Wellness and self-care are closely related. Your skin is a reflection of what is happening in mind, body and spirit. What you see on the outside is what’s happening inside, and the other way around.

Adult skin issues and break outs are different than the acne and T-zone flair-ups traditionally experienced during the teen years. Most often it is linked to ‘adult’ indicators such as high-stress, inflammation, hormonal imbalances (i.e. a drop in estrogen levels) as well as time, environmental and dietary factors.

Clear and healthy skin is not always as simple as just applying good quality skincare products; it’s what you feed your body both nutritionally, emotionally and mentally on a daily basis.

Skin care is self care. Recognize your skin concerns and set aside some time to nourish yourself. Carve out time from the busy activities of your fast-paced life and create a separate experience. It can be as simple as introducing a new ritual by elevating your daily skincare routine, using your favorite products.

One of my personal favorite self-care rituals is to give myself an acupressure point massage combined with a breathing exercise followed by Gua Sha massage. It takes about 5-10 minutes and enhances the skin from the inside out with pure oxygen and immediately improves the way I look and feel. Not only does it relax facial muscles; the breathing exercise oxygenates body and mind, gets blood circulation going and boosts the lymphatic system.

Any type of massage is a mindful way to begin or end the day by providing clarity and focus while detoxing and draining away any water retention or puffiness from the face.

My favorite time to do acupressure & breathing exercises is morning and/or night. I use one of Kerstin Florian’s beautiful Organic Facial Oils and it always provides me with a good night’s sleep.

You may also try this acupressure/breathing exercise while soaking in a bath; receiving double benefits from the fresh, antiseptic Eucalyptus bath with pine from Kerstin Florian as it clears sinuses and congestion, making breathing easier.

Feed your entire being with good things! Good words, good care, good food and good vibes! Try repeating the mantra, “I practice self care and go through life with joy and ease” on a daily basis to see the impact words and intention can have in your life.

Do the massage at home yourself by following these directions:

16-POINT ACUPRESSURE FACIAL EXERCISE

The acupressure facial exercise is a centuries-old method of achieving a lifted facial appearance, naturally. The face is a mirror for the inside of the body, and beautiful, glowing skin is a sign of a healthy, harmonious, well-functioning system.

Place 3 drops of Calm Mind onto your palm and rub hands together. Hold hands in front of nose and inhale deeply. Draw hands up to forehead and slide down to temples. Upon exhale, massage at the temples using middle or forefingers making small circles.

This exercise can also be performed without product.

Next, familiarize yourself with the pressure points on the facial chart. You will work simultaneously on both sides of your face, applying pressure to points #1-#16 with your middle fingers.

Begin by taking a deep breath through the nose while expanding the abdomen, then exhaling through the mouth.

Phase One:

During this phase, breathe deeply in through the nose and exhale through the mouth. Maintain pressure on each point for 10 seconds.

Points #1-4 – Apply pressure in an upward direction.

Point #5 – Apply direct pressure (lightly).

Points #6-7 – Apply pressure in an upward direction.

Points #8-9 – Apply direct pressure.

Points #10-15 – Apply pressure in an upward direction.

Point #16 – Apply direct pressure (lightly).

Phase Two:
During this phase, breathe normally throughout.

Tap pressure points #1-#15 ten times each.

Complete the exercise by repeating on points #6-#13, tapping each point until the skin feels warm to the touch.

Finish by lightly holding pressure point #16 (do not tap).

For added tension relief, rotate fingers on points #6, #11, #14 and #15 in Step 1.

The good thing is that you can’t overdo this, and, as with most things, the more consistent, the better results.

You can also experience this acupressure point massage in one of our 80 min Deluxe Facials at Skincare Butik. Healthy skin is a lifestyle and real skin rejuvenation is us working as a team; you work from the inside out – my team and I work from the outside in. Schedule your free skin consultation today.