As we wind down this year and look ahead toward the next, refocusing on what makes us well means reviewing and pruning habits. Often we find that skin care and wellness walk hand in hand, and that simplicity tends to produce the best results, both in health and practicality.  This year we’ve worked on simple and natural habits for lip care, makeup removal, face treatments, mental health with nightly routines and midday walks, and bathing rituals, all lovingly embellished with natural, clean ingredients straight from the earth. 

Removing what doesn’t serve us, and even harms us before embarking on this new year is exactly what’s embodied in the regular practice of body brushing, a ritual that has been time tested through the ages, dating all the way back to ancient Egypt, where skin care routines have become the stuff of revered legend. 

A Brief Look at the Diverse Cultural Ritual

The practice, also called dry brushing, has had a rich history in various cultures across continents for centuries.

• Ancient Egyptians used various tools including brushes made from natural fibers
• Ayurvedic traditional medicine in India included dry brushing to stimulate the lymphatic system to promote overall well-being
• Scandinavian traditions, particularly in Finland and Sweden, have practiced sauna rituals that include body brushing or birch twig tapping, stimulating the skin’s circulation
• Traditional Chinese Medicine emphasizes the balance of energy and the flow of Qi in the body. Similar to dry brushing, Gua Sha involves scraping the skin with a tool to promote circulation and energy balance.
• Native Americans practiced dry brushing to cleanse and stimulate skin often in conjunction with sweat lodge ceremonies for purification
• European spa traditions have included body brushing as part of spa treatments for exfoliation to promote skin health and circulation

The Process

• Choose a brush with a long handle for better reach and natural bristles such as plant fibers. Bristles should be firm but not too harsh to avoid irritating skin.
• Brush the body before shower or bath
• Start at the feet and brush upward toward the heart using long, upward strokes and circular motions on the joints. Use clockwise motions over the abdomen mirroring the natural flow of lymphatic drainage.
• Use lighter pressure on areas with thinner skin and stronger pressure on tougher skin like the soles of the feet. If you’re new to the ritual, begin with lighter pressure until more accustomed.
• Avoid brushing over injured or sensitive skin areas, including the face
• Rinse your brush after your routine and clean with soap and water once per week
• Shower or bathe and follow with gentle toweling and moisturizing Ellovi body butter to seal in hydration

Benefits of Body Brushing

• Exfoliation removes dead skin cells for smoother and softer skin, promoting cell regeneration
• Improved stimulation and circulation promotes skin health and boosts energy
• Soothing practice for the body directs attention to sensation that can be grounding and meditative
• Reduced appearance of cellulite
• Lymphatic system support that results in the removal of toxins from the body. This integral function filters the fluids that flow through the body, helping to fight infections. When we are sick or exposed to toxins, we may see inflammation, or feel pain or fatigue resulting from a potential block in the lymphatic system. The coarse bristles in dry brushing stimulate and open pores supporting the removal of any clogs and keeping the body in top shape to fight pathogens.
• Note: Those with skin conditions should consult with a healthcare professional prior to starting body brushing

In this new year, we continue the work of finding easy and thoroughly time-tested strategies to support well-being on all fronts, sharing our experiences as we go. Our skin is the first defense against environmental ill-doers, working in close tandem with our interior world. With natural, clean plant-based ingredients, we set in motion tangible goals for wellness, leading our loved ones by example and keeping the torch lit for industry. 

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At Ellovi we believe skin health is deeply connected to overall health and well-being. Our mission is to offer wellness using pure ingredients with safe and transparent methods. Self care is not just a luxury and it cannot wait. We’re here to remind you to invest in your health from head to toe, inside and out. 

Team Ellovi 🌺

Amid the flurry of the holidays, work deadlines, sick season, and all the other ever-running to-do list items keeping us hyper productive day in and day out, not to mention the constant tech saturation, and pressures on small and large scales, it’s no wonder stress is written all over our faces (and bodies). We know no matter what lovely skin interventions we may do, bottled up stress and poor self care have a way of running the show. 

It’s high time we brought back this age old care tradition - the magical, the elusive, the beloved - bath!  Now we’ve seen all sorts of rituals and recommendations about what’s ideal for bath time for mind and body, so let’s go through some of our favorite best practices and guilty pleasures to avoid.

Make it authentic self care time: 

Setting the scene for the perfect unwinding soak

• Keep it a no electronics zone aside from low music
• Light a candle or two, or incense if you prefer, along with desired soft lighting
• If possible, keep plants that enjoy humidity in your bathroom for an enriched, oxygenated ritual
• If you’re feeling fancy, sprinkle flower petals or citrus into your bath
• Keep water temperature comfortable as excessive heat can dehydrate skin and worsen skin conditions. Our ideal temperature falls around 110F. Keep bath duration to approximately 20-30 minutes. Those with skin or health conditions should consult with a health professional for personalized advice about water temperature and bath duration.
• Keep distractions to a minimum and make this about reconnecting with yourself
• We like to pamper our lips with Ellovi lip butter for a light essential oil scent to highlight grounded breathing
• Avoid alcoholic beverages or coffee that dehydrate the body. Keep yourself comfortably hydrated with room temperature water at your side
• The appeal for bubbles is a strong one, but the foaming quality of soaps and bath bombs usually points to chemical additives, parfums, and harmful ingredients that can damage skin and the environment

What’s in that bath water? Magnesium magic

• Magnesium has been shown to regulate sleep via neurotransmitters in the brain, potentially playing a role in anxiety management as well. The key mineral contains anti-inflammatory properties that can soften skin, aid muscle relaxation, and pain relief for soreness or arthritis. 
• Combining the effects of responsibly sourced magnesium flakes with the benefits of hot water immersion stimulates blood circulation and may have a positive effect on blood flow and blood pressure if done regularly. 
• Rough period cramps? The relaxation ritual can help with pain as well as the mental strain connected to that time of the month.
• Small studies have found that regular hot baths had a beneficial impact on managing blood sugar levels for those who struggle with diabetes.
• Hot magnesium baths open pores to allow hydration and cleansing, bring blood flow to the skin to help repair and protect it from environmental and internal pathogens, and soothe certain skin conditions by reducing inflammation
• Magnesium flakes vs Epsom Salt.  Magnesium Chloride in flakes is more bioavailable or quickly absorbent and contains a higher concentration of the mineral than Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt), however either will do in a pinch.

Cherries on top

• Got time? Add a dry body brush to your routine before bathing to stimulate circulation and start the process of opening up pores. Dry brushing from the bottom of the body upwards provides lymphatic drainage stimulation, which can aid in eliminating toxin buildup in the body.  (More on this another time)
• Last but not least keep the mood going with a loving application of your favorite Ellovi body butter while your skin is still damp to seal in the benefits for a lasting hydration and calm

Staying attuned to our inner world is more of a challenge than ever in this fast-paced world, so sometimes a nudge from your friends in skin care to point you back to self care is just what’s needed. Refill the tank with rest and rejuvenation to bring the world your best and hand down great habits to loved ones. That’s the Ellovi way.

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At Ellovi we believe skin health is deeply connected to overall health and well-being. Our mission is to offer wellness using pure ingredients with safe and transparent methods. Self care is not just a luxury and it cannot wait. We’re here to remind you to invest in your health from head to toe, inside and out. 

Team Ellovi 🌺

We put our faces through quite the gauntlet on a daily basis with irritants, pathogens, bacteria, oil, harsh products, chemicals, and more, no matter the weather. This holiday season whether you’re getting your cheeks pinched by relatives, kissed by pets, or facing the elements outdoors, face care will be a must.

We’ve put together a few healthy reminders, and, perhaps things you never knew about best practices to treat your face with gentleness without lining your cabinets with products.

Common face care mistakes

• Strips skin of oils leading to dryness, itching, irritation, and inflammation

• One word. Bacteria. 

• Hot water dries skin
• Cold water prevents cleansing of pores

• Roughly drying or washing skin can dry it out and cause irritation. It also removes essential protection from lipids, proteins and fatty acids which guard against pathogens

-Skipping the moisturizer after cleansing

-Using makeup wipes

• These tend to spread residue more than clean it, so best to either avoid using them or follow them with a face wash

• Blocked pores lock in chemicals and oils which can cause breakouts, irritation, inflammation, and pause regeneration of healthy skin cells

Best practice face care routine

1. Wash hands
2. Wet face with lukewarm water and apply a gentle cleanser that doesn’t contain alcohol. You can use a small amount of Ellovi Body Butter if you have dry/sensitive skin. ✨If using Ellovi, steam face with a hot water soaked towel prior to cleansing and then repeat the process a second time for optimal cleansing and moisturizing.
3. Pat dry face with clean, soft towel
4. Apply moisturizer on damp face within a minute of washing to lock in hydration

Everyone loves a DIY mask/cleanser

Our unbiased favorite is Ellovi body butter

• Any flavor that doesn’t contain marula oil can be used on the entire face. If using marula oil, avoid the eye area
• Ingredients in our products act as natural and gentle cleansers and are especially beneficial for dry or sensitive skin

Got some extra ingredients lying around? Zero waste is the way to go

• Blend yogurt that contains probiotics with cucumber or strawberries, depending on the flavor you’re in the mood for, and add lemon juice
• Apply mixture to your face for 15 minutes and then rinse
• Lemon helps fight bacteria and removes dead skin cells and oils that can clog pores, preventing breakouts
• Probiotics in yogurt help to restore the natural balance of bacteria on skin and prevent growth of harmful bacteria. Yogurt is also soothing and cooling.
• Cucumbers and strawberries hydrate and promote skin brightness among other benefits.

Routines of self care have been known to contribute to groundedness, and overall wellness, no matter how seemingly small. Refocusing on you during a busy season often crowded with hectic schedules and pressures is the gift you give yourself.  Even if it’s just a few minutes, TLC is time well spent. Light a candle and spring open your Ellovi tool kit for informed, responsible skin care. 

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At Ellovi we believe skin health is deeply connected to overall health and well-being. Our mission is to offer wellness using pure ingredients with safe and transparent methods. Self care is not just a luxury and it cannot wait. We’re here to remind you to invest in your health from head to toe, inside and out. 

Team Ellovi 🌺