April 14, 2022cosmétiques

Draining plants & other tips

The arrival of sunny days is often accompanied by guilt-inducing articles and advertisements whose aim is to offer solutions to “have the perfect body”.

Apart from the mental stress caused, what is never explicitly said is that everyone has irregularities on the skin and cellulite!

We reassure you! At Belle Luce, we encourage well-being and health in its entirety and it is with this in mind that we are sharing with you today some information that will guide you if you want to add a complementary care routine to your daily life. , without pressure.

What is the difference between cellulite and water retention?

Cellulite is the result of excess fat accumulation in the deeper layers of the skin and can block blood circulation and disrupt lymphatic circulation.

Little by little, fats, toxins and fluids accumulate since it is more difficult for the body to eliminate them. This will make the dimples appear, also called the “orange peel effect” . Mostly located in the lower body (legs, thighs and buttocks), cellulite can also be located on the stomach and arms.

“The basis of the problem is an imbalance between the amount of fat ingested and that which is expended, so the accumulation of fats in adipose tissue prevents the circulation of toxins which, once blocked, create inflammation.” COMPAGNIE DES SENS.FR

Fluid retention is a feeling of swelling also called edema.

Often, lymphatic fluid does not circulate well, in particular because of a prolonged static position, a lack of sports activity or clothing that is too tight and uncomfortable.

Over time, water will accumulate in the body and swelling will generally appear in the lower part of the body (legs, thighs, ankles).

Our 8 tips to improve blood and lymphatic circulation

1. Use fabulous draining medicinal plants in herbal tea

Although numerous, here is a selection of plants known for their benefits on blood and lymphatic circulation.

Nettle: Rich in flavonoids and minerals, it is known as a depurative and diuretic. It remineralizes the body and helps eliminate toxins that accumulate in the body.

Meadowsweet: Rich in flavonoids, toning and draining, it improves blood circulation and thus facilitates the elimination of water and toxins.

Dandelion Leaves: Known as an exceptional diuretic plant, they are effective in reducing water retention and promoting detoxification.

Luce's tips: Don't hesitate to ask your herbalist to prepare a mixture of several of these plants - ideally organic - for your herbal tea. To be enjoyed hot or cold once infused! Discover our draining infusions: Nettle herbal tea .

Please note that not all plants are suitable for consumption by pregnant or breastfeeding women, always seek the advice of your doctor.

2. Body brushing

©: Unsplash

This beauty technique known in Asia consists of using a brush to dislodge long-established cellulite while reducing the appearance of new layers. Brushing activates blood microcirculation and lymphatic drainage. It helps release dead cells and toxins.

Method:

Brush the naked body dry (without water or oils) for around ten minutes before showering.
Start at the feet, then work your way up the body using circular movements starting from the ends of the limbs.

Luce's tips: Use a brush with soft natural fiber bristles, neither too hard nor too soft.

3. Peels

© The Fashion Spot

Exfoliating once a week on targeted areas of the body helps to regenerate the epidermis and smooth out irregularities.

Luce's Tip: Mix in a bowl:

½ cup ground coffee or coffee grounds
¼ cup sea salt
¼ cup brown sugar
A few spoons of nettle oil (or olive/hazelnut oil)

Then apply the mixture to damp skin and massage gently.

Other tips: Use an Exfoliating Soap.

Our Poppy Seed Soap is a gentle natural scrub that will exfoliate for immediate soft skin. Poppy seeds gently exfoliate, removing impurities for smoother skin, while our nourishing calendula macerate formula leaves skin feeling deeply hydrated.

Discover our exfoliating soap with Alpine poppy seeds!

4. Oil massages

©Unsplash

Massage yourself with draining oils!

Apply and massage until absorbed so that the oils penetrate well into all layers of the epidermis. Ideally, when the skin is still damp after a shower for better absorption!

If you have treatments in an institute, ask your specialist to use your own oil with draining and natural properties!

Tip from Luce: Try our “tonic” treatment oil with Nettle and Rosemary :
Invigorating Body Oil that tones & stimulates. It contains a mixture of nettle and meadowsweet vegetable oils as well as essential oil with draining properties.

If you are pregnant, we recommend Nettle Oil which does not contain essential oils.

5. Jets of cold water after the shower

Cold water has a vasoconstrictor effect which increases blood pressure by constricting the vessels. In the shower or after getting out of the bath, spray cold water from your ankles to the top of your thighs, from bottom to top.

Luce's tip: To avoid experiencing too much temperature shock, lower the temperature slowly until it reaches cold.

6. Lymphatic drainage

It is a very gentle massage to be performed by an approved therapist, which will stimulate the circulation of lymph and help eliminate various wastes through the lymphatic pathways. Several sessions are necessary and it is a treatment that can be done all year round in order to stimulate the body.

7. Stay hydrated enough

Remember to hydrate well daily! It is recommended to drink around 1.5L of water per day, which is equivalent to around ten glasses of water. In case of cellulite or water retention, it is imperative to improve blood and lymphatic circulation in order to help your body eliminate toxins.

8. Suitable clothing cuts and textiles

One of the main factors hindering the proper circulation of blood and lymph is the choice of clothing that is too tight, which will compress the body and encourage the accumulation of cellulite. Ideally, especially in summer, you should wear looser clothing made from natural materials such as cotton, silk, linen, etc. Remember that the body must breathe!

The opinion of our expert Samuel Rayburn, Holistic Nutritionist (ASCA)

"The nourishment and drainage of the liver, intestine and skin is essential in taking cellulite and water retention into account. For better circulation and elimination of endogenous (internal) and exogenous waste (external), it is necessary to analyze the quality of our food, our hydration, our air and also to take into consideration our lifestyle because chronic stress creates a lot of endogenous waste."

"There are two lanes of circulation in our body, the blood and the lymph, to image the blood, it is the highway and the lymph, it is a residential area limited to 30 km/h when there is a traffic jam, the traffic can- be paralyzed, certain vehicles can overheat (inflammation) and break down or remain immobilized by other vehicles (fatty bodies) so for better fluidity, it will be necessary to unclog the liquids and to do this drain, detoxify and prevent other waste exogenous substances from clogging up our internal circulation routes."

Samuel's tips:

1) Choose fruits and vegetables (organic or unprocessed from your region) rich in vitamins and minerals.

2) Reduce salt and ask ourselves if we are not in “survival mode”, because this conditions our brain to store water and lipids.

3) Also reduce our glycemic index to prevent the pancreas from secreting insulin which transforms sugar into a poor quality fatty substance and then stores it for possible use in the event of famine.

4) Beware of refined sugar and poor quality and industrial lipids.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR NUTRITIONIST SAMUEL RAYBURN