Has your skin lost its Christmas sparkle? It’s not surprising as the festive season can really take its toll on your appearance – too many late nights, too much alcohol and rich food, not to mention the stress of coping with the in-laws and hyperactive children!
We’ve put together a few simple recipes to help restore your natural New Year’s glow:-
If you’re skin is looking as dull, dry and lifeless as the leftover turkey start the year with a deep cleanse and exfoliation. This will slough off all the festive grime and dead skin cells, helping to stimulate circulation and the re-generation of healthy new skin cells.
You can use our Exfoliating Body Wash with ground pumice or you can make up your own exfoliators for the face and body with a few simple store cupboard ingredients.
For evenly balanced skin blend 2 drops of Geranium, 2 drops of Lavender and 2 drops of Frankincense with Base Formula’s Cream Cleanser or Moisturising Lotion. Other oils to consider would be Fennel/Lemon/Rose/Neroli/Jasmin/ Benzoin or Palmarosa.
Next, add some grains to make a natural exfoliator. Ground rice is ideal for the face as it’s nice and gentle, but for the body you can choose larger grains such as oats, coffee grounds, desiccated coconut or for an added therapeutic boost our Fine Grade Dead Sea Salt. Simply add you chosen ingredient until you have your desired consistency – some people like less granules and some like more!
Massage into the skin with circular movements and rinse off with luke warm water.
Tip: If you want an extra radiant glow try a DIY hydro-therapy treatment. Use the exfoliating scrub whilst in the shower and keep alternating the water temperature from hot to cold every 60 seconds. The change in temperature contracts and dilates your blood vessels which boosts your circulation and helps to flush and cleanse your blood. This is particularly good for areas of cellulite.
For an extra deep facial cleanse use a clay mask to draw out impurities and toxins and to decongest and refine the pores. Try our Ultra Fine French Green Clay to revitalise the complexion and clear the skin or our White Kaolin Clay which is milder and more suited to dry or sensitive skin. Both clays can be mixed with a range of other skin nurturing ingredients such as Hydrolats, Aloe Vera Gels and Essential Oils for added therapeutic benefit.
Finally, all those festive tipples can leave your skin seriously dehydrated. Make sure you increase your daily intake of water to increase your skin’s natural moisture levels which will result in a smoother, firmer appearance. Also, rather slather your skin in a richer moisturiser, try one of our therapeutic facial oils, which absorb more quickly into the skin to nourish and hydrate. Choose from 3 varieties blended with pure essential oils, Evening Primrose, Coconut Oil and Vitamin E: Rose for mature, sensitive, dry skin, Neroli for all skin types including oily/combination and mature, and Jasmin & Sandalwood for combination skin.
Happy New Year!
Base Formula Aromatherapy Team
