The Bodily Rundown on Eco-Friendly Skin Care

Cracked, sore heels, dried out hands, brittle, split nails, tight, dry facial skin and smelly feet. Sound familiar? A week or so working in the garden and there you have it, all these skin care problems on one sorry body. So how do you fix it all without taking out a small mortgage and remaining eco-friendly? Never fear there are ways to get that skin and body back in top condition and there's no better place to start than from the top!

Face:
Synthetic face creams can coat the skin trapping the moisture beneath and this can cause irritation because the skin cannot breathe normally.

Creams based on plant oils and Shea butter benefit the skin by nourishing it with vitamins and minerals, thus building up strong, healthy skin cells that will surface over a few weeks.

Vitamins E, A and C have been shown to prevent premature aging and wrinkles and can repair minor skin problems like an uneven skin tone. The nourishing oils of rose hip and evening primrose can rejuvenate the skin, while ingredients such as spirulina stimulate tissue regeneration and cucumber can help clear blemishes.


Feet:
Cracked, sore heels and smelly feet can be a constant problem in many households with people of all ages, but a little natural care taken weekly can help heal and prevent further complications. Soaking the feet in a bucket of warm water to which is added a cup of bi-carbonate of soda will soften and deodorize the feet. After fifteen minutes gently use a foot scrub to remove the dry skin and then dry thoroughly. Apply a little natural foot cream that contains anti-bacterial essential oils and then cover with socks to let the cream penetrate deeply into the skin. This easy routine will prevent fungal infections and keep your feet smelling fresh and clean.

Hands:
Natural hand and nail creams containing ingredients such as Shea butter, avocado, macadamia, apricot and almond oils, vitamins and aloe vera will not only moisturize the hands but also strengthen the nails, fade age spots and smooth the skin. Hand scrubs can speed up cell regeneration on the hands and should be used weekly to remove dry, flaky skin and dead cells.

An easy hand scrub to make at home is with sugar and olive oil. Just mix together to a pleasant consistency and gently massage the mixture on the hands for a few minutes. Rinse and apply a good natural hand cream.

Getting into the eco-friendly mode of natural skin care will keep you looking good and you will also be doing your body a great chemical free favor!