By Dr. Marika Berni, ND
Your skin is your largest organ! We spend so much time worrying about the quality of our food, yet do you consider the quality of the many skincare products you and your family use everyday? How are they affecting your health?
Why use natural cosmetics and skincare products?
Better for the environment
Chemicals do not get washed into our water system!
Better for your skin
Non irritating, non allergenic, natural ingredients can support or soothe your skin!
Less exposure to chemicals which can be neurotoxins, hormone disruptors, and carcinogens!
Top offenders to look for:
Parabens
Triclosan
Petrolatum
Retinol
“Fragrance”
Phthalates
Heavy metals
Asbestos
Formaldehyde packaging – e.g. BPA
What can you do?
Read your labels
Download the EWG Healthy Living app (hyperlink : https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/).
This is great because you can check your products for harmful ingredients before you buy them.
Shop cleaner brands
Be empowered, be informed
Natural support for your skin.
Your skin is influenced by many lifestyle factors such as your diet, exercise, level of hydration, stress, sleep, and hormones. The key is to find the perfect balance!
Do’s
Increase healthy fats- avocados, nuts and seeds, olives and olive oil, fatty fish
Increase green and orange foods
Increase antioxidant rich foods
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
Try bone broth and ensure adequate protein intake
Consider an elimination diet – gluten, dairy, sugar to assess food sensitivities
Don’ts
Eliminate processed foods and refined sugar
Reduce animal products
Eliminate or reduce dairy products
Reduce alcohol
Quit smoking
Get your beauty sleep
This is when your body repairs itself!
Your skin’s blood flow increases
Rebuilds its collagen
Repairs damage from UV exposure, reducing wrinkles and age spots.
Reduces bags under the eyes
Exercise
Increases circulation bringing nutrients and oxygen and taking away waste products and free radicals
Promotes new skin cells and collagen production
Reduces inflammation
Decreases cortisol
It’s never too late! Skin aging can be reversed in people who start exercising later in life.
Nutrients to consider
Omega 3 Probiotics
Zinc Beta carotene/Vitamin A
Vitamin D3 Vitamin C
Vitamin E B vitamins
And of course…
Collagen
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body
Provides structure
Collagen is the major building block of tendons, bones, skin, muscles and ligaments
As you age your body produces less
Collagen is made in your body from the amino acids glycine + proline + Vitamin C
Smoking, sun exposure, sugar and refined carbs reduce collagen repair
Sources include bovine or marine collagen or bone broth
Collagen has been shown to improve osteoarthritis symptoms, muscle strength, and physical performance, skin elasticity, speeds up injury recovery, and improves bone mineral density,
Drink plenty of water
One of the best things you can do to take care of your skin is to drink water
Aim for eight glasses of plain water every single day
Water makes up about 70 percent of your body, and a very large portion of your skin too
Water helps to flush toxins from our bloodstream and cells, allowing your body to remove things like bacteria and waste
Balance your hormones
Imbalances in estrogen, progesterone and testosterone can lead to acne breakouts
Thyroid dysfunction can cause dry skin and rashes
Menopausal changes can result in dry skin
High insulin levels can result in skin tags, cellulite and acne accanthosis nigrcans
Blood work can help to identify hormonal imbalances, speak with your naturopath
Whether you are struggling with a specific skin condition or you just want to maintain youthful and glowing skin, there are many things you can do to support your skin’s health. Try one or two things for a month and reap the benefits!
Disclaimer
Please note that content on this website is intended for informational purposes only, and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional, nor is it meant to diagnose or treat a health problem, symptom or disease. Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your health care provider promptly. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read on this website. Information provided on this website DOES NOT create a doctor-patient relationship between you and any doctor affiliated with our website.