Immune Boosting Skincare Tips
By Amy Lupton
Boost Your Immune System and keep that skin a glowin’!
I am ALWAYS multi-tasking. Being a business owner, homeschooling mom, and all the other things that are just life… anything that could save me 5-10 minutes… you have my attention. I am also looking for some me time (although some days the brief moments before I drift off to sleep are about the only me time I get).
“Kill two flies with one slap!” My grandma used to say…
This time of year, when the skin is dry and the immune system is challenged by all that’s going around, why not save some time boost your immune system while keeping your skin nice and glowy?? And bonus, have some self-care.
Immune-Boosting Beauty Hacks!
1. Dry Skin Brushing
Work it in right before you bathe. We love dry skin brushing, and all the wonderful benefits this small practice can bring. It is valuable for moving the lymphatic pathways, and keeping the skin firm and glow worthy!
“The Lymphatic System plays in integral role in the immune function of the body. It is the first line of defense against disease. This network of vessels and nodes transports and filters lymph fluid containing antibodies and lymphocytes (good) and bacteria (bad). The body’s first contact with these invaders signals the lymphatics, calling upon this system to orchestrate the way the infection-fighting cells prevent illness and diseases from invading microorganisms.”
Excerpt from : The Lymphatic System, by Lymphangiomatosis & Gorham’s Disease Alliance
It also exfoliates and brings increased circulation to the skin, thus helping in the renewal of skin cells. This is a wonderful thing in the winter especially, when dry skin needs a nourishing nudge.
Check out our blog for more benefits and free Dry Skin Brushing Guide.
2. Heat & Water Treatments (hot bath, steams & shower, sauna)
It’s no surprise that heat helps nourish the body and skin in the winter.
When you add botanicals into this mix, it can boost the immune system and keep the skin nourished. Here are our favorite ways to incorporate heat and water treatments into your routine:
Infared Sauna~ We love them, find them so important for health, and it is an investment for you. Read more about the benefits here, and explore our favorite sauna brand.
Epsom Salt Baths and Botanical Soaks are an easy, inexpensive way to nourish the body. The combinations are endless for illness, skin remedies, and adaptable for children of all ages. Check out our wide selection HERE.
Putting a few drops of Essential Oils in the shower can be highly beneficial for your skin and respiratory system. (Its always wise to have a filter for your shower to do away with chlorine and impurities that could be affecting your families health. Aquabliss is an effective brand). A list of some oils to use for this purpose would be lavender, lemon, eucalyptus & geranium (caution with babies and small children, pregnant women), frankincense, myrrh.
“If you have a chronic illness, it can be vital to protect your body from getting sick. A warm bath, sauna, or steam shower can help your blood flow more easily, as well as making it more oxygenated. This can work to kill bacteria and improve your body’s immunity. If you’re already sick, hot baths, saunas, or steam shower or treatments can help you fight off continued symptoms of a cold or flu. Congestion is caused by inflammation in your nasal passages, so these can get the blood vessels in your face and nose moving better and loosen any mucus blockages. Additionally, having an overall more relaxed nervous system can make your immune system healthier, so taking regular baths, saunas, or steam showers can help you reach optimal health.” ~Makewell Medical Center
3. Massage (boost with herbs or oils) and Scrubs
Touching and moving the skin has similar benefits to skin brushing and helping the lymphatic system (see above), as well as releasing lactic acid from sore muscles, refreshing blood to a sore area, and boosting collagen production in an area.
Facial Massage can really benefit in releasing tight jaws (which have a tendency to tense up when you’re stressed), even tighten areas that might be sagging (we love Jade rollers for this).
When you add herbs and oils and the exchange of human energy it can be magic! If you have someone close to you who can massage we say go for it, grab one of our Herbal Element Massage Oils and go to work relaxing and boost that immune system.
4. Herbal Teas
I like to say that anything can be solved with a cup of tea.
My husbands family is English, and thus drink tea everyday. It’s an act of slowing down, celebrating friends and family, and having a treat or two.
I love herbal tea for obvious reasons, because steeping herbs can be wonderful for immune health, supple skin, detox, emotional health… really the list is endless.
Herbal teas are inexpensive, and enter the body in a way that is gentle, yet effective. Some teas that I have on hand at all times include a mix of elderberry and echinacea (for winter woes), lemon balm, chamomile, yarrow, and peppermint. Check out our teas here:
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**I am not a medical doctor. This article is meant to inform but not prescribe, treat or otherwise, so by law I am required to tell you to always check with your physician before doing anything new to your body.