Extract from my mentor Tyler Tolman. If you would like explore more his
wisdom visit tylertolman.com
The Ultimate Detox For Glowing Skin – The Process Of Guasha
I want to share what I think is the best detox for skin. It’s a technique that really
opens up the pores of the skin allowing it to breathe as well as truly cleaning it.
It’s called Guasha (gwa-sha) and is an age old technique used by Ancient Asian,
Greek and Egyptian civilisations.
I have been using this technique for over 10 years now, and have shared it with
thousands of people around the world who also use it. It cleanses the skin to such a level that it will help you to tan without burning, and will keep your skin looking fresh and healthy.
The skin should eliminate up to 2kg of material each day, but for most of us, this simply is not the case. There are many factors at play, but the main issue is that our skin gets clogged over time. And regular soap doesn’t have the ability to really deep clean the skin, it just works on the surface.
Making Your Own Natural Super Skin Detox
One of the best things about Guasha is that you can make it at home as it only
consists of two ingredients – bicarbonate soda and vodka!
Make sure your bicarbonate soda is aluminum free, and I recommend you get a cheap brand of triple distilled vodka.
Then it’s just a matter of taking a re-sealable jar with a big enough opening to reach your hand in.
Fill the jar with 80% bicarbonate soda, then fill and saturate with vodka until you reach a level about 1 cm above the bicarb soda. This will make a nice putty-like consistency that can be used like a body scrub.
Always make sure to seal the jar after use, as it will evaporate quickly and turn really hard.
Then next time you’re in the shower, simply rinse your whole body, turn off the water and add a tablespoon or so of the Guasha mixture onto a loofah or body glove for each of your limbs.
Firmly scrub over your entire body. I even scrub my face, just be gentle on the face at first.
Then get back under the water and completely rinse your skin. Squeaky clean!
How This Ultimate Skin Detox Works
As the bicarbonate soda is highly alkaline, it kills acidic bacteria that build up in the skin. The skin is seven layers of dermis and epidermis and a lot of stuff can
accumulate in the skin. Fungus, yeasts, petrochemicals, parasites and molds that can come out as rashes and infections.
A lot of times, petrochemicals that happen to be in the air around us get into the skin and really block it up, resulting in pimples and irritations. When you use the bicarb soda and the vodka, it opens the pores of the skin as well as alkalising everything.
The Guasha mix cleans absolutely everything out and allows more oxygen to enter creating beautiful, fresh skin. I recommend doing this every day for the first 1-2 weeks then 2-3 times per week indefinitely. Of course, use this in conjunction with eating well, regular cleansing, drinking lots of water and getting out in the sun.
Time to Glow – Let the Sun Shine In
I personally like to get out in the sun directly after my Guasha cleanse. I usually lay out for 15-20 minutes on my back and then my front, 30-45 minutes in total.
Everyone’s skin type is different depending on how much sun you have been
exposed to over time. The UV Index is also different depending on geographical location. Use some common sense and be sure to test and measure, slowly adding more time to your sun charging time.
It’s a great way to get some solar energy into my body. Nutrition for me is all about getting more light into this body temple, whether it be through fresh fruits and vegetables or directly from the sun.
I recommend using coconut oil to nourish the skin as it has a natural SPF of 5-7. If you live in a place where the sun is strong, lay out earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon when the sun is softer.
Once a week, massage your body with Extra Virgin Olive Oil after this wash.