Is Your Skin Ready for Summer?

Spring is on it's way and many of us have finished or at least started our spring cleaning chores around the house. But what about your skin? Is it ready for summer? After winter months of reduced exposure to fresh air and sun, with increased exposure to dry indoor heat and lighting our skin needs a spring cleaning all its own.

It is very tempting to get in the bathroom on a weekend and spend a couple hours exfoliating and scrubbing trying to remove all the dead skin cells that have built up. DON'T DO IT! Too much exfoliation or being too harsh will only damage your skin. Overdoing it will leave your skin inflamed, irritated and dull looking.

For a very gentle body and face scrub that you can make on your own, in your kitchen try my recipe:

Brown sugar scrub:

2 cups brown sugar (lightly packed)

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup Almond Oil

1/4 cup honey

Just mix the ingredients together until all of the brown sugar is moist and store in a closeable container. I don’t refrigerate this recipe because I use it up before it could possibly go bad, but if you aren't going to use that much of it you can either cut all the ingredients in half or store it in the fridge between uses.  You may have to stir the scrub before you use it each time.

To use this scrub wet your skin and using your fingertips in a circular motion gently and evenly massage the scrub over your skin, then leave on for about five minutes and rinse off. I use this scrub about twice a week in the spring and can usually taper off to once a week in summer; but all skin was not created equal so you may need to use it more or less than I do. This scrub is great for all over body use, especially if you have dry skin!

You do not have to use the Olive Oil or the Almond Oil, you can use a 1/2 cup of just one of the oils. You can also substitute either of the oils for whatever oil you'd like, I use and recommend Olive and Almond because they are great for the skin and leave skin very soft and supple. You may also leave out the honey, I use it because of it's benefit to the skin and it's antibacterial properties.

You may not like the sugar scrub if have really oily skin. A Sea Salt scrub may be more up your alley because even though it still contains oil the sea salt scrub will not leave your skin feeling greasy. I use a few of the recipes from here: Homemade Salt Scrub.  My skin is combination skin so about once a month I use the salt rather than the sugar. Sea Salt scrubs tend to dry my skin out too much, but I like the detoxifying effects. The link to the Homemade Salt Scrub article has several recipes and tips for using salt scrubs.

I find that my skin is irritated sometimes for whatever reason and at those times I use an Oatmeal Facemask. This article has three different recipes; one for oily skin, one for acne prone skin, and one for dry skin that can be used as a scrub also. I have used all three of these recipes at various times and love them!

Remember with all scrubs do not rub too hard and take off layers of healthy skin!  Use your fingers and not a wash cloth to gently slough off the dry dead skin cells that are keeping your skin from being radiant.  Regardless of which recipe you need for your skin you should have your skin in shape for those flip-flops and shorts in no time!

Energy Psychology

I sat down to do a short write up on energy psychology.  I wanted to give a brief definition and a few examples of techniques.  While doing a little more research I ran across this article that is very well written and does just what I was attempting to do.  So, hhhmmm, why re-invent the wheel?

This article defines energy psychology in general and goes on to discuss Neuro Emotional Technique (NET), Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Thought Field Therapy (TFT), and Applied Kinesiology (AK)http://www.asktheinternettherapist.com/counselingarchive-energy-psychology.asp

The only one of the above that I have any experience with is EFT.  (I’m a Certified Holistic Harmony Emotional Freedom Practitioner).  So, I began doing a little digging around on the other techniques mentioned in the above article.  In the process of doing that research I found many differing opinions and techniques that are all very similar. 

One thing that I have learned is that there is no absolute as to which techniques work for which things.  Seems there are varying results with each technique depending on each individual.

Reiki is another form of energy healing that some classify in with the energy psychology, some don’t.  I’m not much for what label to give something though, as long as it helps!  I also have experience with Reiki and I am a Reiki Master/Teacher.  The thing I like most of the Reiki is that it can be used over distances.

If you would like more information about Reiki please view my Reiki Level I Guide, download it if you want, its FREE!  I also do Distance Reiki Sessions and Distance Chakra Balancing Sessions.

I have not written anything about EFT as of yet.  I feel that I need to work with it more in order to write anything original.  I can guide you through learning and employing EFT; as well as work with you on differing tapping sequences and how to choose a setup phrase and more. 

To view an excerpt from the instruction manual I learned from (written and taught by Robert Najemy of Holistic Harmony) please visit this link: http://www.holisticharmony.com/ebookscb/sameft.asp scroll down to chapter 1 and 2.

To get a free download of the EFT Manual written by Gary Craig please visit this link: http://www.emofree.com/downloadeftmanual.asp

I have worked with and from both manuals so am familiar with them, if you need help or have questions.