Uh, yea… really, it is.

Your skin is your largest organ, and the only one that’s visible to the outside world. Your skin displays your health for the whole world to see, and you honestly can’t fake it. You can’t pretend to have healthy skin. It is either hydrated, healthy, and attractive or it’s not. Your skin will absorb whatever you smear on it, so if you’re putting sulfates and parabens on your skin, that it what will be absorbed into your blood stream. If you’re putting healthy butters, aloe vera juice, honey, and glycerin on your skin, it will soak it all up before it even hits your bloodstream. It’s as simple as that. You want to use products that will improve the overall health of your skin rather than spot treat a certain condition for the time being. Think of it like this: if you have a lung problem, using a ventilator may quickly get oxygen into your lungs, but wouldn’t you rather strengthen your lungs over an extended period of time to eliminate the problem instead of putting a “band-aid” aid on it for the time being? Well, that is what most of the drugstore products are… a band aid. While their lotion may moisturize your skin while it’s on and their face wash may remove the oil from your skin, it will not do anything to improve your skin’s health in the long run. Honestly, depending on the ingredients, it may even harm your skin when used repeatedly.

Whether your main concern is appearance or whether it’s health, your skin is where you should start. It is your garment and your armor. It holds your beauty and your health. It protects you and portrays your image. You only get this one chance, so make it count!

::BEGIN RANT:: For me, it’s the absolute craziest thing to neglect your skin, but it really drives me nuts when I see someone who’s very publicly health conscious with unhealthy skin. You know who I’m talking about, those facebook friends we all have a love/hate relationship with. They post about their workouts and constantly show you pictures of their healthy meals and weight loss progress. We all roll our eyes when they show up on our news feed, and talk about how “sick of hearing it” we are, but honestly we’re just jealous because we wish we had that kind of discipline (and that kind of body). We claim to be disinterested, but stalk their in-front-of-the-mirror weekly progress photos, because let’s face it, it’s pretty awesome… These are the people who shock me the most with the condition of their skin. I mean, you spend 3 hours a day chopping and preparing fresh organic meals, and another 2-4 hours a day working out. Not to mention who knows how much money on produce, gym memberships, and dietary supplements, but you can’t spend $20 and 10 minutes on your skin? WTF, man? I don’t care how skinny you are or how much you work out; if your skin is ashen and dehydrated, you’re going to look terrible. It’s like spending 3 hours making a fabulous cake and then icing it with dog shit… guess what, it’s still gross… I don’t understand how anyone could claim to be health conscious and not care about having healthy skin. It makes absolutely no sense to me. ::END RANT::

Healthy skin does not have to cost a fortune or take a lot of time. A few products can go a long way, and some of the best things can be made at home from edible (organic) ingredients. Of course there are skincare products out there that cost a lot of money, and some believe that the price of a product directly corresponds with it’s value. If you’re one of those people, and you’re happy with the appearance and health of your skin, please spend on… more power to ya. However, if you’re looking for gorgeous healthy skin at a reasonable price, then you need me and my Indulgence products. I can give you a gorgeous complexion for as little as $20 ($13 if you have oily skin) and I can give your whole body a smooth, healthy, hydrated, touch-me look for $11.50. You can’t even get drug store products that don’t work for that kind of money, so what are you waiting for!? Indulgence all natural products are made from edible ingredients, because I honestly believe that you shouldn’t put anything on your body that you wouldn’t put in it. The line has been formulated, researched and tested by a trained esthetician, and the products are effective. Affordable, and guaranteed to not only treat your skin on a daily basis, but to improve the overall health and appearance of your skin over time. You know you know you can trust me? Because I use it myself. I have stopped purchasing skincare products all together as well as shaving cream (I use Indulgence Sugar scrub), and lotions.

Below I have listed the product recommendations for different skin types:

First, lets start with body. For your body, I recommend a sugar scrub and a jar of body frosting. Use both daily; concentrating on dry areas (like elbows and heels) and your skin will be healthy and touchably soft in a matter of a few days. Seriously, this is good stuff. Another option for body care is the green tea and honey 3-in-one body wash, hand soap, and shampoo. It is sulfate free and will leave skin and hair clean without stripping it of it’s natural moisture or it’s acid mantle.

Now for the face:

Cleanse and Exfoliate (for all skin types):

One-Step-Facial – gently exfoliates using cornmeal, which will not scratch or scar delicate facial skin. Honey and lemon juice remove dirt, oil, and kill bacteria while a touch of vegetable glycerin adds very light moisture. Oily skin types may not need additional moisturizer.

Mask: (once a week or so)

For oily or problematic skin:

Cocoa-Oat Detox Mask – uses nourishing cocoa powder and milk powder to maintain skin’s health while powerful bentonite clay draws impurities from the pores like a magnet. Oatmeal soothes skin and absorbs oil.

For dry or aging skin:

Aloe Vera Moisture Mask – Aloe Vera Juice lubricates skin and plumps fine lines and wrinkles while coconut oil and a touch of shea butter deeply moisturize even the driest skin.

Moisturize:

Green Tea & Aloe Moisturizing Serum: A revolutionary serum made of antioxidant rich green tea, skin rejuvenating Aloe Vera juice, and hydrating vegetable glycerin brings a light rich moisture veil that will pull moisture from the air, continuing to hydrate your skin all day. Green Tea & Aloe Moisturizing Serum contains so oil or wax, and creates a perfect foundation for make-up. The glycerin in the product actually acts as a make-up primer that will not feel greasy or clog pores. *Available with up to SPF 30 added.

 A few quick and easy at home tricks:

Toner: lemon Juice on a cotton ball or a green grape cut in half, rubbed on the skin will seal pores better than any alcohol-based toner that will dry and damage skin.

Hair Mask: Eggs and vegetable oil (or mayo) deeply moisturize hair and nourish it with protein rather than just oil, like many store-bought products.

Sugaring unwanted hair with a homemade recipe of sugar, water, and lemon juice is just as effective and not nearly as abrasive to skin as waxing.

Foot Soak: Soaking feet in a baking soda and vinegar bath will loosen dead skin so that it can be rubbed off, using a towel rather than slicing skin with a razor or “cheese grater” –type device, which can open you up to the risk of infection, not to mention, very sore tootsies.

*Search the “home remedies” section of my blog for LOTS more ideas for skin care at home.

I hope this has been helpful!

Thanks for reading,

Beth