Simple Solutions for Sensitive Skin
One of my very favorite flower for sensitive skin--calendula! Just like chamomile, calendula has been used for centuries to treat sensitive skin. It is also an anti-inflammatory so it's excellent for swellings that occur on your face when reacting to irritants. Sensitive skin is characterized by an overreaction to external elements such as the sun, pollution, dust, extreme temperature and of course skincare products... and it varies from person to person. Though external elements cause irritation, the root cause if sensitivity is usually due to a weak immune system and sensitive digestive system.
When your skin is sensitive, it is important to treat it accordingly, by adopting a very simple and clean skincare routine--one that will help calm and prevent further irritation.
To begin, follow this rule of thumb: avoid products that contain alcohol, artificial color, and fragrance. It is even recommended to avoid some essential oils such as camphor essential oils or high percentages (over 1%) of other essential oils. Second, NEVER use soap or scrubs or clay masks (unless they are made with an ingredient that counteracts the drying effect of clay such as our Botanical Mud Mask).
Your daily skincare routine should consist of the following:
Get enough rest: This is number 1! Your body needs its sleep to recharge and recover. The average time it takes for our body to fully recuperated is 8hrs.
Drink lots of water: especially in the summer (and winter). Staying hydrated ensures that our body can regulate our internal temperature and properly adjust to the external temperature. We need enough water to maintain healthy function of our brain, and all our organs. And for what concerns our skin--an organ indeed--it helps create supple, firm, plump skin. I could use a glass of water right now!
Compress: Soak a soft cotton face towel in tepid or warm water and place over your face for about 3 minutes every morning. This gently opens your pores and helps remove dead skin.
Mist: Proceed by apply a gentle floral mist--note that it's extremely important to use organic floral water to avoid spraying residual pesticides on your face. We have organic orange water and rose water fortified with other botanical wonders Aqua Vitae.
Moisturize: using the same principal for dry skin, it's important to understand that moisturizing comes from only one source: WATER. But because water evaporates (in addition to entering the skin) we need to seal it in. And there is nothing better than sealing it in with an organic, high quality made oil that contains high amounts of nutrients to feed your skin outside and in. Thus it is important to apply the oil while your skin is damp i.e. after a shower or after misting. This allows for your skin to benefit from both the moisturizing factor from water and the protective barrier & nutritive ingredients from oil. For best results apply onto skin while you still have beads of water rolling down your skin. When shopping for the ideal moisturizer, do a patch test on your inner elbow to see if a reaction ensues, and remember, NO artificial ingredients or too many essential oils. Click here for a free sample of our Rosehip and Chamomile Body Oil, which contains calendula, as well!
Cleanse: In the evening, since you should only cleanse 1 x per day, cleanse with a milk such as an oat milk or gel (see recipe below). After cleansing, apply the floral mist and if you have dry skin, apply a moisturizer following the above-mentioned method.
Recipe for Cleansing Oat Milk:
Ingredients:
2 tbsp of oats
1/3 c filtered water
1/4 Tsp. glycerin
3 drps chamomile
3 drops rose
Directions: Soak oats in water for 10 minutes. Strain out oats (save the water) and place in a cheese cloth. Squeeze and collect the milk. Mix the milk with water in which the oats were soaking in. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Store in dark glass bottle and keep in the fridge for 1 week.
Recipe for Soothing Cleansing Gel
Ingredients:
1/3 c water
1 1/2 Tsp tapioca powder
1/4 cucumber, peeled and juiced (optional)
4 drops lavender
Directions: warm up the water, add tapioca and let simmer until dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool until the mixture forms a thick gel. When cooled, stir in 1 tsp of cucumber juice (you don' want your gel to become running so use less if necessary). Add lavender EO. Using a cotton swab, gently apply gel in a patting motion, and rinse immediately with warm water. Then, reapply onto the clean face (to allow your skin to benefit from the cucumber juice--this step is optional) and let sit for 3-5 minutes. Again, rinse off with warm water.
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