Natural Skin Care for Mature Skin

Guest post by Catherine Von Hatten

As we age, our skin changes and becomes thinner, more fragile, and more susceptible to bruising. I have found that many of the signs associated with maturing skin can be alleviated with natural products and making healthy choices.

• Drink lots of water. Medical professionals disagree on how much, but at least several glasses of water daily seems to be critical for most people’s well-being.  

• Exercise regularly. Again, this is an area where there is lots of disagreement about how much, but the general consensus is that to maintain our health (and healthy skin) we need at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily. Not only will this help us maintain healthy skin, but researchers are now telling us that this is the most effective way to keep our brains at peak performance

• Watch your diet. We all know we need lots of fruits and vegetables to stay healthy. They also provide the anti-oxidants and nutrients we need to keep our skin healthy.

• Be careful with the sun. Many of us “of a certain age” grew up worshipping the sun. We did not know better then, but we do now. We can’t undo that damage, but we can certainly take precautions to avoid additional sun damage. Wear protective clothing and avoid prolonged exposure. Sesame oil is a natural sunscreen, and coconut and olive oils provide some protection.

• Use essential oils. Fennel, Frankincense, Myrrh, Palmarosa, Patchouli, Rose, Rosemary, Rosewood, Sandalwood, and Ylang Ylang are known for warding off wrinkles and minimizing premature aging. Clary Sage, Elemi, Geranium, Helichrysum, Jasmine, Lemon, Neroli, Palmarosa, Peppermint, Rose, and Vetiver all have properties helpful for mature skin. Find a carrier oil that you like (jojoba, borage, for example) and try a few blends to find something that feels right for you.