June 04, 2021

5 Things You can do for Better Skin, from Within

As a beauty brand, we are passionate about providing resources and information that encompasses the entire spectrum of skin care. Of course it's easy and exciting to browse through beauty products, ooooh and aaaaah over packaging and branding, but in order to fully elevate our skin to its healthiest state, it's important to look within. What we put on our bodies is equally as important as what we put inside. Let's take a look at 5 things we can do for better skin, from within.

Unleashing the glow factor!

1. Food Sensitivities and Gut Issues - Certain foods could be causing gut issues, ultimately, leading to skin issues. Do you notice that when you eat certain food items your body reacts through nausea, bloating, diarrhea, fatigue, heartburn, or indigestion? It's common practice to overlook these symptoms of food sensitivities and chalk it up to "that didn't agree with me." However, if we dive deeper and take a look at what is actually causing discomfort, we can determine which foods to avoid or at least eat less often to ensure comfort and glowing skin. Everything in balance!

"The gut provides a barrier between the interior of the digestive tract and the general circulation; all that separates the contents of your intestinal tract from the rest of you. Anything that irritates the lining of your gut can cause it to become inflamed. When the gut gets irritated and inflamed, several things happen. The nerves that permeate the digestive tract are signaled to tell the body that war has been declared on the gut and it triggers the alarm bell; the body responds by ramping up the stress response to help ready the body to fight."

What began as simple "indigestion" after a meal, can actually have a greater impact and be effecting more than we realize!

Common culprits include - Gluten, processed sugars, refined oils, dairy, nuts, nightshades, and sometimes even eggs can effect you!

Now, this may seem overwhelming and you might be wondering "Where do I even start?"

If you’re having gut issues, taking a food sensitivity test will help you determine what foods to avoid while your gut is healing - which will, ultimately, benefit your skin! You can also make an appointment with your local Naturopathic Doctor who can help you work on getting these issues healed and under control.

Food Sensitivity Test:

2. Drink Water & Nourishing Diet - Making sure you’re drinking enough water (preferably alkalized, filtered water), at least half your weight in ounces, enables your body to flush out excess daily toxins through your liver and kidneys. When you don't drink enough water, your body holds on to what it has and we tend to feel bloated or swollen. Eating foods high in vitamins ensures your body is receiving the proper nutrients it needs to perform its natural functions.

Eat a nourishing diet high in vitamins, minerals, and nutrients and less processed foods with over processed polyunsaturated oils. A great way to do this is to avoid purchasing anything pre-packaged, opting for the fresh produce section, preparing meals (even simple meals from fresh organic fruits, meats, veggies and grains - if your gut can handle them). This is a great way to avoid any processed oils/chemicals that can effect our skin. We promise that once you begin switching your diet to include more fresh foods, you will find yourself reaching for them and excited to put meals together! The body knows what it needs!

A few specific foods that are great for the skin, include: sweet potatoes, salmon, leafy greens, avocados, and citrus.

Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of beta carotene that provides skin with a natural sunblock. It is converted to vitamin A that is responsible for healthy skin cell growth and turnover.

Salmon is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids help maintain moisture while contributing to the production of collagen, a protein that maintains the skin's elasticity preventing wrinkles.

Leafy Greens are high in vitamin K that improves blood circulation and helps reduce inflammation, reducing puffiness and water retention around the face.

Avocados are high in healthy fats and vitamin E. Healthy fats help with dryness that can show up in the skin. Eating your good fats, makes for good skin!

Citrus fruits are high in vitamin C which helps produce and maintain collagen, it is a powerful antioxidant, and has a neutralizing effect that helps balance pH levels working to prevent bacteria growth that creates acne.

Pro tip: We know it can be daunting to remember to drink enough water throughout the day. Find a water bottle that makes you excited to drink water! There are even some that include the different times of the day to drink with motivational words! We are loving these:

3. Organ Supporting and Skin Nourishing Herbs - Along with a nutritious diet that promotes a healthy gut, there are many herbs that provide support for our organs/skin. One particular organ that, when provided the right nutrients, can help maintain healthy glowing skin is the liver. When the liver is sluggish, the skin can be effected and look dull and break out with acne. Introducing herbs into your daily routine that help promote a healthy liver as well as healthy gut, endocrine system and other detoxification organs such as the kidney, will in turn help with your skin greatly. When we support what's inside, it shows up on the outside!

Here are just a few herbs we've found super beneficial in our studies for skin health.

Gotu kola is rich in triternene saponins—a compound that helps keep skin tighter and firmer—and is also a great source of phytonutrients called flavonoids that act as antioxidants and fight off free radical damage. It boosts the formation of collagen and skin tissue, which is crucial in maintaining the skin’s elasticity and youthful glow. Another benefit that gotu kola is known for is its ability to improve blood circulation which helps keep skin clear. I think one of the best benefits is that it is an adaptogen, which helps reduce and manage stress in the body and the organs in which cortisol response in produce. Managing stress, can help with keeping the skin looking great.

Ginger root has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and antibacterial properties which helps combat bacteria like staph and candida which can be a major cause of acne.

Rose petals produce oils that assist the skin in retaining moisture as well as provide a high source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is great for skin health outside... and inside as well! Helping counteract free radicals as well as majorly brighten up skin!

Burdock root acts as an antioxidant against harmful chemicals in the body, and reduces inflammation which can cause puffiness and redness. The antiseptic properties help fight acne.

We are excited about our newly released product INSIDE OUT SKIN FOOD that delivers a unique blend of herbs and botanicals targets the skin synergistically working to give you your best skin, from within!

When we give our body the tools to help heal itself, it will begin to balance all major systems (like the endocrine (hormones) and elimination system (larger organs). Supporting our endocrine system helps with hormones, stress, anxiety and so many other areas including hair, skin, nails. Which leads us to the next point....

4. Managing Stress & Anxiety - We know. 2020 brought more breakouts than we care to discuss, but we can all agree that our stress and anxiety levels reached record heights! We began to see the biggest skeptics realize the importance of self-care and protecting our mental health. Finding the beauty in utilizing quiet time to journal, do affirmations and think about all that we are thankful for as well as taking time to reduce stress and anxiety through exercise will help the skin tremendously. But how exactly do these reduce acne?

"Consistent stress and anxiety can cause the release of stress-related hormones such as cortisol and sends skin’s sebaceous (oil) glands into overdrive, which mixes with dead skin cells and breakout-causing bacteria. Adult skin is more prone to buildup of dead skin cells because natural cell turnover slows over time.

When skin is stressed, it also loses some of its ability to protect itself because its barrier becomes compromised. For adults, this can lead to further complications, such as inflammation and premature signs of skin aging. Stress damages collagen, causing wrinkles. Cortisol lowers natural production of Hyaluronic Acid, which dehydrates skin and increases the appearance of fine lines. Dehydration also triggers even more production of excess sebum, which creates the perfect breeding ground for breakout-causing bacteria."

Exercising is often recommended to help reduce anxiety and calm our mental state. However, there are many more benefits, specifically for the skin, than the physical aspect of working out.

"By increasing blood flow, exercise helps nourish skin cells and keep them vital. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to working cells throughout the body, including the skin. In addition to providing oxygen, blood flow also helps carry away waste products, including free radicals, from working cells. Contrary to some claims, exercise doesn't detoxify the skin. The job of neutralizing toxins belongs mostly to the liver. But by increasing blood flow, a bout of exercise helps flush cellular debris out of the system. You can think of it as cleansing your skin from the inside."

5. Limit coffee caffeine and add in warm lemon water first thing in the morning (with our inside out skin food tea and drops) and green tea. Lemon water jump starts your digestion flow and makes sure your body is regulated. Being unregulated with any elimination in your body can cause toxins to build up and effect the skin. Swap out coffee for green tea which is high in anti-oxidants - great for the skin! Our skin is our largest organ and when we are balanced on the inside, we show it on the outside!

References: cdhf.ca, Dermstore.com, dermalogica.com, webmd.com

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