Wouldn't you love to have blemish-free, baby-smooth, sensational skin?  The kind of skin that does not even need make-up?  I am here to tell you that it is indeed possible. 

I used to have pretty bad skin:  acne, even as an adult….red splotchy areas…too oily….too dry….never right. 

Once I started eating healthier, I began to see changes in my skin, and I admit that vanity then became a strong motivator to eat healthy.  Now I get comments regularly on how nice my skin looks.  I learned that good health not only affects how your body functions on the inside, but also what it looks like on the outside.  Hair, skin, nails, eyes, teeth, muscle tone, etc.. are all affected by what we eat.  Because the skin is the body's largest organ, you will see the effect of your dietary choices when you look in the mirror each day. 

The truth is that you do not need to spend money on expensive skincare products, like advertisements lead you to believe, to have beautiful, flawless skin.  In fact, the way to achieve radiant skin may surprise you. 

So, without further ado, here are my top five secrets for sensational skin:

• An organic, mostly raw food diet.   Why?  What goes on on the inside of your body, will show up on the outside of your body.   If you eat processed food, fried food, or junk food, your body will become toxic from the chemical preservatives and additives, and your digestive tract will not work optimally.   Constipation and poor digestion can result, which can lead to unhealthy skin, because waste that should be eliminated is being retained in the colon.   Constipation leads to a host of health problems as well as poor quality skin.  We put so much effort into cleaning the outside of our body, but what about the inside?  Raw, fresh, unprocessed foods, just as nature provides them, will enable your body to be healthy on the inside, as well as the outside.

• Natural soaps, shampoos, and skincare.  Why?  Your skin is not an impervious barrier.  Whatever you put on your skin goes right into your bloodstream.  Most skincare products contain a host of unpronounceable chemicals that can hinder our skin from being healthy.  My personal rule of thumb is that anything I put on my skin has to be so natural that it is practically edible!  Most soaps are actually detergents that are too harsh for the skin, and strip the skin too much of its natural oils.  I prefer handmade soap that is mild and non-drying, yet still gets the job done.   Another secret is that I do not use soap on my face unless absolutely necessary.  Hot water and a washcloth is all that is necessary, unless I am removing make up or some serious dirt!

• Raw apple cider vinegar.  Why?  Our skin naturally has an acidic pH.  Using soap, which is alkaline, will leave our skin alkaline, which makes it prone to get dry, flaky, itchy, etc…  So, after bathing,  splash or spray on some apple cider vinegar that has been diluted with water ( 1 part vinegar to 3-4 parts water) as a final rinse for your skin.  This puts an acid pH back on the skin, and prevents dryness, itching, and other things that cause most people to reach for lotions and potions.  Raw apple cider vinegar will give your skin a nice, rosy glow and can even reverse aging skin:  liver spots, wrinkles, and more!  Don't be concerned about the smelling like a salad for very long…once it dries, the vinegar smell goes away. 

• Exfoliate your skin.  Why?  When you exfoliate your skin with a scrub or facial, you remove dead skin cells, help improve the skin's circulation, and rejuvenate your skin.  You can use a loofa sponge, a scrub, or my favorite exfoliating shower towel.  I make my own facial mask with natural ingredients such as white clay, ground almonds, and some other natural ingredients.  I take a couple of teaspoons, mix it with some water to form a paste, and gently massage it onto my face.  Then I rinse with warm water.  Your skin should be exfoliated a minimum of once a week for best results.

• Far-infrared Sauna.  Why?  This is my favorite skin secret because it is like the fountain of youth for the skin.  It reverses the effects of aging, smooths away wrinkles, and gives a youthful appearance and rosy glow to the skin.  The sauna works by removing toxins from the body through the skin.  Far-Infrared waves penetrate to the deeper layers of the skin and assist cell replacement and deep cleansing of your skin. You will be amazed by your glowing radiant skin. The increased blood circulation encourages a healthy flow of nutrients to your skin that helps relieve acne, aging skin, eczema, and psoriasis.  The regular use of a sauna is necessary to get the full benefits: using a far-infrared sauna one to two times a week is ideal. 

Do you have any natural skin secrets that you want to share?

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Becky Mauldin, N.D. is a Naturopath, teacher, speaker, and author.  She has authored two gluten-free cookbooks, Vibrant Health and Recipes for Life. Her story of recovery from an incurable illness has inspired many people around the world. She is known for making a healthy diet achievable for real people and real life.

Connect with her on Facebook and let her know what you think of this post. 

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This post is linked to:

• Friday Favorites at Simply Sweet Home
• Fight Back Friday at the Food Renegade
• Fresh Bites Friday at Real Food Whole Health
• Freaky Friday at Real Food Freaks
• Sunday School Blog Carnival at Butter Believer
• Frugal Days Sustainable Ways at Frugally Sustainable
• Welcome Wednesday at Take it From Me