As I’ve discussed in many posts over the years, my skin has not always been the easiest. Hormones and sensitive skin have led to many years of breakouts and discomfort, ranging from small bumps to full blown adult acne.
Happily my skin has been pretty clear for about the last year, and I think monthly peels at Laserderm, and perhaps a simmering down of my hormones, have a lot to do with it. I’m still super wary of using new products, but also want to use products that are ‘high-tech’ in terms of handling the onset of wrinkles and ageing, that are full of natural ingredients, and aren’t tested on animals.
Although I would like to buy local, I have been using Paula’s Choice for the last six months, and I love the liquid exfoliant. I also use Lulu & Marula’s purifying treatment oil, which smells glorious and really seems to calm down breakouts.
I’ve also recently come across Skoon, a South African bespoke, natural skincare range (with a beautiful website and lovely, minimalist packaging). I’m thinking White Cloud Manuka and the Purifying Clay Cleanser to start. Their Instagram account is pretty glorious too.
aging
Body Worlds
Over the weekend I went to Sci-Bono to have a look at the Body Worlds exhibition. It was quite extraordinary – a whole universe within each of us.
There’s a moment of the ick factor knowing the bodies were once real people, and then just pure wonder at the magnificence of the human body, the intricacies of the systems keeping us moving, thinking and feeling, and the importance of ‘using it or losing it’.
I was again reminded of the reasons I practice yoga (which I from time to time forget after practicing pincha mayurasana again and again for months on end ;-)). A strong, flexible body (and a strong, flexible mind) will go a long way to easing the path to old age.
I’m finding getting older quite a tough thing to deal with, an adjusting and readjusting of my sense of self. The twenties are filled with feelings of immortality, brazen youthfulness and incomprehension of years passing and the body changing … until suddenly you notice a wrinkle that doesn’t unwrinkle.
It’s such a small portion of our lives that we spend young. Here’s hoping though that with the help of yoga, I’ll spend a large portion of my life feeling youthful.
