We all want clear skin. Some of us have it easier than others, though and getting clearer skin can be a triumph for those who have tried everything and still suffer from enlarged pores, blackheads and a less than smooth surface.

Drinking water

You probably hear this a lot but it’s something that’s so often overlooked. For optimally clear skin you may need more than just the recommended 6-8 cups a day, especially if you’re taking too many vitamins for your body to process. It’s important to drink more during menstruation cycles and to gauge when you are drinking your water. If you just drink it all at once it doesn’t count. It needs to be taken in regular intervals throughout the day and especially after eating to clean the bacteria in your mouth that can infect your skin internally.

Sweating

Yes, initially sweating can actually cause breakouts but as long as you are drinking while you are working that sweat will do wonders for your body and your skin. Sweating helps to rid your body of toxins that are backed up in your lymphatic and skin tissues.

Go to the beach

Taking a vacation, even for a day is going to do something special for your skin. If you are breaking out or simply have clogged pores that sun and ocean air may be just what your skin needs. The ocean air is cleaner and will enable you to breathe much deeper, thus helping to flush toxins through your lung capacity. 80 % of toxins should be eliminated through breathing which is what makes sleep the next one on the list.

Sleep

If you are getting quality sleep your skin will show it. Deep breathing happens the most while you sleep and this is necessary for soft, fresh looking skin with fewer breakouts. If you don’t have time for good sleep or need to quiet your mind your skin will suffer as well.

Ecological friendly packaging has become more and more important to consumers all around the world who want to be more conscious of what they buy and its overall global impact. Eco-friendly packaging is better for the environment for a few reasons-less waste ends up in landfills, more post consumer waste is used in the making of the packaging, producing less overall production in non biodegradable plastics. And you are safer, too as glass bottles prevent the leaching of dangerous chemicals into your natural skin care products and foods that you eat.

Amber glass bottles

Using all amber glass bottles protects your skin care products from sunlight and prolongs the shelf life of your face serum. Organic skin care comes at a higher price than regular skin care which makes it even more a reason to protect it from long term exposure and the chemicals leaching that happens over time with plastic bottles. Manufacturers who choose plastic bottles over glass are not thinking about their clientele or the environment-they are not thinking about the shelf life of the product, how well it will preserve over time and what kinds of allergies plastics produce. Plastics are known for aggravating dermatitis, attention disorderS and autism, causing central nervous system damage and long term reactions. For customers who value purity in their organic skin care products, glass is the best choice for packaging methods. Even aluminum is known to leach into the contents of cookware, natural care products and drinking thermos’s. It is clear that glass is the safest option for long term use of face serums. Your skin is worth it!

Freshest products ever-guaranteed

What most skin care providers will not tell you is how quickly their ingredients can go rancid when stored incorrectly. Unfortunately, it is common to buy a bottle of face serum that has been sitting on the shelf for months, already. Rachel Haygood Natural Care makes all skin care products fresh with each order, using ingredients that have certificates of purity and have been stored properly for a maximum of a few months-not years.

This season don’t let the cold get you down-maintain moisturized, supple skin year long with these useful tips combined with organic skin care. Uncomfortable environments like heated rooms can increase dry skin and cracking, making your skin more vulnerable to infections.

Use a humidifier

In climates with low humidity and temperatures dropping your skin can change as well. Use a humidifier if you have one or just put o pot of water on to boil. Allow the steam to fill the house and to make it more therapeutic you can also add some healing essential oils. Humidity will give your dry skin the relief it needs without slathering on a lot of extra petroleum based creams.

Oil supplements

Evening primrose oil and fish oil are common ways people deal with dry skin successfully all year long. If you want a more direct approach, however just drizzle some organic extra-virgin olive oil over your food. It doesn’t have to be for salads only-dry meats like turkey for instance taste better with a little added fat for dipping.

Baths

Next time you decide to soak add some raw honey and chamomile. For an infusion of moisture a few teaspoons of pumpkin seed oil will go a long ways to penetrating deep into your skin’s layers. Throw a teabag in the bath when you want to get the extra boost of antioxidants that play a role in beautiful skin.

Protect your skin

Sun damage is still a risk even when summer is over so protect your skin with a daily cup of herbal tea to replenish the skin with the elements needed for strong skin. The best moisture comes from the inside out-often in the form of plenty of liquids. Daily face serum applications and organic skin care prepare you for the worst while letting your natural beauty shine through.

Thinking about when your next facial should be? Try out some of these comforting ingredients for your next fall facial-the cold season is a good time to keep taking care of your skin.

Pumpkin

Pumpkin is a fun and versatile facial ingredient found in many facial masks because pumpkin is good for the cell turnover of your skin. People who use pumpkin in facials find their skin to be softer and brighter than before. Pumpkin also moisturizes your skin and gives it omega 3′s it needs to stay smooth and hydrated all season long.

Spices, honey and sugar

Cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves are an exiting way to liven up your pumpkin mask by turning it into a spiced pumpkin facial. Make them by adding raw honey or organic sugar to your pumpkin spiced mixture. As great as these are for your skin, they also make fun organic gifts to give to your friends and family this holiday. Honey is moisturizing and if you add honey to your mask than warming it before application will deep clean your pores. Adding sugar to a mask turns it into a mask that doubles as a scrub.

Vanilla

Vanilla is discreet, warming and calming to smell and will be a hit in any of your facials this year. Add a few drops of organic vanilla to whatever facial you are making and then you can think about adding cream or other things that will compliment the popularity of vanilla.

Tip:

Making facials this time of year is fun because they smell so good with all the smells and colors associated with fall. Next time you are making a pumpkin pie, simply take a tablespoon of the filling beforehand and use it for your next facial. Begin with clean skin, a gentle steam and then smooth the mixture over your face and neck.

You might have the idea that you have to be over 40 to use a face serum or that only people with aging skin require a concentrated formula to reverse skin damage; but the truth is that all ages and skin types can benefit from the daily use of a good face serum especially suited for them. The question is, what is your skin type and what are your needs?

Protecting younger skin

Your skin may be young and flawless but in order to keep it that way it needs protection from the elements that harm and weather our skin. Youthful skin may not need heavy moisturizing creams or anti-wrinkle treatments on a regular basis. However, some degree of protection in the form of a thin layer can shield your skin from sun damage from radiation. For those younger people who are concerned with saving their skin now is a better time than ever to get started. If you are interested in finding the perfect face serum for your skin type than be vigilant and remember to preserve the skin you have, now. When you are in your 40′s the work will definitely pay off.

Reversing damage in older skin

Decades of damage might be the only thing wrong with your skin type. If so, focus on repairing ingredients that renew and naturally contain beneficial acids derived from botanicals to bring your skin back to its normal state of health. A good face serum will contain natural, all organic ingredients and will not irritate your skin. Watch for the signs of skin irritation and you are on the right track to a new you. Skin peels contain acids found in nature usually derived from sugars and fruits that naturally slough away dead skin cells. Face serums that contain these acids naturally in lesser amounts are ideal for older skin types that need exfoliation without resorting to regular face peels.

What are you looking for in a face serum? There is really quite a lot that goes into the correct face serum for your skin type. If you wear makeup, for instance certain face serums will not be compatible with the extra layer that goes on top. A good natural care product will fit all of your skin care needs and live up to the product label.

Different skin types

For acne prone skin you will need to take extra care in buying a skin care product that could have an adverse effect on your sensitive skin. People have acne for different reasons so if you can eliminate the causes of your breakouts it will make finding a face serum easier. If breakouts are a result of sensitive skin then it is time to re-examine your skin care routine. If clogged pores are simply in need of a facial, take time to drink more water and take care of your skin. Some acne is a natural by-product of flushing waste from the body and does not indicate acne-prone skin. Maturing or prematurely aging skin is a major concern for many people who want to look their best without the risk of pesticides and preservatives. Organic botanicals that firm and tone skin are in most high end face serums in varying degrees because they prove very effective.

What is a face serum supposed to accomplish?

Unlike a regular moisturizer, face serums tend to be thinner and more lightweight. Most face serums boast high concentration of botanicals, lipids and healthy acids that tone, firm and encourage cell renewal. An understanding of particle sizes enables a face serum to have the qualities of temporary and long term results. Like most natural skin care products, face serums claim to reverse aging, moisturize and lift the skin. A good face serum will be comfortable to wear and you will only need a small amount.

A lot of women want to go makeup free because avoiding chemicals and petroleum products prevents aging of the skin. Natural care of skin is based on good habits and careful choices when exposing the skin to new skin care products.   Older women are often wary of revealing a lifetime of neglect to their skin and younger women may have acne that they have not resolved. The reality is that resolving skin problems once and for all will give the person new confidence and reassurance that makeup cannot provide.

Acne and organic skin care

Acne can affect people all through their lives but is typically worse throughout the teenage years. Overdoing it with a new skin care cream every week and not reading ingredients will land you in a loop that can go on forever. Try to stick with one skin care line that works for you and use natural care. Since acne can leave scars massage an organic vegetable oil into your skin every day to reduce breakouts and fade scars. Make sure to use low comedegenic oils.

Look like you are wearing it when you’re not

Makeup is, after all supposed to make you look natural. If there are concerns about your skin, create avenues to get comfortable in your own skin. Join a yoga club or visit a cleansing spa resort. The time there will breathe life into your skin. For that full, put together look, experiment with different glistening, matte and neutral textures that organic skincare can offer. Daily facials will make you look better than makeup-all it takes is the time to relax and enjoy the skin you are in!

Homemade facial toner and eye opener

For that porcelain doll look, juice some cucumber and put it in a spritzer bottle. F or gently lightened and toned skin, apply to face, neck and body after shower. Store home made toners in the refrigerater and use within 24 hours.

Different forms of makeup have gained popularity throughout the centuries with women and men alike as a means of enhancing the beauty of a person or indicating status. Some primitive forms of makeup were more natural than others while some makeup contained lead and other dangerous compounds.

The interesting fact is that today makeup is much the same with specialty lines being mineral based “natural” makeup and other shelf brands concealing toxic ingredients that build up in the body. If you want to know if makeup is really good for your skin, try going a week without it and see if you notice a difference in your skin. Opting for all natural makeup or makeup that is closest to natural will certainly have a more positive affect but there are still reasons to avoid it all together-and focus more on natural skin care.

Dewy skin and organic skin care

What most people want is true beauty and revitalized skin from the inside out. The fact is that makeup clogs pores and restricts air flow and since your skin needs to breath, this could add decades to your face. Traditionally, non-makeup wearers have younger looking skin because it is kept clean and free of particles that block natural sun, trapping dirt and oil. For some people, wearing makeup tends to exacerbate acne and wrinkles because it dries the skin or leaves petroleum based residues. For true beauty and dewy skin that speaks volumes about your youth, natural care products are the fastest way to genuinely beautiful skin. Youthful, glowing skin is preferred over makeup any day if it can be achieved and with the right beauty regimen, it can.

Tips for going makeup-free

If makeup has been a part of your regular routine for years, using different oils to achieve a different look will hide imperfections and fade blemishes. Coconut oil for instance provides a sheen to the skin that is often used by makeup artists in place of blush or foundation.

Soap making at home is not really as intimidating as it sounds. All you need is some basic understanding of what soap is and the willingness to take some safety precautions. Many avid soap makers have their own special recipes and routines such as strict measurement using scales. You do not really need to have any special equipment to make your own high quality soap with natural care.

What do you need?

To make soap faster it will help to have a blender as long as their are no aluminum parts. Steer clear of anything aluminum when working with lye. Lye also goes by the names of caustic soda and sodium hydroxide. Since this occurs in nature lye is natural and safe for the skin with the right pH. If you are making cold process soap, a blender will work but hot process requires a non-aluminum pot or crock pot. You can even make hot process soap in the oven. Some spoons that you do not use for cooking will be used to stir and ladle your soap into molds once it is finished. Of course, the obvious things you will need are a source of lye and fat. Vegetable oils are good but animal fat can also be used for soaps.

Soap making tips

Olive oil takes longer to trace than other oils so if this beneficial oil is your first choice, be prepared for a possibly longer wait. If your soap does not trace at all, add more lye. In the early days of soap making, it was common for soap to be very harsh. This is because of how much lye was added. To keep your soap from being harsh, add enough lye to get a trace but just barely.

Safety precautions

Since sodium hydroxide is so caustic, you will need to keep a bottle of vinegar close on hand during your soap making. Wearing safety goggles, an apron and wearing plastic gloves will protect you from the possibility of getting a chemical burn. If you are cooking your soap open the windows in the house to keep from burning your eyes. Organic skincare in homemade soaps is the most basic way to care for your skin.

Homesteading is a big word-and rightly so as the task of homesteading can take an entire lifetime to master. Really, however, homesteading is the art of natural living and natural care; instilling independence and a sense of pride in your work.

When you choose to go about getting your house in order, you make a decision based on wealth and not on lack. When we see the realities around us it is evident that wealth is everywhere-in the grass beneath our feet and the air that we breathe. Abundance is in the finding, discovering and creating. Alchemy is part of everything we do. Cooking is a sort of alchemy even though it may not be thought of in such a way.

Homesteading will bring out all the ingenuity you can muster and the thrill of being independent is exciting. For new and seasoned homesteaders, you will probably get involved with a community in your neighborhood or online that features new crafts, DIY ideas and home activities such as soapmaking, how to make your own lye from ashes and rainwater, or grow your own crops. Homesteading can have a lot of depth. Some people choose to embrace animal husbandry, use all natural skincare and eat organic meals made at home. More people are becoming interested in this lifestyle because it educates young and old in the ways of our ancestors.

Young people do not learn how to make candles, clothes, build a house, fix their own machinery and grow/raise their own food like they used to. Even though the technological advances seem to make up for this, the revival of homesteading is stronger than it has been in a long time. Homesteading provides the strength, knowledge and sense of accomplishment that comes with the lifestyle. Homesteaders experience deep satisfaction with their learning of life, birth, building and a slower pace of living.