What is natural beauty?
It is that mysterious, glamorous, indefinable or unexplainable
magnetic quality to the way we look, feel, behave and communicate.
This simply means to be human on all levels: physical, psychological
and spiritual. In other words, natural beauty is feeling good
all over, from within as well as from outside. It means having
a clear mind, a sense of inner peace and a feeling of purpose,
i.e., feeling good from within. It also means, having a beautiful
face, shiny hair, flexible hands and body, movement, proper
interaction and reaction, sharp senses and existence which
all means feeling good on the outside. Having all of this
is simply having natural beauty.
So,
contrary to what some people believe, natural beauty is not
only about applying ravishing red lipstick or a lovely dark-brown
mascara; nor about showing smooth, tanned skin that is extremely
desirable, but it is about all this and more.
Natural beauty is therefore about striking a balance between
internal health (nurturing the body, the soul and the mind)
and external beauty (preserving/beautifying the skin of the
face and the body).
How should you care for your skin?
The same way you care about your precious positions: with
all sincerity, gentle care and love. Taking care of the skin
involves following these steps:
First: selecting the highest-quality skin
care products and cosmetics that include different natural,
fresh, pure and organic plants such as fruits, vegetables,
herbs, flowers, extracts, oils, seed extracts, biological
substances (such as marine elements), humectants, anti-aging
nutrients, cellular substances, natural fragrances, etc.
We should realize that today cosmetic research takes full
advantage of the latest scientific breakthroughs and the most
advanced technologies. However, natural raw materials still
play the leading role in ensuring top-quality products.
Second: maintaining the skin's integrity
and function by following a regular skin care program that
keeps the skin well nourished, hydrated, balanced and rejuvenated.
Getting regular facials by professional skin care personnel
will enhance home care and maintain the skin's radiance, youthfulness,
resilience and optimum performance.
Third: protecting the skin from the harmful
sunrays and from other environmental elements, is essential
for achieving a state of naturally beautiful, holistic skin.
Keep in mind these rules:
Do not take your skin for granted, thinking it will continue
looking and behaving the same. Instead, pamper it, gently
clean it, tone it, moisturize it and always protect it from
the sun and the harsh elements.
Use only the best, safest, most natural and most appropriate
products for your skin type, skin condition and skin problems,
if any.
Do not look for cheap products thinking you are saving yourself
money, you will be losing much more in the long run- your
beauty and your looks.
Do not abuse your skin with wrong food, wrong cosmetics or
wrong lifestyle. Instead embrace it with clean environment
and nourishing ingredients.
Follow the specific precautions, steps and instructions of
each product, application or skin treatment to ensure lasting
results.
What are the main steps
that lead to holistic skin?
Beauty can not be achieved by following only
one procedure, or by using one product or by applying certain
cosmetics to one's face. Beauty is a process that needs to be
adhered to and respected at all times and all seasons. There
is no single procedure or one cream that can do everything for
everyone.
Therefore, all the skin care treatments and all the money
in the world cannot replace what you must do for your skin
every day at your home, where skin care and holistic beauty
really begins.
To achieve ultimate external beauty we must commit to a sound
and proper skin care program. However, for this program to
deliver wonderful results, it should be based on the following
five main steps:
1. Cleaning: It involves keeping
the skin clean, fresh and free of breakouts or blemish-causing
bacteria.
2. Correction: It involves
reversing or balancing the damaging effects of aging (chronological
and photoaging). The use of high-quality, anti-aging preparations
and treatments that dramatically improve the skin's appearance
is emphasized.
3. Renewal: It involves providing
the skin with beneficial and re-generative treatments that aim
at epidermal peeling and cellular nourishment.
4. Protection: It involves
following certain procedures that keep the skin protected from
harmful external environmental elements (pollution, dirt, radiation,
noise, accidents, other invading organisms, etc.).
5. Beautifying: It involves
using cosmetics and makeup products that are made of high-quality,
natural, botanical and safe ingredients to make the skin beautiful
in an aesthetically appealing way.
Regular maintenance of the skin, through daily
or periodical treatments, is imperative for the success of any
skin care program. So, whether you are taking care of your eyes,
lips, hair, hands, legs, face or whole body, the same steps
apply. The type and condition of the skin, as well as any special
needs, should be considered in the skin care program to guarantee
satisfactory results.
What are the basics
for healthy hair care?
Having beautiful, healthy hair is not impossible;
all what you have to do is to keep in mind some of the basic
principles of hair care.
For example:
Think of your scalp first. Do not forget that a healthy scalp
is the basis for healthy hair.
Learn about the nature of your scalp and your hair with the
help of a hair or a skin consultant.
At the time of any hair-care treatment, repeat the following
three fundamental steps at least once a week:
1. Prepare the scalp.
2. Treat any specific conditions.
3. Cleanse the scalp and the hair properly.
Don't forget the massaging techniques for the scalp. Doing
them for one minute a day is sufficient.
Brush hair daily; for example, before going to bed, to remove
impurities such as dust and dead cells.
Remember that the appearance of your hair depends greatly
on your general health. This means that leading a calm and
sensible lifestyle that includes breathing plenty of fresh
air and eating a healthy diet can benefit not only your whole
body, but also the health of your hair.
Always seek the advice of a professional health practitioner
in choosing your hair products. Also, try to avoid the use
of harsh detergents and chemicals on your hair and choose,
instead, "natural" hair products that keep the hair
healthy and nourished without stripping it of its color or
glossy shine. Such natural hair products are known to contain
extracts of botanicals and herbs that offer the hair and the
scalp high conditioning and protecting properties. They also
restore life and luster to the hair as they protect the follicles
from the harsh external elements.
Use the prescribed products regularly to benefit from their
optimum effectiveness.
Do not give up on your hair, because there is always help.
Keep in mind that hair care starts from the inside out, internally
through good nutrition, and externally by applying holistic
hair-care treatments and by utilizing high-quality products.
Excerpts from the book “Holistic
skin is...in”
By: Dalia Santina, Ph.D.
About the author:
Dalia Santina, Ph.D., is a dedicated international
author, licensed aesthetician, nutrition consultant, aromatherapist
and iridologist. She earned her doctorate in Holistic Nutrition
from the Clayton College of natural health, with an emphasis on
natural healing therapies. In keeping with her major interests
in nutrition/beauty research and education, Dr. Santina was awarded
numerous training diplomas and certificates from leading American
and European aesthetic schools and cosmetic companies. Her many
years of experience in running her successful skin-care business
"Dalia's Skin Club", led to the publication of her two
books "Holistic skin is…IN" and "Super Supplements
for skin, body & mind". Other books on related issues
are to be published in the near future. Through her well-received
seminars, Dr. Santina updates both, the public and professionals
(skin/hair/nail) on the very latest in nutrition and aesthetics.
Dr. Santina has been a welcome guest on KDOCTV. She has also been
featured in some of the most prestigious skin care and fashion
publications including Skin Inc., and Dermascope magazines. Dr.
Dalia Santina is listed in Marquis Who’s Who for the year
2002.
Excerpt from Susun Weed's Healing
Wise
Stinging Nettle Hair Tonic
Thickens hair texture, helps eliminate dandruff, aids in
preventing hair
loss during chemotherapy and in restoring hair growth afterwards.
1/2 oz. dried nettle*
2 cups boiling water
1 Tbs. nettle root tincture
* leaf, stalk, and/or seed
Pour boiling water over nettle in jar, cover tightly and
let sit overnight. Next morning, strain into a plastic bottle,
and add tincture (optional). Keeps only a day or two. Use
as a final rinse after shampoo and conditioner, leaving
it in hair
Nettle Hair Lotion
Mild enough for everyday use.
To use: Pour a handful of nettle lotion on wet hair after shampooing.
Rub in well. For best results, don't rinse.
4 oz. fresh nettle or
1 oz. dried nettle
4 cups water
1/4 cup vinegar
3 drops rosemary or
3 drops lavender oil
Prepare infusion (see below) of nettle. Strain out plant material.
Add oil and vinegar to infusion. Keep in refrigerator between
uses.
Nettle Infusion: Place 1 oz. dried nettle into a quart/liter
jar. Fill the jar to the top with boiling water, put the lid
on and let it steep for at least four hours at room temperature.
Nettle Hair Rescue
To use: warm a teaspoon of oil and massage into scalp. Leave
on overnight; wash out in the morning.
Finish with nettle hair lotion or tonic. Repeat weekly or as
needed.
1 entire nettle plant:
leaves, stalks, seeds, root
2 cups oil (almond or olive)
Wash roots only of fresh harvested nettle. Snip entire plant
into small pieces with scissors. Fill a jar with the pieces.
Pour as much oil as possible into the nettle jar, poking and
shaking to dislodge air bubbles. Steep in the closed jar for
an entire moon cycle. Remove plant material.
The
3 nettle recipes above are from Susun Weed's Healing
Wise
Wise
Woman Herbal Series
Item Price:$ 62.00 (plus shipping)
Get all four of Susun S. Weed's best-selling herbal medicine
books together and save 20%. The Wise Woman Herbal Series includes:
~ New Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way (for
Women 30-90)
~ Breast Cancer? Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way
~ Healing Wise
~ Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year
(now in its 30th printing)
Click
here to order by credit card
Click
here to read more about Susun Weed's Wise Woman books