Summer Skin Wraps

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skin wrap

Skin wrapping is the process of applying potent substances to the skin that are healing and nourishing. Sometimes a wrap is used to hold these healing salves next to the skin and keep them slightly moist for optimal absorption. They can be especially useful for anti-aging skin care regimes, and for healing sunburns and sun damage. To heal a sunburn, add in fresh extracts of cucumber and aloe. Research shows that both contain phytonutrients that help heal the skin, reduce inflammation, are rich antioxidants, and have cancer-fighting properties. They are very moisturizing and cooling to the skin as well. Use a cool wrap made from 100% cotton to help sooth the skin. 

Cucumber Aloe Skin Wrap Recipe

  • 1/2 cucumber
  • 3 pieces of fresh aloe vera.

Coarsely chop the cucumber and use a blender to make it into a smooth mass. Put the mass in a strainer to get rid of excess water. Remove the meat from the aloe vera and rinse it under running water (the yellow juice in aloe vera will be itchy on your skin so it needs to be washed off). Place the aloe meat in the blender and blend until smooth. Mix the cucumber and aloe together in a bowl to form a paste. Apply the paste to your skin and lightly wrap with a cool cotton cloth. Replace wrap every 5 minutes once the skin begins to warm up. This helps to keep the body cool, and keeps the sunburn from being aggravated by a buildup of excess heat. 

Image Attribution: S847/istockphoto.com