Venus is retrograde this month so I’m focusing on Beauty Beauty Beauty! I’ll be featuring one Beauty Formula a week with beauty tips and supportive therapies to help you glow.
Moya, my astrologer mom, said that Venus retrograde can bring up insecurities about your looks. During this uncertain time, you shouldn't make any big changes to your appearance. Don’t get a drastic haircut, try a new hair color or do any kind of cosmetic enhancements. (I just canceled a haircut even though no one has tended to my locks in almost a year). But Venus retrograde is still a great time to glow up your beauty game with natural things like flower remedies, diet and herbs (see all my Gamine beauty tips below), so when Venus goes direct on April 12, you’ll be like a shiny new penny!
I can’t think of a better Venus Retrograde Springtime remedy than the playful Beauty Formula No. 7 Gamine. Gamine is a French word that means a charming and mischievous girl, usually with a tomboy flair… I think of her as a girl (or boy) who doesn’t care what others think and is purely herself, with confidence and a certain je ne sais quoi that is magnetic! I designed this formula to remove shame, to clear breakouts, to give confidence to those who feel awkward, self-conscious and unattractive. It’s for the teenager inside of us all who feels like they’re just getting it all wrong. The energy of Gamine is very light, carefree and fun. It gives you permission to totally be yourself.
I often get emails from people saying they relate to the description of Gamine, but they're in their 40s (or 50s or 60s) and wonder if it’s ok for them to take it. Yes! Gamine is not just for youngins. It’s all about how you feel inside. If the emotions fit, then it’s your match!
Taking Beauty Formula No.7 will do so much for you, but we can always glow more, right? Here are some tips for your inner and outer beauty.
OUTER CARE:
Skincare: If you have breakouts, it’s tempting to strip the oil off your skin with harsh products. But oil is not the cause of your breakouts. Skin is a reflection of what is going on inside the body. Our hormones, digestion and liver health are the biggest influence on skin. If you strip oil off with chemicals, this will only make your body produce more oil. As well, avoid over-exfoliation because acne is sometimes caused by irritation and sensitivity. For exfoliation, massage some face oil into skin and hold a warm washcloth over and rub gently.
Our skin is the largest organ of elimination. It also absorbs everything you put on it, so if you’re using skincare with chemicals, your organs have to detox all that junk and the excess will come out on your skin. So keep it clean and non-toxic when it comes to products.
Skin routine: AM: Take four drops of your Beauty Formula. Splash with cold water. Follow with a generous spray of GARA Rosemary Hydrosol and a little face oil massaged into damp skin. Follow with sunscreen. I love Living Libations Best Skin Ever and Le Prunier Plumscreen (an every day sunscreen which doubles as a treatment and isn’t oily). I use Zoca Lotion when I need a little more protection (at the beach or on a desert hike). PM: Take four drops of your Beauty Formula. For cleansing, use witch hazel on a cotton pad. Witch hazel is astringent without drying. Follow with a generous spray of Hydrosol. While skin is still damp, massage the Living Libations oil into skin.
Clothing: Do not wear synthetics. They don’t allow the skin to breathe and this traps sweat, leading to “backne.” (Part of my Spring Cleaning is donating all my polyester clothing).
Sweating: Doing a sauna is so good for skin. It will help push out any toxins so they don’t need to come out as pimples. (Make sure to replenish electrolytes after). Speaking of sweating, please do not wear anti-perspirant. Our bodies use sweating to purge toxins so if you plug up the skin and don’t allow your body to sweat, it will keep the toxins inside. This is very bad for health and your skin. Opt instead for natural deodorants like Monks Rose Stick.
INNER CARE:
For breakouts: Take Burdock root tincture daily for 3 weeks on, one week off, until skin clears. Burdock is a great blood cleanser and is a miracle cure for breakouts. When I was modeling, getting a cystic pimple (the big painful ones that start under the skin and threaten to stick around for weeks) could mean losing a job. A few days on burdock and that bump would vanish, never to see the light of day!
Juice: The skin loves fresh fruits and vegetables. My fave skin juice is: carrot, Granny Smith apple, cucumber, celery and parsley. Drink this every day to get a Gamine glow.
Diet: Gluten, dairy and sugar are the biggest baddies for skin. Try to limit these. If you love dairy, choose sheep and goat over cow’s milk. But if you must have cow’s milk, make sure it’s organic and grass-fed.
Poop!: The more you can eliminate through your organs of detoxification (colon, liver, kidneys), the less your body will need to purge through the skin. If you are not pooping every day, try taking Intestinal Movement Formula at night. It’s Senna and cascara sagrada free (which can both cause diarrhea). Start with one pill on an empty stomach before bed. If that’s not enough for a morning poop, increase to two pills.
Probiotics: Good gut bacteria is essential for overall health, immune function and good skin. I have been using Vitanica as it is good for those with MCAS.
I know that I feel the most beautiful when I am just being myself. My aim with the Beauty Formulas (and really all my flower remedies) is to support you being your one and only unique self and sharing your beautiful self with the world. This is how we heal.
Lots of Love,
Alexis