Wouldn’t it be nice to have skin as soft as a baby’s bottom?

Skin health becomes a bigger feat as we age; even more so today with increased environmental stressors and busier lifestyles. People spend hundreds to thousands of dollars in hopes of preserving their youth and glow all year round.

With the cosmetic industry being built around this pursuit of everlasting youth, we have lost sight of how to achieve natural beauty naturally, from the inside out.

Here are a few tips to protect and nurture the skin, especially as the weather and conditions change around us. It is possible to age gracefully! As I like to say, skin is like a fine wine – it gets better with age.

• Drinking enough water is essential but may sometimes not be enough. Moisturizing teas like fennel seed, Irish moss, and red clover blossoms can be effective.

• Minimize caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, soaps, cleansers, and alcohol-based products as they contribute to dehydration.

• Eat dark orange and green foods like apricots, pumpkin, squash carrots, and green leafy vegetables high in beta-carotene, which are great for the skin. Avoid bad heated fats and make sure to eat raw healthy fats high in essential fatty acids.

• Make sure there is enough humidity in your house especially through the winter months. Buy a humidifier is necessary.

• Estrogen plays a role in the skin retaining moisture. Consult a doctor or practitioner if you have any hormonal concerns.

• Skin brushing is my favorite method for keeping skin soft. It effectively removes the dead layers of skin and other impurities while keeping the pores open. Among the many health benefits, it stimulates the hormone and oil producing glands of the body. A good vegetable bristle is key to its success.

• An effective shower filter that removes chlorine can make a huge difference. Chlorine can contribute to dry itchy skin and dry brittle hair. The filter will maximize hydration in the dry winter months.

• Shea butter has outstanding healing properties and is high in Vitamin E and A. It is excellent for moisturizing skin and helping with frost bite, eczema and wrinkles, to name a few.

• Aloe is another plant used for thousands of years that is amazing for energy and strength. It helps support the immune system and stimulates digestion and skin regeneration. It is packed with the goodness of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and polysaccharides. It is antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory.

• Try raw Kombucha Tea, which has been used as beauty tonic for centuries in Eastern Europe and Japan. It facilitates skin cell regeneration and is an incredible liver detoxifier as it helps remove compacted debris from liver.

• Scan your kitchen to make a nourishing mask from oatmeal, apricot, avocado, banana, and peach.

With countless packaged products to turn to, you might be pleasantly surprised at how effective the simple natural approach really is. Consistency is the key to seeing results in your skin. Most importantly, make sure to have fun with your beauty regime and remember: beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

Jeanette Sousa