Guest Post by Rachael Pontillo of Create Your Skin Care
There are many reasons for new moms to be tired and not feel their best after having a baby, whether it’s their first or fifth. Obviously lack of sleep and stress plays a big part, but increased hormone activity is also largely responsible as it affects emotions and also uses a lot of the body’s energy in an effort to return to ‘normal.’ Another way heightened hormones affect new moms is by releasing more toxins–endotoxins–into the body, which can be very taxing for the liver, lymphatic system, and other detoxifying organs, such as the skin.
It’s common to experience breakouts, rashes, rosacea flare-ups, eczema, and other unpleasant skin eruptions during this time, and one of the biggest reasons for this is that the subcutaneous fat layer, which lies just beneath the skin, acts as a storage facility for any toxins that aren’t eliminated from the body through other means (bowel, lungs, etc). The skin, being a detoxifying organ itself, then attempts to excrete these toxins which often causes skin issues.
The good news is that there’s a lot you can do topically to help the skin do its job. While certain means of detoxification aren’t appropriate for postpartum and breastfeeding moms, something you can do is make sure the exit pathways in the skin are clear, and help draw toxins through the skin by using a gentle DIY body scrub, made with ingredients that have the ability to help draw toxins out of the body via the skin.
A great body scrub not only sloughs off dead skin cells, it also helps the skin release toxins and re-introduces skin-healthy nutrients for glowing, smooth, firm-looking skin. This simple recipe uses some of the ingredients found in the traditional home remedy, Black Drawing Salve, and helps draw toxins out through the skin as it gently sloughs off dead cells and polishes the skin. It also infuses the skin with antioxidants and essential fatty acids.
Postpartum Detox Body Scrub Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 part pink Himalayan salt (salt draws out toxins through the skin and also has anti-inflammatory effects, while replenishing trace minerals)
- 1 part organic sugar (sugar assists with gentle exfoliation and causes less irritation than just using salt)
- 1 part olive oil (nourishes the skin with antioxidants and essential fatty acids)
- 1 part castor oil (also helps draw out toxins from the body)
- OPTIONAL: 1 part activated charcoal (has strong drawing properties)
Instructions:
Mix all ingredients together. Moisten and soften the skin in a steamy shower. Turn off the shower and apply the scrub generously to the body in gentle, circular motions until the salt and sugar dissolve. Turn the shower back on and rinse thoroughly. Gently pat dry.
This can be made ahead of time and stored in a closed container, away from heat, moisture, and light and can be used daily. Don't store it in the shower–only bring what you intend to use for that single treatment to the shower with you–otherwise you risk contamination.
If you're interested in learning more about creating your own custom skin care products that are safe and free of harmful chemicals, visit me HERE and watch my free video.
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