You have a clean slate, a fresh start, an opportunity to be the very BEST version of YOU. Clear the way, and make this the year you fall in love with your beautiful radiant skin. What do you need to change to reveal the healthy glowing skin that’s just beneath the surface? What steps can you take to start your skin care routine off right? It’s worth taking time (and maybe a selfie!) to see where you’re at now, and how you want your skin to look and feel in the future. Here are some tips to help get you there!
1. Purge all toxic products
You don’t need them; they’re just gonna hold you back from the healthy skin and body you desire. It’s best if they’re cleared from your medicine cabinet and vanity entirely. Remember, less is more. Take a look at the ingredients on your labels, if you don’t recognize what’s listed, you’re wise to be suspicious. Check our list of the top 15 most common toxic intruders to ensure all your products are free of harmful ingredients. Additionally, check the expiration dates on all your green products. Perhaps there are some pushed to the back that could really be beneficial and brought back into your skin care routine? On the other hand, there may be some that should be tossed too. Remember, skin care products made without artificial preservatives won’t last as long. And you wouldn’t want them to. I mean, would you want to eat a fresh peach a month after you purchased it? Farm-to-skin care beauty products like Honey Girl Organics use whole, organic, super-foods like honey and beeswax to nourish the skin, and natural preservatives such as olive oil and propolis to maintain the efficacy of the products. Nature offers the very best ingredients for your skin’s optimal health. At HGO, we've made it easy to check the shelf life on your products.
2. Choose your cleanser wisely
Yes, we can greatly improve the appearance, texture and condition of our skin with the right creams, serums and lotions. But—for these moisturizers to work their best, they first need to be applied to fresh clean skin. If the pores of your skin are not cleansed properly, the dirt, grime and environmental toxins that combat skin on a constant basis, will remain underneath the moisturizer you apply. This prevents—or at best—hinders its ability to revitalize and restore your skin.
Use information and intention when deciding what cleanser to use. Start with skin type of course. It’s so tempting to get pulled into purchasing that hot new product, but if it doesn’t work for your skin type, it doesn’t work for you, plain and simple.
As mentioned, check the label. Many cleansers are full of harsh ingredients that strip your skin of its natural oils and upset one’s healthy pH balance. Stay away from ingredients such as “dioxane,” a common ingredient in many cleansers, even those that claim to be green. Dioxane, is also known as Sodium Laurel Sulfate, Sodium Laureate Sulfate and PEG. (Often this toxin is not listed as a separate ingredient. Any ingredient listed with “eth", polyethylene glycol, polyoxynylene, oxynol is most likely dioxane ).
And yes, intention matters! What are you using your cleanser(s) for? You’ll want the appropriate cleanser to refresh your skin in the morning, as well as something light to clarify during the day when needed. A deep cleanser, or double-cleanse in the evening to remove all makeup from the day is critical for prepping skin for nighttime rest and rejuvenation. …Set yourself up for success by choosing wisely what you cleanse with- and when is the best time to use each product.
3. Clean your tools!
Brushes, applicators, spatulas, & washcloths are important tools we use daily. When was the last time you cleaned them? We’re all guilty of letting this go too long. But really, when you think about it, it’s pretty important. With every use, these tools collect dirt, dust, and grime. After your face is properly cleansed, and you’ve moisturized with your favorite products, the last thing you want to do is brush on dirt and pollutants on your face!
Makeup guru Sarah Elizabeth Lapierre shares, “Cleaning your makeup brushes is super important for many reasons. Of course, clean brushes help keep your skin healthy but I also see the performances of my brushes deplete after time if I haven't washed them.” She advises using a mild cleanser that is gentle on the bristles and as well as the skin and adds, “the most important thing is that you're doing it consistently!”
--And, it’s worth mentioning, our best and most frequent tool of course is our hands! Make sure every-time you dip your fingers into a product and or cosmetic, your hands are super clean. Dirty fingers and nails will contaminate your products and ruin them.
There’s no time like the present, why not take some time today to cleanse your skin and your tools?! Make 2018 your year to be clean and green!
