SELF CARE SERIES #29 - 4 Pillars of Balanced Beauty
The key to beauty and balance even when temperatures soar.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), winter is a yin season, due to it’s cold, wet and hibernating tendencies. Summer, on the other hand is yang. A season characterized by warmth, brightness, and energy. During this time, it is believed that the body's energy, or Qi, is at its peak.
Due to these extreme Yang condition, skin and organs will inevitably be taken for a rollercoaster ride. From high temperature one minute to the chilling effect of air-conditioning the next, not only creates imbalance in the body but the skin can swing from being overly dry to having an over production of oil. Excessive sweating and pollution from being outdoors can clog pores, making skin more prone to breakouts.
Excess heat can also affect the internal organ functions resulting in digestive issues while other symptoms can manifest such as canker sores, nosebleeds, red eyes, constipation, high blood pressure, anxiety, and even insomnia.
ENTER THE 4 PILLARS OF BALANCED BEAUTY
- Cleanse
- Exfoliate
- Hydrate
- Fortify
Incorporating the 4 Pillars of Balanced Beauty into your daily rituals and routine can help counteract external heat and support the body’s natural energy flow.
CLEANSE
Hot temperature will cause sweat glands to be on overdrive to try cool the body down. This is a good thing but excessive sweat mixed with grime, pollution and oil can build up and cause pores to clog and become a breeding ground for bacteria.
It is vital to cleanse nightly before going to bed. There may be a tendency to use the foaming cleanser, as your face feels so greasy already. We suggest using an oil cleanser like our Purifying Cleansing Oil. Oil cleansing works with skin’s own sebum and will not strip off skin's natural oils.
Warm a few drops of Oil Cleanser between palms and massage into face, concentrating on ‘T’ zone. Wipe off with damp warm muslin cloth.
See our article on Oil Cleansing and how to do it properly
Regular Oil Pulling not only helps maintains oral cleanliness but is beneficial to overall facial tone. If you are not familiar with Oil Pulling, go to our Blog post on this amazing Ayurvedic practice and find out why incorporating it into your daily regimen can help bring you health, energy and balance.
EXFOLIATE
The process of cell turnover happens naturally and all over our body including our face, scalp, body, legs, the bottom of our feet etc. Our skin sheds every 28-40 days on average and new skin cells are born.
But what becomes of the dead skin cells?
The buildup of dead skin cells on the skin's surface, plus excessive sweating and oil production in the heat can cause havoc to skin. Clogged pores, breakouts and and scaly skin can occur. Texture of your skin will look course, tired and dull. Exfoliating helps slough off these dead cells, allowing the fresh, healthy skin underneath to shine through.
Harsh exfoliaters and chemical peels may strip skin of its natural oils. Use a gentle exfoliator like our Rice Bran made with ground organic rice and rice husks. Mix a little with the cleanser and apply in circular movements around face. Wash off with a damp warm muslin cloth.
It is recommended to exfoliate every 2 - 3 days depending on your skin type. Those with sensitive skin and prone to redness and irritation should exfoliate once or twice a week.
Dry brushing the body will not only rids your skin of dead skin cells, it also jumpstarts your energy and counteracts summer sluggishness. This method of exfoliation leaves skin softer and smoother, as moisturizers and body oils easily absorb into new skin layer. Perfect for the summer as you are more likely to be wearing lighter clothing and showing more skin.
Dry Brushing once or twice a week is sufficient to see and feel results of glowing skin. People with sensitive skin may want limit to once every 2 weeks.
For more in-depth look at Dry Brushing and how to do it, go to this article.
HYDRATE
It is vital to increase your liquid intake when temperatures soar and environment is dry. Make sure to drink plenty of water and avoid sugary and alcoholic drinks as much as you can. Reducing coffee, replacing with it with more herbal teas and consuming cooling foods that contain more moisture will help the body stay in alignment - resulting in more energy and a happier deposition.
To counteract Yang conditions externally, keep the skin hydrated. Our Chi Mist contains Rose Hydrosol to nourish and Chamomile to soothe. Spritz after cleansing and throughout the day, whenever needed to cool down.
For extra hydration, apply hyaluronic acid daily to help provide moisture, promote elasticity and help reverse free radical damage. Boosting your skin's hyaluronic acid levels provides skin with a fresher, brighter and younger looking complexion.
FORTIFY
As temperature soar, to maintain balance and harmony during the summer months, TCM recommends consuming foods that have cooling properties to counteract yang conditions brought on by foods such as coffee, fried foods, sugary sweets and meats which are more yang in nature. Cooling or yin foods are lighter and contain more moisture, making them easier to digest and put less strain on the body's constitution.
Here is a list of Cooling/Yin foods which can easily be incorporated them into your summer eating plans.
Preparation of food also plays an important role. Grilling, frying, and even baking foods can contribute more heat to your food. Instead, try steaming, simmering, or lightly sautéing.
It would be helpful, during the hot months, to cut down on coffee, which is an extremely yang food. Go for more to cooling herbal teas like those listed in our chart.
We hope the 4 Pillars of Balanced Beauty will be of help to you in finding balance and well being in scorching days and drying times ahead. One of the most effective ways to balance your health is to listen to our bodies. Adjust your skincare regimen if needed and eat according to what your body is telling you.
But before you go running off….
DON'T FORGET SUNSCREEN
Sunscreen not only helps protect you against sunburn but more importantly, helps prevent skin cancer. Sunscreens come in many forms. How they are applied can vary depending if they are sprays, gels, or lotions. For example, spray sunscreens should never be applied directly to your face.
There are two types of UV radiation that you need to protect yourself from – UVA and UVB. Broad spectrum provides protection against both by providing a chemical barrier that absorbs or reflects UV radiation before it can damage the skin.
To get the most protection out of sunscreen, choose one with an SPF of at least 15. If your skin is fair, you may want a higher SPF of 30 to 50.
So slather some on and go out there and enjoy this wonderful season!
Stay safe.
With love and good Chi ❤️
Anna
