Philosophy

Our philosophy at Five Seed is somewhat radical:

Leave your face alone.

In this culture we tend to over-groom. We shower every day (sometimes more than that), wash our faces at least twice a day, and cover our skin with endless toxic concoctions. The makeup and other products cause our bodies to have to process and expel the toxins. The constant washing and over- or under-moisturizing throw our skin off balance over and over again.

The fact is, our bodies are magnificently intelligent. They know how to process what we eat, how to eliminate toxins, how to move in ways that will keep us feeling good, and how to keep everything functioning at its best. The problem is that we have been taught not to trust our bodies. We have been led to believe that unless we wash our faces twice a day (with Brand X’s facial cleanser) and unless we use Brand X’s oil-free moisturizer, then we will development pimples. And if we don’t use Brand X’s eye cream, we will end up with crow’s feet before we’re 30.  And if we don’t use Brand X’s anti-aging cream, we’ll look like an old leather jacket by the time we hit 40.

And even after we have buffed, scrubbed, and moisturized our faces into a frenzy, are we done? Are we beautiful enough to present ourselves to the world? No. Then we must apply Brand Y’s eye shadow, liner, mascara, blush, and lipstick.

At Five Seed, we don’t believe you need any of this. Again, our bodies know what to do far better than we do. Here’s what we recommend:

-Give up soap. Only wash your face with lukewarm water, one or two times a day. (If you prefer to wear foundation during the day, be sure to remove it completely at night – you may need to use a wet washcloth, or wipe your face down with grapeseed or sweet almond oil before rinsing.)

-Use only a gentle, natural moisturizer, and just a light layer. Let it soak in, then dab the excess off with a washcloth.

-Dare yourself to go bare-faced as often as you can. Learn to love the face you have, without embellishment. When you do wear makeup, keep it light, and be sure to check out your products on the Skin Deep website. If yours rank too high on their toxic scale, find something better.

-Don’t wear anything on your skin at night – not even moisturizer (unless your face is painfully dry). Let your skin BREATHE and correct itself as you sleep.

-Don’t “overcorrect,” and don’t smother. If you get a pimple, don’t wipe it with harsh astringents, scrub it, or put harsh pimple creams on it. Further, don’t make it worse by layering it with concealer. Keep it light, and don’t freak out – everyone gets pimples from time to time. If you feel the need to treat it, dab a bit of kaolin clay on it and leave on for 15 minutes. Then gently wipe off with a warm, wet washcloth. The best thing you can do is to let it run its course.

Some – or all – of these suggestions may be too much for the average North American woman! Believe me, I understand. I have been there, too. But I have slowly learned to “uncover” and get to know my real face as time has gone by. I have learned to trust my own body.

This process is ongoing, and we can all take baby steps on our separate journeys. I encourage you to gather your courage and faith, and take your own baby steps on this journey. Be brave and trust in yourself. Do what you can. And above all, love what you see in the mirror – with and without embellishment.

For more information, see The Five Seeds of Beauty.