Inner Peace/Outer Beauty: Christine Russo

Hello and thank you for returning to part two in my mini-series about providing skin care practices that are simple yet crucial to include into your daily regime. In Part 1, I introduced why it’s so important to love the skin you’re in, especially in these summer months when the sun is shining bright and we’re all about enjoying it. In Part 2, we’re focusing on two very important steps to your skin care wellness practice: cleansing and exfoliation.

Photography by: Steven Depolo

For me, both of these processes have literal and metaphorical healing properties. When I take my nightly shower, I let the water run over me for a few minutes before I do anything else. I focus on my breathing as I enjoy the sound of the water washing the day’s worries down the drain. Then I get to cleansing myself of the actual grime of the day. Exfoliation helps greatly with this process. I gently scrub all that’s blocking me from revealing my true self, inside and out. I come out of the shower feeling refreshed and ready for the next day–a new day.

Step One: Cleansing

Get to know your skin type so that you can follow a regime based on your skin’s unique needs and how it reacts to products. For example, if you have dry skin, consider using a cream wash without water. Just apply and wipe gently with a cotton pad, removing impurities. Many people think that if there is no lather to a wash, then it must not being doing a good job. The reality is that most people tend to over-wash their face. I wash my face at the end of the day and simply splash water on it in the morning. Unless I ran a marathon in my sleep or did some gardening in the dark, chances are my face is still just as clean as it was the night before. The water will remove any excess oil and give me a much needed wake me up.

Products I Love: Dove Gentle Exfoliating Beauty Bar and Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash. While bar soaps are generally not for use on your face, this one works wonders for me. I also love that Dove has a social mission that empowers women and teens. What I love about both of these products is that they are also exfoliate allowing me to skip step two. When you have a toddler, any extra time counts!

Products for Men: Because men also wash their faces, they too deserve some TLC and from what my friends say and what I know about these companies, I suggest the following Neutrogena Men Invigorating Skin Wash and L’Oreal Men’s Expert Hydra-Energetic Turbo Cleanser.

DIY: Honey Cream Cleanser: Though it sounds like breakfast, this recipe is actually a natural and gentle cleanser that leaves your skin moisturized and refreshed. And chances are, you might have these ingredients lying around your kitchen. What you’ll need:

• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon natural yogurt

What you’ll do: In a small bowl, combine the honey and yogurt (you may need to warm the honey first). Apply to damp skin with hands, rinse thoroughly with a damp, tepid cloth three times and pat dry with a soft towel.

Step Two: Exfoliate

Simply put, exfoliating assists and actually speeds up the removal process of the top layer of your skin. It’s not as icky as it sounds–this natural process, aided by exfoliation, reveals brighter, newer skin beneath. It also unclogs pores, keeps skin clean and helps reduce acne breakouts. For men, this is a key step before shaving because it exposes the hair follicles in preparation. But you don’t want to over exfoliate or you will dry out your skin. For this reason I prefer mechanical over chemical means.

Products I Love: Aveda Botanical Kinetics Exfoliant. I fell in love with this when I attended the Aveda Institute. It is gentle, easy to use and natural. I always see amazing results after a couple of uses.

Products for Men (and Women): Two words, Tend Skin. When I worked at Sephora, people would come in droves for these products. We were always sold out of this stuff so eventually, I finally tried it for myself. I was instantly hooked. Goodbye razor bumps. Use a little Tend Skin and out comes the hair with no scarring or redness/soreness from aggravating the area. It may be a little pricey, but it’s worth it, especially if you are prone to these conditions.

DIY: Cup O’ Joe Facial Scrub: This easy and refreshing exfoliating recipe is from PETA. Who doesn’t love a cruelty-free DIY product? The coffee will exfoliate your skin while the olive oil provides a good source of moisture to keep your skin soft and hydrated. You can store your coffee scrub in the refrigerator if you prefer a really cooling exfoliant, but it will stay fresh for several weeks at room temperature. What you’ll need:

• 4 Tbsp. olive oil
• 6 Tbsp. coffee grounds (Note: the coffee grounds should be very fine because you will be rubbing them onto your skin. Put the grounds through a coffee grinder two times if you need to.)
• Container for finished product

What you’ll do: Mix the coffee grounds and olive oil. (If you’d like to make more or less, the ratio is 3 tablespoons of coffee for every 2 tablespoons of olive oil.) The scrub should look like a coarse mud when finished.  To use, simply take a small dollop of the coffee and olive oil mixture and gently scrub it onto your skin. Then rinse completely with water.

Until next time, try using your bathroom as a sanctuary, even if only for a few minutes. It can make the world of difference. Add in a candle and some music and you are set!