You wear sunscreen every day, exfoliate regularly, and never go to sleep with your makeup on. Still seeing troubled skin? It’s true: some healthy skin habits are too much of a good thing.

Taking good care of your skin and using healthy products is key in maintaining beautiful skin. But overdoing it can damage skin, cause irritation and blemishes, and speed up aging.

Let’s take a look at the top healthy skin care habits women tend to overdo.

6 Healthy Skin Habits You May Be ODing On

1. Over-cleansing: Didn’t know you could get skin too clean? Using a foaming cleanser has definite benefits, but using this product on skin that is dry or sensitive leads to dryness, irritation, and even breakouts. Curb your sudsing by washing skin only when it actually needs it (post workout, when it feels greasy…) and use a cream or oil cleanser the rest of the time.

2. Over-exfoliating: Another skin care technique that tends to get overused is exfoliation. We’ve all heard that this step helps with acne, and keeps skin fresh and glowing. More than once per week (twice if skin is not sensitive) is overkill, and can irritate and damage skin. The best way to exfoliate the face is with non-abrasive fruit acids, which remove dead cells without abrasive granules.

3. Using the wrong healthy skincare: Yes, going nontoxic with your skincare is the healthiest choice. But if you are using skincare that is wrong for your skin type it can be causing problems. If you are experiencing dryness, zits, irritation, or excessive oiliness, chances are you are using the wrong skin care products. Choose skin care designed for your skin type.

4. Going oil-free: For those who battle oily skin, steering clear of excess oil is essential in keeping the complexion clear. But did you know drying out the skin leads to breakouts too? That dry, flaky layer traps the oil your skin creates naturally and causes pimples. Choose products made with healthy natural oils that are formulated for oily and acne prone skin types, and skip the super drying potions.

5. Sticking with your tried and true: So you’ve found the skin care products you love and they love your skin right back. Great! Do you find they don’t work quite as well some months as others? To keep skin balanced and happy year ‘round, switch up your routine for the seasons. It doesn’t have to be a drastic overhaul, but a bit more moisture in the winter and lighter products in summer make all the difference.

6. Using chemical sunscreen: Wear sunscreen daily. We’ve all heard this precaution a thousand times. And you are applying your moisturizer with SPF every day like a good girl. But if that product is made with nasty chemical sunscreens you are doing more harm than good. Opt for a safe mineral sunscreen for face. You can even use a tinted moisturizer and ditch your foundation.

Related on EcoSalon:

Are Your pH Levels Causing Acne or Wrinkles?

Why Fruit Oils Are Your Skin’s New Jam

6 Microbead-Free Exfoliating Body Scrubs for Rough Winter Skin

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You are supposed to have dry skin in winter, right? If you are experiencing extra oily skin in the dry season, it may be due to your beauty regimen. Let’s see what we can do about that.

Those with oily skin are usually on the lookout to manage oil production and ward off breakouts. Products that help with this can be overly drying, as can different skin care techniques that target oily skin.

Isn’t drying supposed to be a good thing where oily skin is concerned? Not exactly. Skin that is too dry actually produces even more oil in an attempt to compensate for moisture loss. This is the most common reason people see excess oil.

6 Possible Reasons for Extra Oily Skin in Winter

1. Using drying products. As I said above, skin care products that are meant to be drying can cause skin to produce excess oil. The key is to balance oil production, not strip the skin of necessary oils. Steer clear of the harsh acne treatments and drying lotions for now, and see if skin comes back into balance.

2. Over cleansing. It is not uncommon for those dealing with oily skin to over cleanse. If you are seeing breakouts, redness, irritation, or flakiness, you are likely over cleansing. The remedy? Use a more gentle cleanser when skin isn’t actually dirty, say in the morning, or skip the cleanser and use a swipe of hydrating toner instead.

3. Over exfoliation. Another common blunder, over-exfoliating can cause skin to become too dry and oil production to ramp up. Strive for once to twice weekly exfoliation with a gentle product. Fruit acids are effective and non-abrasive.

4. Going with the flow. Just because a thick cream or oil cleanser works for your coworker or roommate, doesn’t mean it is right for you. If you truly have an oily skin type, it may be best to stick with a gentle foaming cleanser and lighter moisturizer even in winter months.

5. Too many tools. Those brushes and mitts that make skin look great in summer months can be too harsh for more delicate wintertime skin. Skip these for now and give your skin a break.

6. Hitting the tanning beds. Aside from the obvious health concerns, tanning dries the skin, causing it to become more oily in the long run. Looking for a bit of color through winter? Opt for a healthy sunless tanner instead.

Perfect Products for Oily Winter Skin

One Love Organics Easy Does It Cleanser

Kahina Giving Beauty Antioxidant Mask

Josh Rosebrook Nutrient Day Cream with SPF 30

True Natural Perfect Tan Face – Self Tanner & Moisturizer 2-in-1

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

Related on EcoSalon:

Why Fruit Oils are Your Skin’s New Jam

The 6 Best Hand Creams to Combat Extremely Dry Skin

How to Wash Your Face: Are You Doing It All Wrong?

Woman with oily skin via Shutterstock

The post 6 Possible Reasons Why You’ve Got Extra Oily Skin appeared first on EcoSalon.

You’ve heard by now that face oils benefit all skin types, right? If you are still having trouble jumping on the skin oils band wagon, it’s time to take a look at one of your favorite food groups. Yep, fruit oils are a beauty bounty.

Those of us with dry skin have been neck deep in facial oils for some time now. But if the idea of applying oil to your not-at-all-dry skin still seems like a complete mistake, you are going to love this news. Fruit oils offer something for every skin type.

Oil extracted from seasonal and exotic fruits holds amazing beauty benefits. They have the ability to balance oils, moisturize, fire up a healthy glow, prevent premature aging, and ease inflammation. See, something for everyone.

The key in using fruit oils effectively is choosing the right ones for your skin type. Let’s take a look at the best fruit oils for skin and which ones are about to become your new jam.

Fruit Oils for Acne/Oily Skin

Passionfruit oil is anti-inflammatory, fights redness and irritation, and prevents blemishes. Watermelon seed oil is amazingly non-greasy while hydrating skin, super gentle, detoxifying, and calms irritation and breakouts. Schisandra fruit oil rids skin of impurities, protects against UVB damage, and brings a glow to skin.

Osmia Organics Facial Calibration Serum contains schisandra fruit oil and helps to balance oil production. Mix with your daily moisturizer for acne fighting benefits. Even though my skin is not oily, this stuff gave it an other-worldly radiance. Perfect for daytime use.

Organic Bath Co. Enhance Face Oil is chock full of every fruit oil you’d ever want to use. This beautiful combo heals while preventing breakouts, is oh so smooth, and smells divine. Love!

Fruit Oils for Dry/Mature Skin

Cranberry seed oil hydrates and helps skin to hold in moisture, and is high in omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids. Blackberry seed oil is rich in vitamin C, brightens, boosts elasticity, and gives a glow to skin. Apricot kernel oil is rich in fatty acids, contains vitamins A, C, and E, antioxidants, and feels light on skin. Acai berry oil is a super anti-ager, protects against UV and free radical damage, and reduces inflammation.

Kypris Beauty Elixir I – 1,000 Roses contains cranberry seed oil and is said to deliver rose petal soft skin.

The main ingredient in Odacite Acai Rose Serum Concentrate is acai fruit oil. A great way to get some anti-aging power to skin.

Hana Organics Rouge Lip + Cheek Tint is a plum-hued, apricot oil infused pot of dreaminess. What looks like imperceptible color on fingertips, brings face alive. There is a time and place for intense, creamy color, but this sheer, fall-flush enhancer is the bomb for the season.

Fruit Oils for Sensitive Skin

Red Raspberry softens, calms inflammation, and contains some incidental UV protection. Pomegranate seed oil soothes, hydrates, and doesn’t leave skin greasy or shiny.

Use Metta Skincare Face Balm, with pomegranate and red raspberry oils, to hydrate, soften, and calm upset skin.

Weleda Pomegranate Regenerating Body Oil delivers soothing softness to skin, while protecting against environmental damage.

The pick of the crop for your skin type. Get in on the goodness of fruit oils.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

Related on EcoSalon

Are Your pH Levels Causing Acne or Wrinkles?

How to Get Rid of Acne Scars With Natural Remedies

Healthy Sunscreen Ingredients: What You Want in an SPF

Image of woman with watermelon via Shutterstock

The post Why Fruit Oils Are Your Skin’s New Jam appeared first on EcoSalon.

Seems simple enough, right? Get it clean and the job is done. Not so much. Do you know how to wash your face for best results?

You may be surprised to learn that your skin issues could be chalked up to improper cleansing. That’s right, mistakes in the product or method you use can cause acne, irritation, congestion, dryness, oiliness, uneven tone, flakiness…you get the picture.

So, what’s the right way to go about cleansing the face? The best first step is selecting the right cleanser for your skin. Most skincare products are formulated to suit a particular skin type. If you are unclear on your skin type, here’s a snapshot.

Another cause of imbalance is the use of chemical cleansers. Many women believe they have highly sensitive skin and realize, once they switch to natural skincare, that it was the chemicals causing upset. And did you know that chemical acne washes can actually cause acne? The harsh ingredients dry skin out, causing a flaky top layer that traps oil and causes breakouts.

Cleansers made with natural ingredients clean the skin, remove makeup, and balance oil production without stripping the skin of natural oils. Avoid products made with Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). These ingredients are behind that luscious foam you get from conventional cleansers, but are linked to health issues and may contain harmful contaminants.

For Normal/Combination Skin Types // Those with this skin type enjoy naturally balanced skin, for the most part. A light cream cleanser works well. For excess oiliness or breakouts, try using using a blemish-control cleanser in the T-zone to avoid causing dryness on cheeks and neck.

For Oily/Acne Prone Skin Types // An antiseptic cleanser helps to keep pores clear and eliminate bacteria from skin. Be sure you are not over cleansing with a too-harsh product in an attempt to combat breakouts. Using a gentle cleanser designed to balance oil should do the trick.

For Dry/Mature Skin Types // These are actually separate skin types, but are often lumped together because mature skin tends to need extra moisture. Dry skin does well with cleansing oils and balms. Have you tried the oil cleansing method? If not, give it a shot. Plumps skin and reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

For Sensitive Skin // If your skin tends to be easily upset be sure to use a cleanser designed for sensitive skin. Products free from fragrance ingredients are best for reactive skin. And if your skin isn’t dirty, don’t wash it. Over-cleansing or exfoliating can induce irritation. It is important to go to bed with clean skin, but you may be able to skip that morning cleanse if you don’t truly need it.

Now you know how to wash your face for max benefits. Here are our natural cleanser picks for each skin type:

May Lindstrom Skin The Clean Dirt

Lavera Basis Cleansing Milk

Tata Harper Purifying Cleanser

Kahina Giving Beauty Facial Cleanser

Pai Camilla & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser

One Love Organics Chia Whip Purifying Foam Cleanser

Related on EcoSalon

5 Breakout-Banishing All Natural Remedies for Acne

How to Get Rid of Acne Scars with Natural Remedies

9 Ways to Wash Your Delicates without Dry Cleaning

Image of woman washing face via Shutterstock

The post How to Wash Your Face: Are You Doing It All Wrong? appeared first on EcoSalon.

Your phone starts ringing loud enough to wake the dead. Despite the intense collection of rocks stationed on your forehead, you reach out and silence the noise. Sure, you silence it by throwing your phone into a laundry pile which you will frantically tear into later, searching for your phone. Then you turn your aching eyeballs to your nightstand, where a full glass of water sits within reach. It mocks you like the vodka you kicked back just a few hours before. That’s when you realize with the regret of a thousand tequila shots: the hangover has cometh.

From the occasional imbiber to the hard-partying, most of us who partake in the spirits have gone a tad overboard at one point or another. And what comes next is, shall we say, not pretty. Putting all unpleasant bodily feelings and functions aside for Web MD, let’s talk about what our face is doing. (Besides vomiting. Thanks, Web MD.)

Hangover face, like ex-boyfriends or bedbugs, manifests in different ways. Some of us have dry, papery, wrinkly skin around the eyes which are simultaneously puffy and dark-ringed. Others wake up coated in a grease slick to rival a mechanic’s garage floor. How best to fix hangover face? Here are a five solutions to feel better.

1. Puffy eyes and dark circles, ahoy!
For some, a night of drinking results in a curious morning mask, and I’m not talking about the one you wish you were wearing during your walk of shame. Puffy eyes or dark circles make an appearance, sometimes delightfully conspiring to do so at the same time.

For puffy eyes, or fluid trapped under your eyeballs, consider this home remedy. Grab two organic tea bags, steep in hot water, and let them cool. (If you know thyself and thy drinking habits, consider having steeped tea bags on standby.)

Then spend a few minutes relaxing with them over your eyes. Black tea is great for caffeine, which can reduce redness by restricting blood vessels. Herbal tea, like chamomile, works well to sooth redness and inflammation. Both often contain tannins, which help get the blood flowing.

You can also considering a product like Yon-Ka Phyto-Contour ($47.00), containing 94 percent natural ingredients. It offers rosemary extracts to help reduces puffiness and dark circles. Gently massage this fragrant cream below your eyes with your fingertips.

2. When your morning glow outshines the sun.
Hangover face can involve waking up with skin so oily it looks like it should have a congressional hearing to determine who is at fault. (Also see: sleeping in your makeup.) With sebum production in overdrive, consider a gentle, natural cleanser to restore your face to normal. Avoid harsh exfoliates or anything too stripping, as your body is already focused on hydrating and healing.

A great gentle cleanser to consider is John Master Organics Linden Blossom Face Cream ($22). Made with some certified organic ingredients, it contains soothing aloe vera and rose water.

3. Your skin is red and blotchy.
Another unfortunate side effect of alcohol can be red and/or blotchy skin, similar to the look of rosacea. Since alcohol causes the blood to flow closer to the skin, expanding small capillaries and already-visible veins, you make look as if your lipstick has traveled up over your nose and cheeks. It’s especially common in the fair-hued, which is why the Irish call it “drinker’s nose.”

Aloe vera is a great soother for red and inflamed skin. If you have some pure aloe vera, massage some into your face. You can also consider this Soothing Serum from Juice Beauty ($36.00). Containing organic aloe vera and white grape juice, this product contains certified organic ingredients.

4. Water, water everywhere—especially on your face.
Your parched throat isn’t the only part of your body screaming for water after a night of drinking. Your dry skin might look like it has been hanging out on a clothes line in the dead of winter. Hopefully you remember to down at least one glass of water before you collapsed into bed the night before. If not, drink up. You need to rehydrate on every level, and the free stuff coming out of your faucet is your best bet.

Also, be sure to spritz. I’m an established groupie of Thayer’s Rose Petal Alcohol-Free Toner ($9.95), which I keep in a water spritzer by my sink. This product contains tannins of witch hazel and offers an immediate, protective layer on your skin. And the best part? You don’t even have to raise your head if you have it stashed by your bedside. Which is a plus when your brain feels like it’s made of bowling balls.

5. Moisturize and moisturize.
Last, but certain not least, be sure to treat your face to a repairing moisturizer. Yes, you aptly tended to your insides with many glasses of H20. But once you’re up and about, previous drinks now a fading memory, remember to thank your skin for putting up with your shenanigans.

Take this time to indulge in your favorite moisturizer. You can also consider the Herbal Hydration Complex ($47.00) from Farmaesthetics. Made with organic shea butter and witch hazel, it’s a cooling mask designed to quench your skin in moisture while calming irritated skin.

photo credit: sidewalk flying via photopin cc,  Svadilfari via photopin cc

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It would be grand to just roll out of bed every morning looking glamorous and fresh, but the truth is that it takes a little work. Here are eight easy and eco-friendly tricks for dealing with some of the most frustrating beauty predicaments without going the high-maintenance route.

Tired Eyes
Everybody knows about sliced cucumbers, but I recently discovered a more effective method. Steep a couple of green tea bags, put them in the refrigerator until they’re cool and place them over your eyes.

Blemishes
Apply a touch of toothpaste overnight and dab blemishes with lemon juice before putting on makeup in the morning.

Oily Skin
If you start your morning off with a hot bowl of oatmeal, this one’s a cinch. Let your leftovers cool, mix in a little bit of honey and apply this homemade mask to your face. Leave it on for five minutes and rinse.

Dull Hair
Next time you pop the bubbly, save a glass of champagne to rinse through your hair for brighter locks.

Bad Breath
Add several drops of lemon juice to that reusable water bottle you carry around all day. When your mouth feels stale, just take a swig and swish. Bad breath bacteria don’t stand a chance against the acid present in lemon juice.

Wet Nails
Who has the time to wait for nail polish to dry, especially after a couple of coats? Dipping them into ice cold water will speed up the process.

Chapped Lips
Lip balm may moisturize, but it doesn’t get rid of dead skin cells. Make your own exfoliating scrub by blending a bit of honey with coffee grounds and massage the mixture onto your lips.

Dandruff
Mix several teaspoons of vinegar with water and massage into your scalp. Wrap your hair in a towel and leave it in your hair overnight. Repeat the process weekly for the best results.

For more beauty suggestions, check out Katherine’s picks for the best organic skin toners, shampoos and sunscreens.

Each week here at EcoSalon, the editors choose a post from the archives that we think you’ll love. This original post can be found here.

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