As we continue to inch toward spring, hopefully you have begun trying some of our tips for how to prepare your skin for the warmer weather. One of those steps, which of course can be done during any time of the year, is detoxing. To us, detoxing does not mean doing a crash diet or temporarily changing your lifestyle; it means finding a gentle, sustainable skincare routine that helps your skin stay healthy and happy all the time.

Exfoliate

We talk about exfoliating a lot here at Gifts from The Earth, but that’s because it is an extremely important part of skincare! While cleansing every day will remove oil and dirt from your face, exfoliation will remove dead skin, help smooth out rough patches, and will expose fresh, living skin which will help give you that sought-after natural glow. That being said, different skin types require different types of exfoliation. If you have generally non-problematic skin, you can exfoliate around twice a week. Our Mystic Seeds Scrub is good for all skin types, is an anti-oxidant, and does a lovely job of exfoliating as well as helping to reduce signs of aging. For more sensitive skin, twice a week may be too often and could leave your skin feeling raw. Remember, the point of exfoliation is to remove dead skin cells, not to irritate living ones! Almond Facial Scrub is a lovely exfoliator for sensitive skin; it can also be custom made to be even more gentle, should your skin be extra sensitive! If you have dryer skin, you may exfoliate up to three times a week, but any more than that is too much and can be harmful and cause irritation to your skin. Our Cocoa Facial Scrub is wonderful for dry skin – and it smells like chocolate! If you still feel you are not seeing any change after exfoliating, try switching to a different moisturizer.

Cleanse

Cleansing is an important every-day way to detox your skin. Though not many people do, ideally our faces should be cleansed in the morning before starting our days, and at night before bed. As we go about our days, dirt, oil, and other impurities build up on our skin, especially on our faces. Cleansing helps to remove these impurities, keep pores clean, and to give the skin a chance to breathe and keep itself healthy. If you wear makeup, it is very important to remember to wash it off at the end of the day; not doing so can cause your skin to age more quickly, clogged pores, and leave your skin feeling (and looking) unhealthy. Earthly Dreams Cleansing Oil is a lovely cleanser for all skin types. It is made from a base of aloe vera, grapeseed oil, rose water, and olive oil, so dirt, makeup, and anything else on your skin will cling to it and be removed when you wipe your face with a warm, wet cloth. Lavender Skin Cleanser is wonderful for problem skin – it is mildly astringent, antiseptic, soothing, and anti-inflammatory, so it will help to heal acne and wounds without stripping your skin of natural oils or causing irritation. For mature skin, I recommend our Rose Water Cleanser.

Mask

When exfoliating and cleansing aren’t enough, it may be time for a mask! Since masks are generally left on the skin for longer periods of time, they have more time to draw out impurities and give skin a deep-cleanse. Our Green Goddess of the Earth facial mask is ideal for normal and oily skin; it removes impurities, gently exfoliates, and absorbs excess oil from the skin, while also encouraging wound healing, soothing eczema, and helping to replenish skin cells, which leaves skin looking young and fresh. Our Skin Repair Mask is good for normal and problematic skin; it helps to strengthen tissue, regenerate, rejuvenate, and repair, while drawing impurities from the skin.

After any treatment, the skin should always be moisturized! Be sure to drink plenty of water to keep you hydrated, maintain a well-balanced diet with fruits and vegetables, and get plenty of sleep to help your skin look even more healthy!