Tips for Good Skin

[Eva]

I have a confession to make. I've been 100% raw for almost a year, and my skin still isn't perfect. Besides my vanity, this just drives me bonkers because I feel like I do too much of the "right stuff" to have anything less than flawless skin. Mind you -- it actually is pretty nice. Just not PERFECT. High standards. I know.

In any case, I really mean to, but I have NOT been exercising every single day. I think this is a big part of it. I've been googling like mad and using my head, trying to think of ALL of the different pieces to this puzzle.

Here's what I came up with:

Re: digestion/elimination/detoxification...


Under normal circumstances, the body is able to eliminate toxins from the body via urine, feces, exhalation, and perspiration. Thus, the major organs involved in elimination are the kidneys, liver, colon, lungs, and skin. In addition, WBCs (white blood cells) of the immune system are designed to neutralize microbial toxins. The liver is the organ primarily responsible for breaking toxins into harmless byproducts, which are eliminated into the stool or through the kidneys into the urine.

The previous was found here: http://www.innvista.com/health/microbes/toxins.htm

The bolding is mine.

So here's what I figure...

Our body has a few ways to get rid of wastes and toxins. The primary method is through the feces. (Hint, hint: Green smoothies!!!) The liver and then kidneys turn additional toxins into the "harmless byproducts" which are then eliminated through urination.

If this is not working well, then the skin is up next. Pimples! Rashes! Dry patches! And skin that just... doesn't... radiate HEALTH!

So, based on everything I have been looking at and have learned from experience, questions, books, and posts, here is my personal take on the things that "matter" and help for good skin...

[Veganforlife]

Dry skin brushing is awesome for one's skin!

[Eva]

Drink those green smoothies!
EVERY DAY!!! REALLY.
Have some ground flax every day.
Have an apple a day. (We want to keep the doctor away anyways, right?!)
EXERCISE! DAILY! It helps move the bowels and digestion.
Dry skin brush. It helps with circulation and thus digestion and the bowels.
8-10 cups of water daily. Who hasn't heard this?! No excuses!
Vitamineral Green or some sort of green powder (Optional -- but I believe it helps from my short experience with it and how it seems to really help move my bowels!)
Rebound or Jump rope! This helps the lymph nodes, circulation and thus -- getting everything moving!


Edited to add: Oil pull! This is actually to help with getting rid of toxins. It is great! www.oilpulling.com is a great source of info

[Eva]

But I'm on a roll here. There's more!

[Veganforlife]

HAHAHA!

If one is REALLY good they will drink those green smoothies while having some ground flax every day, after eating an apple during EXERCISING while moving the bowels and digestion during your dry skin brushing while gulping 8-10 cups of water with Vitamineral Green or some sort of green powder in it at the same time rebounding and jumping rope!!!!

Yeah buddy!!!

[Eva]

Eat raw! (I know, I know, it goes without saying. But I had to say it!)
Breathe deeply and consciously EVERY day at some point. This helps to breathe better all day. Which is good for stress.
Eat organic if possible.
Drink filtered water.
Don't use chemical-filled products (i.e. shampoos, conditioners, soaps, laundry detergent, facial cleanser, etc.)
Consciously relax the face muscles. This is another de-stressing technique.
Limit your time on the computer. We all love RFT, but we are made to have a life away from the computer screen sometimes!
Get some fresh air. This really helps with destressing. Even when it's cold. For crying out loud, just put on a jacket and whatever other amount of cold-weather gear it takes!
And about the above, if you're not in a cold climate ... Well, no excuses! Get outside!
Stretch for 5-10 minutes a day. This helps with circulation and destressing.
Exercise every darn day. Even if just for a few minutes. Usually a few minutes turns into a few more once you get moving anyways!


Some other skin-specific remedies to add:
Fasting periodically for some period of time. (Even if it's just for 12 hours or one day). This gives the organs a chance to continue cleansing. This is helpful because skin problems really are usually that the liver and kidneys need a break or a chance to cleanse. (Thanks Ginger!)
Cucumber juice. Alissa also has a recipe in her book specifically for skin that is something like this (sorry if it's not exact; this is from memory and how I do it!): 2 cucumbers, 1/2 red pepper, 2 carrots, 1 apple, a touch of ginger (Thanks greenday!)
External remedy: Put honey on skin (a light amount to cover entire face), let it sit for about 20-30 minutes. Rub some hot water and brown sugar into skin to remove the honey. (Thanks to a Brazilian chick at the local spa! ;))

[Eva]

Oh Lucy. That sounds stressful to me. It might make me wanna hurl. I think you jest! ;)

[Veganforlife]

Eva, all kidding aside - great list you got going here. Good enough to print out and post on the fridge. ::hint hint:: to all those newbies that need reminders...

[Eva]

Did I say I've been 100% raw for almost a year??? HA! It was Valentine's day 2007 -- that would be about 14 months. I'm typing faster than I'm thinking here! Not that that matters for good skin. I just glanced over what I wrote and felt the need to correct myself.

So if anyone else has corrections or additions... well, have at it! I would love for this to be helpful to anyone and everyone that needs/wants the tips. :)

[Eva]

Thanks Lucy. Flattering me and making me laugh... Ah. It's so nice to have you poking your head and wisdom and fun back around here these days!

[hootiehoo]

Great presentation, Eva. :D

Got me a little pumped up on this Sat. afternoon.

[greenday]

Cucumber Juice! Awesome, awesome for the skin!! You (hopefully) should see results fairly quicky. :)

[Ginger]

I have been getting complimented constantly lately on how great my skin is. Friends, strangers etc. Why? I just did a fast! My skin has never looked so amazing EVER! :D

[Raw Angel Mom]

What kind of skin problem do you have? Dry, pimples, redness, etc...????

A colon cleansing would get ride of a lot of toxin stock in the guts. Me eliminating dairy did the trick. If i consume nuts, i will have pimples.

Make sure to have your fiber, it act like a sponge and cleanse your guts too.

[Eva]

hootiehoo: Thanks!! That's great to hear. :)

greenday: Good call. I added that to the list, along with Alissa's remedy that's a cucumber base.

Ginger: That makes perfect sense. I added that to the list, along with some very brief info on why that should help. :)

RawAngelMom: Thanks so much for your kindness and input. I totally agree with the colon info. That's why I started the list with "elimination." haha... I really don't have much of a skin problem at this point. I had horrible acne for a while until I went raw, but that's totally resolved. I just still get the occasional pimple, and my scars aren't gone. I'm so on top of my colon that it's a little crazy. I really do try to do all of the "happy colon" things every day (flax, green smoothies, water, exercise, etc.)... Mostly I wanted to share this information with others because I've been reading SO much about skin lately that I thought it might be helpful to someone else. :)