OBMS featured article for the BODY

Different Soaps for Different Folks
An interview with Kate Owen written by Lisa Levstein

We all know that true beauty is more than skin deep, but there’s certainly nothing wrong in trying to have the best skin possible. For most of us, healthy skin is the end result of a careful regimen that includes daily hydration, cleansing, exfoliating, toning and moisturizing. The products and practices may vary depending on your age, but the basic premise remains the same. The following are practical tips for good skin care at any age.

Skin Care Checklist

Eat right and drink lots of water

Keep your skin clean

Exfoliate and Scrub

Tone

Moisturize

Eat right and drink lots of water

Whether you are a teenager fighting to keep a clear complexion, or a mature person wanting to look your best, good skin needs good nutrition and hydration. Make fresh raw fruits and vegetables a part of your daily diet, and keep up your daily water intake. This simple suggestion makes excellent sense for general health as well as cosmetic reasons.

Keep your skin clean

Professionals recommend that you gently wash your face with a good cleanser using upward, circular strokes.

“The main purpose of soap is to clean, to wash off dirt. Soap should not leave residue on your skin,” says Kate Owen, owner of The Bayberry Garden, a line of natural soap products. “Fragrance free soaps are always a good choice. Mature skin can also benefit from soaps with goat’s milk that provides mild moisturizing as well as cleansing.”

Exfoliate and Scrub

Part of the cleaning process is to remove dead skin cells that may dull the complexion. To make your own deep pore cleansing facial scrub blend 1 tablespoon honey with 1/4 medium peeled cucumber. Mix the ingredients in a blender until smooth and add a small amount of water if needed. Strain the mixture and remove the vegetable and honey mixture into a small bowl. Add the following:1 teaspoon almond meal, 1 teaspoon seed meal, 1 teaspoon ground oatmeal, 1 teaspoon sunflower seed meal, 1 teaspoon wheat germ. This should form a smooth past for a gentle scrub. Follow up this treatment with a moisturizer.

“Soaps with oatmeal can provide a quick and easy way to combine cleansing with gentle exfoliation,” suggests Kate.

Tone

Use an astringent or toner to remove anything that the cleansing process has left behind and to help restore your skin to its normal acid pH.

Moisturize

Moisturizers are an important way to hydrate your skin.Moisturizers should be applied to an already moist face and throat in the same upward direction as you apply your cleanser.

“Sometimes we need special soap products for special purposes,” says Kate. “For instance, tea tree soaps can provide teenagers with good natural antiseptic and antibacterial agents to help fight outbreaks.”

Whatever the need or occasion, consider incorporating a sensible skin care plan into your daily routines and start letting your outward appearance reflect your inward beauty.

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Kate Owen is the owner of Bayberry Garden, a manufacturer of handcrafted natural soap. Bayberry Garden uses time tested recipes using all vegetable oils with no chemical filters or harsh detergents.

Address: RR #2, Dunnville ON, N1A2W2
Phone: 905-774-7603, Fax: 905-701-5160
E-mail: info@bayberrygarden.com
Website: www.bayberrygarden.com