Day 8 - Tuesday's with Lou

[Bunny Berry]

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Today our lovely Tuesday vlogger, Lowanna, discusses the importance of caring for our skin. Recently a question was asked here on the forums about what happens to the skin when one loses a lot of weight after going raw. Lowanna covers that subject along with many other great tips for keeping resiliency and youthfulness to your skin.

Do you have any skin care tips or secrets you'd like to share with us below in the comments? I want our RawFu members to be the most glowing among all raw foodists! Tell us about your skin care regimen and HOW ARE YOU DOING ON YOUR DAY 8?

[Nichole]

I love body brushing....it really works, you can tell by how your heart rate rises and your skin becomes flushed. I follow the brushing with a rinse and COCONUT OIL! Massage has worked wonders for me...my partner did a lot of massage when I was losing weight. My stretch marks are just little white lines now, no deep roots in my skin. The distribution of cellulite seems to look much better too. It's almost gone! I have heard rebounding daily helps with detox and excreting toxins through the lymphatic system. The dry brushing only stimulates the capliaries of the lymph system so it is absolutly necessary to include other ways to internally stimulate the lymph system.

[Cindy]

Lowanna, great tips for skin!

It motivates me to continue dry brushing and to be consistent (plus I just replaced my well-used brush for a new stiffer version).

It also inspired me to use my aloe vera plant fresh for a facial and see how it feels!

I'm a massage therapist and I appreciate you mentioning that massage really does help tone the skin and detoxify.

The other day I tried a Korean exfoliation at a sauna and massage salon here in New York. I was amazed at how much smoother my thighs were afterward! But I mean did they ever exfoliate! Over 40 minutes with three different roughness textures of these sponges on their hands like mitts. They really scrub and scrub for over 40 minutes!

Your info on the skin as the third kidney is awesome. I did lose about three pounds after that whole treatment mentioned above. So, it tells me that I can also use my dry brush more vigourously and for longer periods of time to really smoothen my skin and take the time to really get off the dead skin and stimulate fresh blood and oxygen flow.

If I think about it, brushing our teeth takes time to really get all clean so why wouldn't the dry brushing?

Anyways, thanks for the well-done Tuesday with Lou!!!

[Earth Mother]

Hey Lou, I do all the same stuff you do! No sagging skin here. And, the daily body brushing, sea salt & ginger baths, regular colonics, and a quart of fresh green juice every morning have made the ol' cottage cheese thighs disappear.

I think we should have a Raw Fu spa day!

xo!

[rebeccaj]

I always forget you're the walking talking allergy machine! sheesh! my bad.

but did you know you can also just massage avocados right straight into your skin? it's true! it works! excellent hand cream.

Wendilou said:

I was at Whole Foods today and saw various oils for the body. I got Apricot Kernal Oil last time, which seems to be okay with me...no hives or anything. And it doesn't have a smell, which is nice. I'd also like to try the avocado seed oil. (I can't do the oil from nuts or hemp or coconut or sesame or shea butter, so my choices are limited.) I DID find sunflower seed oil today for oil pulling--yay!

rebeccaj said:

lotions and potions sux. don't use them. use natural oils instead! inspired by this thread, I just got out of the shower and since I had my bottle of oil-pulling sesame oil right there, I decided to put it on my skin while still wet, and ooooh! girl! I am SILKY! too bad my man's in Dallas!

Sesame oil is great for skin (that's all that Neutrogena oil is, just not food grade), as is coconut, olive oil, almond oil, etc.

Wendilou said:

I have to reiterate what RebeccaJ said, you look absolutely GORGEOUS today! I can't get over how quickly you are changing right before our very eyes!

I have to admit that I don't do a lot for my skin. I would like to get a skin brush and see how it feels. I really hate the feeling of greasy lotion on my skin, but I'm trying to get used to it because the skin on my body tends to be dry. I think skin brushing would help get rid of a lot of that dryness and eliminate the need for lotions and potions. I like the idea of using aloe...I think I might be able to get one to grow here in Cleveland. ;)

[esther frances]

i love dry body brushing. i go one better and use a dry facial brush every morning on my delicate facial skin! then after the shower i slather on coconut oil on my body, and argan oil on my face. it's from a nut... from the middle east, i believe.

i hope to start taking some detox baths, i've had to give up baths after my surgery last year while i've been healing a large wound, but i think i can start them up again.

trying to become "one" with my vitamix again, too. need to up my game.

thanks lou for a great video, and yes, you are looking marvelous!

[Anastazia]

Wow, Lou, you look RADIANT & soooo glowy!!!! Gotta go check out your last 2 vids on the Master Cleanse you've been doing! It's definately working! Wish I could get some maple syrple, anyone know if you can really do it effectively with agave?
I had to postpone my Raw Spa birthday party until Saturday, & now I know why!
Thanks for all the excellent tips, Lowanna! & EVERYONE!!!

I think it's also crucial, in terms of skin toning as the pounds are shed,
to do these things all along, not just towards the end, or once the weight is shed!

~Anastazia~

[Anastazia]

I got inspired, & saved some of my avacado for a masque...& my face feels sooooo much softer now!!! WAY better with an organic one than a non-organic (last time I did it), such a difference in the texture! I just smeared it on, left it for 20 minutes or so, & wiped off with a hot cloth! Try it, you'll like it!

Oh, yea, the other thing raw is changing, the mole thingy I have on my hairline, on the left, is dissapearing...it used to be quite dark, & bigger...it keeps coming off in layers, & is smaller & lighter now! I believe a few more months or so & it'll dissapear altogether!
~Anastazia~

[Cecilia Milanesi]

Love the extra virgin coconut oil....Also, a friend of mine in Italy suggested this simple scrub. The juice and pulp of a grapefruit mixed with fine salt. I use Himalayan crystal pink salt...but the normal sea salt is just as well. I scrub this all over my body in the shower...(ok so it does get a bit messy)...The results are incredible...super soft skin.

[Lowanna]

I do these things to promote it to go back while im releasing the weight nourishing will help the toning. Anastazia That is too wicked!! I LOVE U xxx you had me in giggles AGAIN ;o))))

Also I forgot another one that I do which is one of the most important, I didnt remember till I was doing it just then so wanted to share it too.

After a hot shower I always even now its winter here...I spent the last few minutes either turning the hot tap on and then off, maybe 4 or 5 times. This hot/warm water all over the body then cold water alternating but ending ALWAYS with cold...its the BEST refines the pores, stimulates circulation and tones that beautiful shrinking skin. OH I do have to say the hot/cold can be very a bit of an ungrounding activity Ive found for myself, but all the same its a really yummy and spinny experience feeling hot/cold all over the skin...if Im in a more grounded sensible mood, I will just have the last 1minute cold.<----this happens mostly as the other is more of a weekend treat thing.
But always end in cold, Ive done it from a child, cos my dad taught me, then I found out about the healing benefit of it
also I found this about healing in general, and thought it was really interesting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIHUhhKpCio&feature=channel_page

[Nita!]

Thanks Lowanna! It feels so so nice! I did it this morning.... I do not have a big brush to brush my back but i use instead of brush a pair of exfoliating gloves!
Today is the 3rd day I do not need to use hair conditioner I'm so excited about that...
Since yesterday I replaced facial cream for "sunflowers oil" ( the same I use to eat... ) When mi little kid was a baby all product for clean the "diaper zone".... gave him allergy... then.. i remember the only, natural, free cosmetic, was sunflower oil.. I'm experimenting in my face... in a couple of days I'll give you an update!

[rebeccaj]

MC with AGAVE is great! I prefer it to maple syrup any day!

~Anastazia~ said:

Wow, Lou, you look RADIANT & soooo glowy!!!! Gotta go check out your last 2 vids on the Master Cleanse you've been doing! It's definately working! Wish I could get some maple syrple, anyone know if you can really do it effectively with agave?
I had to postpone my Raw Spa birthday party until Saturday, & now I know why!
Thanks for all the excellent tips, Lowanna! & EVERYONE!!!

I think it's also crucial, in terms of skin toning as the pounds are shed,
to do these things all along, not just towards the end, or once the weight is shed!

~Anastazia~

[Lowanna]

Anastazia I agree with rebeccaj, Agave would be the good! I think I would try that next time I have a huge adversion too maple syrup