A Little Tenderness
Lately, on my days in the treatment room, I’ve been finding myself prescribing more tenderness to almost everyone I treat. It seems that so many of us these days need a little more care and a little more time and focus to address our sensitivities, on every level, with warm gentleness. And what could be more natural during the month when we celebrate Mother’s Day, than to reintroduce a loving, nurturing touch to our daily routines?
It’s often said that the skin serves as a mirror, showing so easily what’s going on inside. We blush when we’re embarrassed. The under-eyes are heavy when we’re tired. And when we’re stressed, the skin mirrors that reality. It’s incredible to think that when our bodies first formed in the womb, the brain, nervous system and skin all developed from the same cells, and that special connection reveals itself when our emotions play out through the skin. You know how the complexion just glows when someone is newly in love, or the way in which it dulls when times are rocky. Stressed skin heals more slowly and is more reactive, while, at the same time, cortisol undermines its strength, breaking down collagen and causing premature aging. And yet, beyond the way that emotions effect us, the skin might also be overwhelmed with personal care products, irritation through food allergies, or inflammation due to environmental factors. There’s a lot going on!
My wish is that we could all take the time to give the skin a break—a real chance to rest and breathe. Throughout the day I like to stay mindful of my breath, stopping to take a dozen deep replenishing breaths whenever I can, drawing fresh oxygen down into the lower belly and letting the exhale happen on its own. But it’s also important to give the skin time to simply be, washing off any makeup and whisking away environmental toxins as soon as you come home.
At the same time, if you feel you are processing a lot of emotion, or busyness, you might give your liver a boost. The liver breaks down toxins in the body, and when its overwhelmed, those materials pass through the skin instead. Raw vegetable juices are great support in the detoxification process, and it’s also so beneficial to include plenty of magnesium in your diet. This natural stress reducer is found in dark, leafy greens, seaweed, avocados, bananas, and oily fish (mackerel, sardines and tuna). My Purifying Cleansing Gel formulation includes magnesium-rich Alfalfa leaf, which so beautifully re-balances the complexion, while a simple Epsom salt bath also delivers magnesium through the skin.
Just like a mother might soothe her little one, I hope you’ll feel inspired this month to follow your intuition with a mother’s care, feeling into what your skin needs right now, and guided by the sweet touch of tenderness.
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