Thoughts on Skincare
Full disclosure, I am not a dermatologist. I am not an aesthetician.
I am, however, a woman who is tired of reading the labels on “clean” skincare products only to find that it is full of words I can’t pronounce and chemicals that disrupt the natural pH of my skin.
Out of necessity, I started making my own products in 2017. I sourced organic, heavy-metal free oils, researched the benefits and combinations of different oils and vitamins, and crafted a face serum that I still use today.
I knew I liked it, but I didn’t actually know how well it worked until I was traveling in Australia for a few weeks with a friend with acne who forgot her face products. I offered for her to use my oils and by the end of the trip (and since!) she has been acne free. She encouraged me to bottle this stuff up and share the love. So I did and I have been selling my face serum ever since, here in Panama and to friends and family stateside.
Why am I telling you this?
Because I want you to know that sometimes less is more. We buy gimmicky, trendy products and forget that our bodies are innately designed to heal. If we get out of the way, with our minds and what we put in and on our bodies, our bodies can return to a natural, ideal state of homeostasis.
Many people, especially those with acne or oily skin, cringe at the idea of putting oil topically on their faces for fear of clogging pores and making the skin more oily. In my experience, the opposite actually happens.
First, I researched which base oils are the smallest molecularly. That way, the size of the oil particles themselves don’t clog the pores and sit on the top of the skin. They are absorbed. If you put something like coconut oil, which is a thicker oil, on the face, it can clog the skin and increase the presence of pimples and cause excess oil.
Why would this cause excess oil? Because when you clog the opening of the pore, the underlying mechanisms are trying to open the pore. One way the body does this is by increasing the pores secretions, which are mainly oil. If you use the correct oils on the face, sparingly, the body will receive the correct amount of hydration and it will actually produce less oil!
Look for a product with a carrier oil like:
argan oil,
grapeseed,
rose hip seed, or
jojoba oil.
These are smaller and more lightweight.
The face serum I use also has Vitamin E and essential oils. I personally use DoTerra® oils because I believe them to be organic, therapeutic grade, and ethically sourced. Depending on your specific skincare needs, you can customize the blend of oils that you need. If you do a quick Google search, you’ll find a list of oils (frankincense and lavender for example).
I highly recommend making sure you use high quality essential oils.
Not the cheapest you can buy on Amazon. It makes a huge difference in smell and efficacy.
Mix your base oil, Vitamin E and essential oils. And voilà! You’ve got a custom face serum.
Simple, super effective, hydrating and healthy.
If you don’t want to make your own, send me a note! I’d love to share my face serum with you.
“I love the oils! Literally obsessed. Most oils make my skin irritated but nothing from yours. Thank you!” -Jenny
Last thought that I’ll leave you with. Your skin (the integumentary system) is the largest organ system in the human body. It is a direct link to your blood and circulatory system.
What you expose your skin to gets carried through your entire body!
In my humble opinion, what you put on your skin matters as much as what you eat and drink. Read your labels. Be selective.
Take care of yourself from the inside out and from the outside in!
Thanks for reading. Feel free to leave a comment or share with a friend who might love reading this too!