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.
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
to find out more about this book go to
http://www.susunweed.com/WiseWomanHerbals.htm#hw
websites: www.wisewomanbookshop.com / www.wisewomanbookshop.com