anti-aging and beautiful skin.
9am – Before I put on my bra, for optimal breast and lymphatic health, I apply 2 drops of DDR Prime (a blend called Damaged DNA Repair), 2 drops of tangerine oil, and 4 drops of coconut oil. I do this twice daily for breast health. Not only is it great for breast health, but it is also good for cleansing the lymphatic system.
During the day, I use oils for improved digestion, elevating the mood (scientifically proven to hit the limbic system and lift the mood), and staying in a state of robust immunity (with my crazy speaking schedule, I cannot go down!). I also use oils for the optimal health of my kids and for a restful night’s sleep too.
9pm – I use an anti-aging cleanser, toner, moisturizer and serum.
10pm – I take 2 Serenity gel caps and apply Serenity oil to the bottom of my feet and pillows. I fill my diffuser with Serenity oil or Vetiver oil, an earth oil also great for sleep. I did not know sleeping through the night was NORMAL until this routine! Now I sleep through the night without waking, which makes for more energetic days.
I’ve never done fillers, nips, tucks and all that jazz. People often guess my age at a little younger than what I actually am. I will turn 50, next year. Sometimes, I get a compliment saying that I have beautiful skin. Admittedly, I still look around in dismay thinking they must be talking about someone else. Maybe, just maybe, I went through my skin issues so that someone else may not have to.
Submitted by Lisa Wilson, Health Coach, Owner of The Raw Food Institute, Blue Diamond Leader with DoTerra essential oils, mom to 3 teens with beautiful skin, and all-around natural solutions geek. If you’d like to learn more about essential oils and skincare, please visit: www.lisawilsonwellness.com.