My Secret Fountain Of Youth
posted in Reviews & Comparisons, The Daily Diet byI know this post is slightly “off topic”, but I thought it might be beneficial to others so I decided to write it anyway. I am often asked, sometimes by women I barely know, what I use on my skin to keep it looking so great and so youthful. So here I am, divulging all of my secrets in the name of sisterhood.
When I am asked, it’s usually during a discussion about age - mine - and after a few jokes about my being “perpetually 29″ - nearly all of the time people are very surprised to find out my real age (let’s just say quite a bit older than 29!). I almost always get asked for my ID when buying alcohol at the store, sometimes when ordering a drink in a bar or restaurant. The first time this happened after I moved to Arizona I was delighted…..I imagined that I actually looked younger than 21! The clerk explained that state law requires sellers to ask for ID if the buyer appears to be under 30. My delight diminished only slightly, and as she looked at my driver’s license I was pleased at her obvious shock at seeing my real age. I get this reaction often, followed by “what’s your secret?”
First, I want to emphasize two very important points: 1) You’re never too old to improve the look and feel of your skin without resorting to medical intervention, and 2) Any effort you make has to build on a solid foundation of good nutrition and hydration - the inside-to-outside approach, otherwise it’s like trying to build a house on sand - you’ll only get temporary results, nothing lasting. So it’s vital to be sure you’re getting the right foods and supplements that your skin needs, as well as those your muscles need, since your skin sits on top of the muscle layer. At the end of this post is a list of those foods and supplements that I use that have helped to create a noticeable improvement in my skin.
Following that, what you use on the outside is also important. Our skin cells have a life cycle of their own - it’s just a very short one. Our bodies are constantly creating new skin cells (which they can do best and fastest when they are getting the nutrition and water they need for the creation), and pushing them up to the top layer. The outermost ones are already nearing the end of their life, and once dead they must be whisked away to make room for the newer ones coming up from behind. To keep your skin looking its best it is important to stimulate and help this process, but *gently*, since anything too harsh on your skin (physically or chemically) has the potential to do more damage than good. I absolutely cringe when I see what some products have in them. Two of the biggest problems that women have is A) choosing the right products for their skin type - which they often misdiagnose, and B) Buying the least expensive options in the mistaken belief that all products are alike.
There’s a good reason clichés get to be clichés, because they ring true. You get what you pay for. Cheap products are cheap because they contain cheap ingredients, often petrochemicals that may “feel” good on your skin, but don’t do you any good at all. And while I admit that there are a few really expensive products that are nothing more than cheap ingredients packaged with an expensive sounding brand, in the long run you’re going to be far better off if you assess the quality of the product before you look at its price.
SO after all that, here is what I use on my skin: Shaklee’s Enfuselle products (not surprised, are you?). After seeing first-hand how Shaklee’s nutritional supplements had improved my mom’s health, as well as the great improvements I was feeling, mom talked me into trying their skin care products. Boy am I ever grateful that she did. My mom has beautiful skin as well, so people often assume that I come by it genetically, but the truth is that Enfuselle and Shaklee have really made the difference in looking much younger than our actual years. Several of the Enfuselle products I simply can’t live without (like the Calming Complex - I use it every morning). When Shaklee created their Enfuselle skin care line, they put the same philosophy into its development that they did into all their products - which it to keep it pure and natural, only offer what truly works, and keep it affordable. We all know what we’re supposed to do - cleanse, tone, treat, and moisturize, and do it daily. If you can get into the habit of a good daily skin care routine, and use good quality, all natural products, you absolutely will see improvement.
Now here is what I take to feed my skin from the inside. Often you can get what your skin needs from fresh, organic foods, but if they are not organic, or you have trouble with certain foods, then Shaklee’s supplements are an excellent, and often better, alternative. For example, I don’t eat fish, yet the Omega-3 oils from fish are vital nutrients, so I take Shaklee’s OmegaGuard every day.
- For the muscles, I take Protein (generally just my Cinch Shake, but sometimes I use the Shaklee Energizing Soy Protein Mix) and OsteoMatrix (a good calcium/mineral supplement, and yes, calcium is used by your muscles too, not just your bones);
- I take OmegaGuard (Omega-3 oils - healthy fats and oils keep your skin and hair soft and lubricated)
- I take the Anti-Oxidant Trio, also known as CarotoMax (beta-carotene - the safe form of Vitamin-A) , Vitamin-E, and Vitamin-C;
- I drink plenty of water — I make sure I’m getting the minimum requirement every day of 8 to 10 8-ounce glasses of water;
These supplements are just a part of my daily nutritional intake, but are the most important for my skin. I keep the underlying muscle toned and strong to support my skin, then I take the antioxidants (CarotoMax, Vitamin-E, and Vitamin-C) to speed the removal of toxins and support the underlying collagen structure of my skin, and the water keeps it plump and hydrated.
None of this is really much of a “secret”, it’s just common sense, but if you can develop a good daily habit it won’t be long before you’re hearing compliments on how lovely your skin looks!
