Simple Tips for Glowing Skin

There’s so much talk on the right and wrong way to treat your skin. Advertisements flood your social feeds for products with harsh chemicals or expensive skin therapy treatment that load your skin with a ton of product but doesn’t get to the root of your issue.

Philosophie Goddess, Kate Hordyski, shares her secrets to healthy, glowing skin that can be easily accomplished in the comforts of your home and with natural remedies.

I’m kind of obsessed with natural skin care. I’ve been making face masques and scrubs since elementary school.  My philosophy for skin care is less is more, and today I’m going to share my top tips for getting beautiful glowing skin.

Everyone’s skin is different and what works for me may not necessarily be the right fit for you.  I always encourage people to do what is right for them, but the following tips have been total game changers for me!

Wash with water

When I was younger, I washed my face with harsh commercial cleansers (who could ignore the allure of the 90’s Clean&Clear ads?!) and they wrecked major havoc on my dry sensitive skin.  When I began learning more about natural skin care and DIY products, I swapped out these cleansers for natural alternatives like the oil cleansing method and honey washing.  This led to a serious improvement in my skin but because my skin is so prone to dryness, it still caused some flaking.

Then I began thinking, does it really make sense that I would need a product to wash my face?  Maybe our skin is perfectly designed to take care of itself?  I immediately switched to using water only and my skin has never looked better.

On the rare occasion when I wear foundation or BB cream, I’ll remove it by slathering my face in oil and then using Kleenex to wipe off the makeup.  Microfiber clothes are also great options for removing makeup.

Hydrate with a good oil

After splashing my face with water (in the morning and before bed), I moisturize with oil.  If I lived in a warm, tropical climate I’d probably skip this step altogether and let my skin hydrate itself, but the climate in Canada requires extra moisturizing!

Coconut oil has been the wellness world’s miracle product for years, and no disrespect but it doesn’t do it for me!  I find that it clogs my pores, and instead I love baobab and apricot kernel oil.  Another great one to check out is Philosophie’s Chrysalis Healing Oil.

I also love adding in a drop or two of essential oils; lavender and bergamot are two in particular that are amazing for most skin types.

Simple face masques and exfoliation

For years, my go-to face masques have been raw honey mixed with a superfood powder like cacao, spirulina, or camu camu.  If you’re already enjoying Philosophie’s superfood honeys, try them out as a masque!  Honey is so hydrating and the superfoods add an awesome dose of vitamins and nutrients. Serious skin food.  

I’m also in love with clay masques.  There are different clays that are best suited to different skin types including bentonite, French green, and kaolin.  Rhassoul is my clay of choice; it clears up blackheads like no other and is so rejuvenating for dry skin.  I usually do a face masque once every two weeks or so.

Exfoliating is another key step in glowing skin, and it helps to remove dead skin cells and promote regeneration.  I usually exfoliate using a konjac sponge, a mix of sugar with a few drops of water, or a chemical exfoliation.  The last one sounds a lot more intense than it really is, all you need to do is rub a piece of pineapple or papaya over your skin and let it sit for about 10 minutes before rinsing off.  These fruits are both full of enzymes that help to break down build up on your skin.  I usually exfoliate once or twice a week.

Face massage and cupping

I am obsessed with face massage and cupping!  They are both great ways to minimize fine lines, boost circulation (which increases the flow of blood and nutrients to your skin), eliminate bloat and puffiness, encourage lymph flow, and so much more.  Plus, they feel amazing!

There are tons of articles and videos online on how to do a proper face massage, so you can check those out, but for me I just keep it simple and do my own thing.  When you apply your oil or moisturizer, just spend a few extra minutes rubbing it in.  My face retains fluid easily, so one thing I do daily is to use my palm to make long sweeping strokes from my jaw line to the base of my neck, which helps to reduce bloat and facilitate drainage.  Always make sure you apply oil before massaging/cupping.

As for facial cupping, it’s similar to the Chinese Medicine practice (remember those red marks we all saw on the backs of celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Anniston, and Michael Phelps?) but done at home (and it won’t leave the marks!).  I could write a whole article on the benefits of facial cupping, but basically it improves the overall tone and health of your skin and takes just a few minutes.  I got my cups from LURE Essentials, and you can find lots of info about the treatment online.

Hydration and good diet

What we eat has a serious effect on the look and feel of our skin.  While I’m by no means suggesting a super strict diet, I do recommend being aware of foods that cause flare-ups.  For me, sugar has a huge impact on my skin, so I do my best to seriously reduce my intake.  Overall, a diet focused on whole, nutrient rich foods and lots of hydration is a major factor in having glowing skin!

What are some of your favorite skin care rituals using natural products or Philosophie superfoods? Share with me on Facebook using #MyPhilsophie or #PhilosophieLove.