Organic Skin Care Products From Around the World

The proverbial Fountain of Youth symbolizes mankind’s never-ending quest to look young and alive. An influx of barrier creams, lotions and other cosmetic products on the market is indicative of this. Plastic surgery, botox, dietary supplements and health clubs lure people in with promises of vitality and youth. The true bane of youthfulness is the age when dry skin and wrinkles begin to appear. Frantically we seek out and purchase every brand of lotion, barrier cream, or moisturizer that promises us youthful, wrinkle-free skin. But in our quest, we often stick to what we “know” and ignore anything we can’t find on the shelves at our local Walmart or pharmacy. Over the past few years, however, many people have begun to realize the benefits of organic skin care products from other countries – natural dry skin care cleansing and masque ingredients from cultures known for their beautiful skin. I’ve outlined some of these products below.

• In the Philippines, the choice is the coconut. Used directly on the skin, coconut oil helps control skin diseases with its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, reduces the symptoms of psoriasis and eczema, helps prevent sagging, wrinkles and age spots and relieves flaky, dry skin. Choose a natural soap containing coconut oil and little else, or simply cleanse with the oil itself.

• Native to Australia is emu oil – rendered from the fat of the Emu bird. Used for centuries by aborigines to treat bruises, burns, and wounds, emu oil has now found its way to America. It can reduce acne scarring and help heal dry skin. Another great thing about emu oil is its ability to help the absorption of other nutrients through the skin. Mixing emu oil with L-ascorbic acid and water makes a great masque with all the benefits of both emu oil and vitamin C.

• In Africa, one of the most popular foods is the pumpkin. High in antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E, vitamin B, essential fatty acids, potassium, magnesium, zinc, iron, and copper, a masque made of mashed pumpkin is nourishing and refreshing. When combined with egg yolk and buttermilk, it is an excellent dry skin treatment.

• One of China’s skin care staples is the goji berry. Fortunately, this product has also made its way to health food stores in America. The goji berry is an excellent dry skin care treatment due to its high anti-oxidant, vitamin C, linoleic acid, thiamine, beta-carotene, riboflavin and trace mineral content.

All of these ingredients are derived from indigenous resources widely recognized as being great for dry skin. But effective skin care involves more than merely keeping the skin hydrated. You also need to factor in the irritants and allergens that we commonly come in contact with on a daily basis. Household and environmental chemicals, disinfectants, solvents and many other substances can damage the skin. It is important to also protect the skin from such things. Shielding lotions are an excellent protectant against allergens and irritants. In fact, many dermatologists are now recommending shielding lotions over standard barrier creams to protect the skin. A good shielding lotion forms a protective layer on the skin that keeps out chemicals while still allowing the skin to perspire and breathe. As environmental toxins and pollutants are major sources of skin damage, the effectiveness of all dry skin care efforts will be reduced if you don’t also protect against chemicals. Try creating your own cleansing and masque products with coconut or emu oil, mashed pumpkin, pumpkin oil, and goji berries – you may be pleasantly surprised to see what they can do. When used with a good shielding lotion to help with dry skin treatment and prevention and protect your skin from harsh and toxic chemicals, these organic skin care ingredients may be all you need to keep your skin young looking and wrinkle free.