It's easy to forget the importance of our skin because there's just so much of it to take care of. Keeping your skin moisturized and healthy is important considering how you treat yourself is reflected in the appearance of our skin. What you put on the outside of your skin is just as important as what you ingest into your system. The skin receives a third of the nutrients streaming through the blood system. This includes all the toxins from what we inhale like cigarettes along with all the antioxidants from what we drink like tea. Make sure to drink plenty of water to keep that skin of yours hydrated. We all love to party, but try to avoid the consumption of too much alcohol because it can work to dehydrate your skin and depletes the body and brain of the much needed Vitamin B complex.

Remember you're working with sensitive equipment so you should treat your body accordingly. You only have one set of skin so be nice to it. There are invasive and unnatural ways to gain a radiant complexion, but don't assume that the age defying creams and caking on makeup will always help. You should check to make sure your makeup is non-comedogenic. Wearing makeup after a day of sweating, wiping your brow, or leaning on your hands pushes the makeup into your pours and can actually add to skin problems like acne. This also raises the importance of avoiding touching your face too frequently considering the friction of your fingertips can harm the skin on your face. This doesn't just apply to your face. After you exercise, you should shower or at least wipe your skin down immediately to keep your skin follicles from absorbing too much oil and sweat.

The best thing you can do is stick to the basics, like eating natural foods with less added preservatives, and a balanced diet. Why do we eat foods that only taste good, but have no added nutrients? It doesn't make sense when you consider that we should eat to replenish our bodies, not for a momentary release of endorphins like the consumption of a candy bar or doughnut. Keep your skin on the outside moisturized with vitamin enriched lotion and take vitamin supplements to help the inside. Also, make note that these vitamin and mineral supplements are meant to assist your natural diet not replace it. You still need to consume the proper amount of water, vegetables, fruits, proteins, essential fatty acids, and carbohydrates. I listed three recipes that can contribute to the care of your skin. Some "Health"ful tips can be found in the book "Naturally Healthy Skin: Tips and Techniques for a lifetime of Radiant Skin" by Stephanie Tourles.

Tourles, Stephanie, 1962 Naturally Healthy Skin: Tipes and Techniques for a Lifetime of Radiant Skin. Pownal, Vermont: Schoolhouse Road 1999.

Fredericksburg Herb Farm: www.fredericksburgherbfarm.com