Living in such a busy world, it’s true that our body needs rest every now and then and a good cleansing from within. Stress, an unhealthy lifestyle, and disordered eating can all affect the appearance of your skin and hair, not to mention take a toll on your overall health. That’s why doing a head to toe detox is a must and there is no better time to do it than in spring. Forget about two-day juice cleanses and similar programs that can damage your health even further – it is time to properly detoxify your entire body and thus get ready for summer.
Clean your body
The old adage “you are what you eat” is not far from the reality – your body depends on what you eat, so, obviously, any detox should start with cleansing your diet. This doesn’t suggest you must starve yourself for a few days and then splurge. Instead, detoxing your diet shouldn’t be restrictive but a way to start eating better.
The most vital thing is to start drinking more water. Somewhere between 6 and 8 cups a day is a good dose but ensure you start each day with warm lemon water. This will be like a natural flush to your body and aid digestion thereby making the entire detox process quicker and more effective.
Staying away from caffeinated drinks and processed foods as much as you can is the next step. As a general rule, you should only eat foods that are as near their natural state as possible. Minimize meat and dairy and maximize fresh fruit and vegetables. If you aren’t a fan of salads, try making one delicious detox smoothies to help you ingest more vegetables and fruits without realizing it.
Cleanse your skin
A busy lifestyle, makeup products, and lack of sleep – all of this stuff can build up and show on your skin and make you look tired and older than your actual age. It’s not enough just to cleanse your face daily – you need to deeply cleanse it to see results.
Again, drinking water is key – without it, your skin cells can become dehydrated, and that can lead to dry, flaky skin, more prone to wrinkles and signs of premature aging. As well as pure water, teas like nettle, ginger and dandelion have been shown to benefit the skin, so make a tea party a part of your beauty routine.
Try exfoliating and dry brushing to physically remove dirt from your skin, but ensure you also incorporate clay-based products into your beauty arsenal. Clay is very absorbent and that is why a good clay mask, like the one from Collection of Dr. Hauschka, can absorb dirt and supply deep cleaning and disinfection. Although highly absorbent, clay is fully natural and therefore will not be as harsh as some chemicals and will not leave your skin after use.
Bring your hair back to life
Now that winter is over, your hair may suffer some consequences as a result of the cold, wind, and harsh conditions it finds itself in. Plus, summer is coming and the sun and warmth can be just as bad for your hair, so you know why spring is the best time to detox and prepare it for new challenges.
Start by exfoliating your scalp to remove dead skin cells and permit your hair to breathe and grow freely. This can be done with homemade scalp scrub otherwise you can depend on clay yet one more time and use a clay hair mask to remove dirt. Bentonite clay, for example, is known to be very absorbent and you can make a hair mask by simply mixing ½ cup of clay with ½ cup of aloe vera gel and ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar.
You’ll also want to remove styling product residue from your hair by using a non-drying but purifying shampoo. Mineral buildup from tap water can even be a real problem, so getting a water softening filter might be a good idea.
Getting ready for summer is not just about planning your vacation and getting a new swimsuit – it is also about giving your body a rest and making a positive impact on your health. Take a deep breath and take a moment to detoxify your body, skin and hair – the results will be visible in no time!
