Tips For Integrating Chinese Herbal Medicine Into Skincare
Have your vibrant years of youth or genetics been deceiving you about what’s really going on at the cellular level below your skin surface? When skin ailments show up, they usually do so with a bang – you know, like the kind of bang you were not expecting at all. For example, going to bed with clear skin only to wake up with a raging rash or acne flare, or doing everything to look and feel your best before a special event that only drove your hormones and gut into a frenzy that showed up on your face.
This protective layer, which literally makes us human or breaks us back down into the earth by withering away, is our most neglected organ, often waiting for all the other organs to transport nutrients from the depth of our body to the surface of our skin. We battle this long-awaited process, which usually lacks the nutrients we need to sustain healthy, hydrated, and resilient skin, by slathering some unknown combination of synthetic chemicals all over it to make it ‘look’ and ‘feel’ healthy when, in fact, it is actually accelerating us further from exactly that.
So, what does nature provide for us to help us nurture and protect this incredible organ that houses all other organs? Chinese Herbal Medicine, which can help promote and maintain clear, healthy, and radiant skin for years to come.
Let’s jump into a few tips to start you on your holistic skincare journey:
Tip #1:
Skincare isn’t just about the products we put on our skin; it’s also about nourishing our bodies from within. Chinese herbal medicine offers a unique yet complete approach to skincare that focuses on promoting overall health and balance. By integrating these two herbal methods into our skincare routines, we can support a healthy, radiant microbiome of the skin that literally glows from within.
How do you incorporate Chinese herbal medicine into your skincare routine? Start by identifying your skin’s specific needs. By working with a licensed practitioner, you can create customized formulas and routines that address your skin’s unique needs and promote overall health and balance from within. At the initial stages of correcting or balancing your skin’s texture, hydration, pigment, and microbiome, utilizing the profound combination of taking an herbal formula for internally addressing the imbalance, as well as an herbal formulation and routine specific to your skin’s external presentation, will rapidly enhance its effectiveness and duration to reach your desired goals.
The skin and the face are a reflection of our inner state, and with consistent use, as prescribed by a TCM Dermatologist, Chinese herbal medicine can help you achieve healthy, radiant skin that quite literally glows from within.
Tip #2:
Choosing skin care products goes beyond just your ‘skin type’; it also involves learning why you’re applying, when to apply, how to apply and how often you apply certain products. Many skin care routines require a sequence of layering the products for maximum benefit and absorption. This is why there are up to 5 products that may end up in your skin care routine.
Every step is crucial for maintaining and healing your skin and its microbiome.
For example, Step one: wash your face with a facial wash that suits your skin needs, this may be anything from a light nutrient enhanced soap or oil. Step two: pat dry and mist your face with a multitasking hydrator and toner. Step three: gently apply 2-4 drops of your ideal botanical serum to your face and neck. Step four: after allowing the previous products to absorb for a minute you may apply your spot or whole complexion based cream or moisturizer suitable for your skin needs. Often adding a light mist between these stages is helpful for absorption. Keep in mind that each of these stages are using very little and even layers of product to not overdress or congest the skin’s absorption capacity. Revisiting two of these stages at least once between your waking and bedtime hours is an important step that most people miss. Hydrate with your mist during the day, and use any spot treatment when prescribed to do so. Step five: repeat steps 1-4 for your evening ritual, which may have different serums or creams for nighttime healing.
Beyond the daily routine, you should also incorporate a detox and exfoliative phase for most types and some disorders. For certain skin types and disorders this may be once a week or once a month. Consult your TCM Dermatologist or Holistic Esthetician to develop the best treatment plan for you.
Tip #3:
Having a basic understanding of the herbs and other ingredients in your skincare products is essential. Your practitioner or esthetician can share with you what actions the ingredients in your formulated products have. If they can’t, be wary! For example, if you struggle with acne, look for formulas that include herbs like Jin Yin Hua, Lu Hui, Huang Lian, Da Huang, Ma Chi Xian, and Ji Xie Cao, which have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. If you have dry, flaky skin, look for herbs like Mai Men Dong, Bai Cha, (Bai) Yin Er, Xi Yang Shen, and Rosa damascena, which can help moisturize and nourish the skin. Also, be aware that other ingredients such as oils, butters, and preservatives are the vehicles for these medicinals, and they should work synergistically with your herbal ingredient to enhance the effectiveness and experience of the benefits you are seeking. Be aware of hidden ingredients that may be toxic for you and the environment. This is important and can greatly affect your progress and minimize any adverse reactions that may exacerbate your current issues or lead you into new ones. Many products, including foods, that people use can contribute to their skin issues and add fuel to the fire that is already wreaking havoc on their gut and skin biome. All the while, people do everything unfathomable under the sun to “suppress” it and not heal it.
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