Skin

PJ Zito

March 28, 2022

20 minute read

Growing Younger

The science of growing younger may seem like a fairy-tale or snake oil. The truth is that a “growing body of research” (no pun intended) is pointing to the causes of aging. By knowing the causes, we can prevent the damage that these processes can do to our body, and in some cases, we may even reverse it. By making smarter lifestyle choices, we can also preserve a youthful Mental and Physical Plane – that is body and spirit wellness that supports our NOW-abundance that lasts way into our senior years. Age really can become just a number once you’ve discovered the science of growing younger.

I just wrote about having a birthday! I’m old but I’m NOT. My mom is still living in her house in Florida at 95+ and her mom, my grandmother, was 103 when she died from complications of a fall. I expect to beat them both! Yup! How?

Let’s start first with the main area of our Physical Plane (body) that can give away our chronological age if we do not take proper care of it, our skin.

How to Look 45 At 60 or 70+ (that’s me)

The skin is the largest organ of our body. It protects our inner organs and musculoskeletal system from injury. It allows nutrients in and stops essential fluids from leaking out.

It’s easy to take our skin for granted until something goes wrong with it. So typical!

The most obvious example when we are young is acne. As we age, the big concern becomes wrinkles. My mom (in her mid-90’s tells me that wrinkles don’t hurt, and they won’t kill you so get over it.

My focus and concern here are aging the skin through poor lifestyle choices, which in some cases can culminate in skin cancer. The most common type is melanoma.

Melanoma is caused primarily by the harmful effects of UV rays of the sun. Those who spend a lot of time out in the sun without sunscreen or sunblock are at increased risk. So too are those who:

spend a lot of time at a beach or pool
work on the water, where the sun’s rays are reflected
go to tanning salons often
work outdoors and do not take precautions to cover up against the sun.

Any unprotected exposure to the sun carries risks. The most common location of melanoma is the left forearm in men. Researchers attribute this to men leaning their left elbows on the edge of their car doors as they are driving.

If you’ve ever seen the skin of people who spend a lot of time out in the elements, such as fishermen, you will notice their weather-beaten look. Sun, wind, salt, and sea spray dry the skin while the rays of the sun darken it, causing a craggy, darkened complexion.

As people age, they also develop ‘liver spots’ on their face and particularly their hands. Even if you are smart enough to use an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) sunscreen/moisturizer of 30 or more each day, do you also think to put it on the back of your hands? If not, it’s time to start.

What about your neck? As we age, it starts to look slack and pouch. So does the skin under our eyes. This is gravity at work, it is true, but it also signals a loss of skin tone and collagen that can be prevented with a good beauty routine and healthful diet.

The first thing people see when they meet us is our face. What does yours say about your age?

If you look old beyond your years and want to appear younger without spending a fortune, the best place to start is your daily skincare routine.

Caring for your skin regularly

There are a few steps to this to keep it looking youthful, including washing, toning, and moisturizing. Let’s look at the most important aspects of each.

Washing Your Face

You would think that most people would know how to wash their faces. After all, we do it every day. Cats make it look easy too, don’t they?

The truth is that especially if we live in a large city with a high level of pollutants, it can be tricky to keep your face clean and blemish-free.

Every day, we get a build-up of impurities on our face that can clog the pores and give us a washed-out complexion, which makes us look older than we really are.

Some personal care products can make the situation worse. Studies have shown that women are exposed to up to 100 chemicals each day through the personal products they use. I have never been one for believing that society’s products can do a better job than God did. I weep when I see young women with caked products on their faces and eyes as they believe this makes them beautiful.

For men, the average change is about age 40.

The first step, therefore, is to strip down your products to the basics, all-natural ones that can be used for a range of purposes.

The most basic is pure Castile soap and warm water. Soap is best in its liquid form because no chemicals have been added to turn it into a solid bar of soap. Castile or vegetable glycerine soaps are mild enough even for sensitive skin. Wash your face and neck, rinse well, and pat dry. Morning and evening routines in place!

Toner

Many people choose a toner based on skin type. One good choice for a natural toner is pure witch hazel which is mainly alcohol-free. Some women use lemon juice, but it can cause photosensitivity, that is, sensitivity to sunlight, and make skin darker, sometimes permanently.

If your skin is very dry, add a couple of drops of a soothing essential oil such as myrrh or vitamin C to the pure witch hazel.

Toner removes impurities that soap alone can’t reach, and refines the pores, making your skin smooth. It helps keep down blackheads and whiteheads and lessens your risk of breakouts.

Moisturizer

Once you have toned, putting on moisturizer helps keep moisture in. Even people with oily skin need moisturizer. A daily moisturizer with an SPF of 30 will protect you from the aging effects of the sun. Look for one that is oil-free.

For your evening/night routine, when applying before bed, SPF is not important, but you could use a heavier cream than you would use if you were going out in public or applying before you put on your makeup.

If you are a man, moisturizer can help keep down the irritating effects of shaving and the raw look it can give around your face and neck. Shaving will, however, offer one benefit in addition to hair removal, and that is exfoliating.

Exfoliating

Exfoliating is the process of removing dead skin cells from the upper layer of your skin, the epidermis. Dead skin cells can make your complexion look dull and weathered instead of youthful and radiant. Soap and a washcloth will work well.

Scrub lightly in small circles over every part of your face, taking care in the eye area. I have a wonderful company that supplies me with pure, skin-care products. If you are interested in finding products that you can use with confidence, send me a message. I have been using these products exclusively since 2007 and strongly encouraged everyone to meet with me for details to then make their own choices. More on that later!

A mild scrub can be made from ground almonds or apricot kernels and, of course, that can help. A homemade sugar scrub can serve as a fruit peel as well. However, it can redden skin for up to 2 hours afterward, so if you wish to use it, apply it only at night.

Exfoliating 1 to 2 times per week should be more than enough to keep the fresh young skin cells shining through.

Applying makeup is not encouraged here. I just do not believe that society wants anything more than to make money brainwashing us. If you must, connect with me about my pure resources or use fresh, oil-free makeup and keep it only 6 months before it will go stale and harm your skin. Some foundation makeup will also have SPF for double protection if you apply it over your moisturizer.

Removing makeup

To remove your makeup, use soap and water, or pure apricot kernel oil. Avoid any products with a lot of chemicals and fragrances. It is important that all traces of makeup are removed before you retire for the night because sleeping with makeup on can clog your pores overnight and cause breakouts.

Protect your lips with lip balm to stop them from drying out and becoming chapped. It should have an SPF as well. Temped to share a picture….hummmm…

Other delicate areas

Wear sunglasses or Transitions lenses with a UV coating. Use eye cream at least once a day to hydrate and protect the delicate skin around your eyes to avoid wrinkles.

Some people recommend silk pillowcases, so you do not cause lines and wrinkles from snuggling your face into the pillow. Don’t know about that!

Whole-body skincare

After showering or bathing, pat your skin dry, and finish off with a moisturizer suitable for your skin type. I have clinical trial-proven products if you are interested.

If you have dry skin, you can also create your own nourishing cream with shea butter, apricot kernel, or olive oil and a few drops of rosemary essential oil.

Wear clothing in natural, breathable fabrics, cotton, linen, silk, and wool to avoid the irritation caused by synthetics. Always wear a hat when going out in the sun. Wear light-colored, long-sleeved tops, and long skirts or pants if you plan to be in the sun a long time and know you are not likely to keep re-applying your sunscreen every 30 to 60 minutes. (You should re-apply!)

I admit to having skin cancer on my left shin. I am a runner and failed to put the needed amount of sunscreen on my legs. I had the Mohs cancer treatment surgery that created a giant hole in my leg that had to heal from the inside out, or outside in, without stitches. Took over 7 months to heal with constant care, and I still have a dime-size scar and dent to remind me to lather up!

Re-apply to your face often-I also admit to 2 skin cancer battles on the right side of my nose. The Mohs cancer surgery left stitches from the corner of my right eye down to the outside edge of my nostril. Sunscreen, over and over, is recommended. Look for high SPF and low fragrance. Don’t forget the back of your neck and your ears.

Avoid any products high in alcohol. These are the kind that sting. Alcohol dries out the skin a great deal. Hand sanitizers are one good example. They are great for quick clean-ups and for Corona Virus concerns if you have no soap and water, but avoid using too often because dry, cracked skin on your hands will leave you open to infection.

If you do love the tanned look, apply a self-tanning cream but I do not recommend it. For sure, please steer clear of tanning beds. Money-making brainwashing at its best! You are perfect, just the way God made you. Let your light shine with confidence!

If you smoke, stop. It dries the skin and leads to wrinkles around the lips and eyes and leaves you trapped in respiratory nightmares over time.

Now that you understand the basics of proper skincare, you’ll be glad for your investment of a few minutes each day and night, all adding up to younger-looking skin no matter what your age.

It is never too early to start to care for your skin. Pass on this information to people of all ages to help prevent skin cancer and signs of premature aging. Contact me for guidance and honest suggestions from one who knows!

Remember that these are only external treatments for the skin. Since we are what we eat, your diet has its part to play in beautiful skin and overall good health. We will look at this issue soon.

Peruse my site here and let’s get you healthy! www.melaleuca.com/zitoprohealth

Know that I may be compensated for actions taken by you, but I assure you that I have been using only these products for all my personal, family and home needs since 2007. I do not trust many other options.

ZitoProHealth