Summer's Coming, the season of showing more skin

Skin is the largest organ in your body, and it requires daily care to stay healthy. How we treat our body has more to do with skin health than anything else: the food we eat, the sleep we get, and how we exercise. But I believe it's equally important to seek out natural products that go onto our skin. The simple truth is this: your skin absorbs everything you put on it, including toxic endocrine disruptors, harmful chemicals, or artificial estrogens. These "cosmetics" don't just mess with our hormones, they can damage collagen and coloring as well, which fuels a vicious cycle of adding more cover-ups. Ugh.

Cosmetic companies make billions of dollars off the fear of aging skin with topical "miracle" products launched every year. Here are a few facts:

• The average woman encounters 168 chemical ingredients in her beauty regimen everyday, according to a 2005 survey of 2,300 adults by the Environmental Working Group.
• 90% of the 10,500 different chemicals used in personal care products are never evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration for safety; our skin is absorbing chemicals that could cause cancer, reproductive problems, and other health concerns.
• Some preservative chemicals used in cosmetics (like parabens) have been shown to mimic the hormone estrogen, contributing to breast cancer risk.

Here's the good news: having beautiful skin can be simple and non-toxic!

First, and of utmost importance, is to eat fresh, whole, organic food, full of anti-oxidants to combat inflammation and free-radical damage. I'll send more emails about that soon, so stay tuned.

Next up is our skincare regime! I want to introduce my guest blogger, Patricia Intihar. Besides being a good friend, she and her partner Veni Wen started a skincare business called Bainbridge Island Organics that focuses on healthy, holistic skincare. Essential oils are an incredible and less expensive way to heal and restore your skin. I invited Patricia and Veni to talk about their simple and effective approach to skincare.

In this three-part series, they'll talk about cleansing, hydrating with hydrosols (what they are, how to use them), and moisturizing and massaging your face.

Cleansing: the first step to beautiful skin!

Written by Patricia Intihar

We want to protect the delicate balance of our skin while removing make-up, dirt and pollution. Many cleansers are simply too harsh, stripping the oils and moisture from our skin disrupting the acid mantel. The acid mantel is a fine, slightly acidic film that acts as a protective layer or barrier between you and environmental irritants. To protect this delicate balance we cleanse the face using plant oils similar to the oil (sebum) your body produces naturally. Oils like organic cold-pressed virgin olive oil - the greener and more opaque the better for it will be in the oil's natural, unaltered state. Other options are almond, apricot, coconut, jojoba or any organic plant based oil you love!

To cleanse the face with oil, massage the oil onto the face with gentle, upward strokes. Place a hot (but not too hot!) washcloth over the face to "steam" and open your pores. Allow the washcloth to cool and then gently wipe away all the impurities. Repeat by rinsing your washcloth in hot water, turn the washcloth over to use the other side, and steam the face once more.

Enjoy this moment of quiet. Breathe.

Now your face is clean and your pores are open. In Part 2, we'll talk about hydrosols!

For those who aren't ready to wrap their head around using oils to cleanse, make sure your cleanser is mild and without chemicals, fragrances, or toxins. Read those ingredient labels! Amazon's #1 Best Seller in "Facial Cleansing Washes" is Cetaphil, which touts a "mild, non-irritating formula," has a cult following, and is endorsed by many dermatologists. The first ingredient is water, but from there you will find nothing natural or nurturing-sodium lauryl sulfate, alcohols and parabens, oh my! Familiarize yourself with the Dirty Dozen which lists all the top ingredients used in the beauty industry that are considered harmful to humans and the environment.

Cleaning your skin gently and thoroughly is the first step in a nightly ritual that will keep your skin healthy and glowing!

 Be Radiant. Be Nourished. Be Beautiful.

You can find Bainbridge Island Organic products locally at lark! and Renew Day Spa, or on the web at bainbridgeislandorganics.com.

~Patricia & Veni