Despite my best efforts to destress via meditation, journaling, exercise, proper sleep, and a (mostly) healthy diet; I am still afflicted with the occasional facial blemish or two. Last night, I had two starting to form and thought that I probably needed to do my usual Aztec healing clay mask (1 part clay, one part organic apple cider vinegar; apply to face; let dry for 5-15 minutes; and then wash off), but one of the attendees at the class mentioned that she only uses organic coconut oil for her face both as a cleanser and moisturizer. I had heard of this practice but had never tried it; however, the woman who recommended this had absolutely flawless, beautiful skin.
Becky Newsom, our aromatherapy expert and the yoga instructor at Foundation Fitness Briarcliff, mentioned that she once had a problem with blemishes but started using a combination of pure, therapeutic grade lavender essential oil and fractionated coconut oil at night. She, too, now has a flawless complexion. Since I had both food-grade, organic coconut oil and pure lavender essential oil at my disposal, I decided to experiment on myself. If it worked, I would have a new, natural, non-toxic way to clean and moisturize my face.
I first washed my face with a pea-sized amount of coconut oil--it did an excellent job of removing my eye makeup. I then rinsed my face with lukewarm water--many resources suggest using oil only, but I just couldn't resist the urge to use water since I couldn't stop thinking about the aforementioned eye makeup just sitting on top of my skin with the coconut oil.
Next, I combined another pea-sized amount of coconut oil with a single drop of lavender essential oil and gently rubbed it all over my face, avoiding my eyes but paying special attention to the two blemishes starting to form on my chin.
When I woke up this morning, the blemishes had shrunken, flattened out, and become closer to my natural skin color. I repeated the same regimen this morning, and by midday, my blemishes were gone!
I do have a couple of cautions for you before trying this method. First and most obvious, if you have an allergy to coconut oil, essential oils, and/or lavender, you should not try this technique. If you aren't sure whether you have an allergy to these substances, you should get an allergy test just to be safe. If you don't have an allergy but do have particularly sensitive skin, you should try a small test patch on a less delicate area to determine your reaction. Finally, as a chiropractor, I studied the basics of dermatology, but I am not an expert in this area. Plus, I don't know your specific situation. As such, I recommend that you speak with your dermatologist and/or aesthetician prior to trying this idea, especially if you are currently being treated for a skin condition. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
What about you? What's your secret to a bright, healthy, and blemish-free complexion?
Becky Newsom, our aromatherapy expert and the yoga instructor at Foundation Fitness Briarcliff, mentioned that she once had a problem with blemishes but started using a combination of pure, therapeutic grade lavender essential oil and fractionated coconut oil at night. She, too, now has a flawless complexion. Since I had both food-grade, organic coconut oil and pure lavender essential oil at my disposal, I decided to experiment on myself. If it worked, I would have a new, natural, non-toxic way to clean and moisturize my face.
I first washed my face with a pea-sized amount of coconut oil--it did an excellent job of removing my eye makeup. I then rinsed my face with lukewarm water--many resources suggest using oil only, but I just couldn't resist the urge to use water since I couldn't stop thinking about the aforementioned eye makeup just sitting on top of my skin with the coconut oil.
Next, I combined another pea-sized amount of coconut oil with a single drop of lavender essential oil and gently rubbed it all over my face, avoiding my eyes but paying special attention to the two blemishes starting to form on my chin.
When I woke up this morning, the blemishes had shrunken, flattened out, and become closer to my natural skin color. I repeated the same regimen this morning, and by midday, my blemishes were gone!
I do have a couple of cautions for you before trying this method. First and most obvious, if you have an allergy to coconut oil, essential oils, and/or lavender, you should not try this technique. If you aren't sure whether you have an allergy to these substances, you should get an allergy test just to be safe. If you don't have an allergy but do have particularly sensitive skin, you should try a small test patch on a less delicate area to determine your reaction. Finally, as a chiropractor, I studied the basics of dermatology, but I am not an expert in this area. Plus, I don't know your specific situation. As such, I recommend that you speak with your dermatologist and/or aesthetician prior to trying this idea, especially if you are currently being treated for a skin condition. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
What about you? What's your secret to a bright, healthy, and blemish-free complexion?
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