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We know that conflict is hard. But when we avoid it - nothing gets better.
[post_title] => Conversations with Briana: Conflict Resolution (Video)
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"Self-care isn't selfish. In fact, you have to care for yourself in order to care for anyone else."
What will do for your own self-care today? Leave a comment below and let us know.
[post_title] => Conversations with Briana: Self-Care (Video)
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Through my teens and twenties I spent a huge amount of my time devoted to taking care of my skin. My acne was a constant issue and trying to figure out how to get my skin to be presentable was a huge frustration. I tried dozens of different products and treatments. My sister, on the other hand, never washed her face with anything but shampoo or soap (please don’t do this!) and her skin was always glowing and perfect.
Now, as we get older and we’re dealing with a whole new set of skin concerns, I finally have skin care habits that work, and she . . . well . . . she’s still using Dove soap unless I keep her fully stocked on her skin care products. We spent this past weekend together laughing our faces off, and I discovered that she honestly just doesn’t know why she should exfoliate or moisturize. I guess this happens when you’ve been blessed with naturally beautiful skin your whole life. Or when you’re sister has completely failed you. My bad.
As I explained to her the importance of taking care of her skin, not just for graceful aging, but for her overall health, I decided that I would make sure our lovely Dragontree clients also have this information so that at least I’m not failing you.
Even if your skin has been picture perfect your whole life, with no more than soap and water to care for it, the act of exfoliating is good for your health, and it helps you maintain a youthful glow as you age. And whenever we strip, cleanse, or remove a protective surface of the body - inside or out - we must always do a little repair or nourishment, which is why we moisturize afterwards.
When we hear the word “exfoliation,” we usually think of something that is done to remove the surface of our skin. But it’s also a natural process that the skin undergoes on its own to eliminate waste, dead cells, and microorganisms. Our outermost layer of skin, the stratum corneum, is shed as cells move upward from deeper layers of the epidermis. This happens because these cells are being held together in a matrix of desmosomes - basically a skin cell “glue” - and as they move to the surface, this “glue” becomes weaker. Enzymes in the skin and hair follicles accelerate this weakness and break the bonds of the desmosomes, freeing the cells to slough off.
As we age, this cellular “glue” becomes denser, kind of like old Elmer’s glue, and the sloughing off process becomes slower and less efficient. The resulting build-up of cell layers presents as dull, thick, poorly toned skin. Meanwhile, because the body isn’t shedding our old damaged cells efficiently, there’s limited room for new cells to develop. Also, since we rely on this process for detoxification, its impairment translates to a greater toxic burden for our whole system.
Luckily, we have the power to intervene with an exfoliation regimen. This is important not only for our facial skin, but our whole body, especially as it concerns the release of toxins.
There are two ways to exfoliate: mechanically or chemically. Mechanical exfoliation is the process of using a tool, like a brush or a sponge, or an abrasive substance, like salt, sugar, or oatmeal, to remove this layer of skin by scrubbing. There are also more intense mechanical exfoliators, like microdermabrasion, which is incredibly effective, but can cause skin irritation. This method uses suction to lift the skin while it is simultaneously buffed with tiny crystals to loosen and remove surface cells.
Chemical exfoliation employs enzymes and acids to break down the outermost skin and stimulate cell renewal. The enzymes “digest” proteins and are often derived from plants, such as papain from papaya and bromelain from pineapple. Some of the acids used include alpha hydroxy acids (AHA), like lactic acid or glycolic acid, and beta hydroxy acids (BHA) like salicylic acid, or retinol (vitamin A). They vary in terms of their qualities and strength.
Choosing an exfoliant for your face and body - which will be different, by the way - depends greatly on your skin type and sensitivity level. Consult with an esthetician for best results. My favorite body exfoliant is our Dragontree Exfoliating Spa Bar, because it is super easy to use and leaves my skin feeling baby soft. For my face I use Shankara’s Microcrystal Exfoliator, which is so effective that Peter and I both use it, and sometimes fight over it the last of it when we’re running low.
Make sure to exfoliate in a way that renews your skin and increases circulation without causing damage. If you over-exfoliate or use a product that is too harsh for your skin, you can cause micro-tears or chemical burns of your epidermis, which is obviously not what we’re going for. That’s why we don’t recommend nut or shell exfoliants that aren’t highly super refined so that they have an even, non-tearing edge.
When you exfoliate regularly you improve your skin’s appearance, feel, and texture as well as enhancing your circulation and detoxification processes - it’s a win, win, win, win, win. After removing this outer layer, it’s important to nourish your skin with a layer of high quality moisturizer. For your body we suggest our Dragontree Lotions, which have tons of herbs and nutrients to heal and replenish, or our Dragontree Massage Oil. For your face, the selection of moisturizer is more individual, so definitely see an esthetician to get the best recommendation for your unique skin.
Whether you’ve had perfect skin your whole life, like my sister, or you’ve struggled to keep your glow on, like me; and whether you’re a woman or a man (yes, you men need to exfoliate, too, if you want to age like George Clooney rather than Mickey Rourke), exfoliating needs to be part of your weekly routine. Two to three times a week should do you well.
In our Rituals for Living Challenge last week, we challenged people to try out skin brushing, which is an incredible option for body exfoliation. If you want the details on that - just sign up for our Challenge here and you’ll have access to all the past challenges and information, along with the next couple weeks of goodies.
In skin and in life, if it’s not serving you, remember to brush it off.
With love,
Briana and Everyone at The Dragontree
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We know that conflict is hard. But when we avoid it - nothing gets better.
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