My Healthy Skin Journey
Today, I want to share with you all my quest for healthier skin. Over the course of many months I have noticed less frequent breakouts, redness and an overall glow that had been lost due to years of struggling with mild to moderate “acne”. Those of you blessed with gorgeous skin due to genetics then lucky you! Feel free to skip this post:)
I hesitate to call this acne, as I did not respond to the typical acne treatments that I experimented with: Salicylic acid, Peels, Harsh Astringents/Toners, Peroxides, Scrubs, Antibiotics, you name it I’ve tried it.
On my holistic health journey, I realized that my acne or skin irritation bumps, were more so a result of a chronic sensitivity and intolerance to common allergenic foods. These foods include but are not limited to:
1) Citrus Family Fruits/Vegetables
2) Roasted Nuts and Refined Vegetable Oils
3) Night Shades (Eggplant, Tomatoes, Potatoes)
4) DAIRY (cows milk in particular, processed cheese, etc)
5) Soy Products
6) GLUTEN* (refined wheat, whole wheat, white flour, rye, barley, oats, etc)
7) Artificial sweeteners/colors/scary food additives such as MSG
8) Caffeine (Coffee, chocolate, soda)
9) Extremely Spicy and Sweet Foods
Of course, not all these foods will be problematic for everyone, but in my experience, being mindful of the consumption and monitoring of digestion to these foods, can bring about clarity to not only our skin issues but other health issues. After cleaning up my diet, and incorporating moderate exercise into my routine, my skin began to clear up, but I still suffered from bursts of redness and irritation and knew my body was telling me something. I then started experimenting with herbs and superfoods along with researching into what Ayurveda (the ancient indian practice of medicine) had to say about skin. This was a great body of knowledge especially for those who suffer from sensitive, fragile, problematic skin as mine.
As I had noticed from the diet changes, skin and digestion are very closely tied in Ayurveda. A weakened digestive fire or Agni shows in our skin as it impairs our ability to detoxify properly. As we know, we also detoxify through our largest organ (you got it the skin!). The skin being overwhelmed by these toxins, triggers an inflammatory response on the skin leading to (acne, pimples, rosacea, etc). This explained why most Ayurvedic solutions to problematic skin included natural anti-inflammatories such as what I call “gold” the amazing spice TURMERIC!
Here are some of my favourite tips/tricks/products to guide you if you’re suffering with skin problems:
1) Experiment with herbal teas- Yogi tea and Traditional Medicinals are some of my favorite you can find at the grocery store. Chamomile is great for redness and inflammation. I feel I can always find a tea for any concern I am facing. Add a pinch of turmeric and lemon for even more benefits!
2) Purge your skin care products. Use natural or organic skin care products. LESS is more. **Also be mindful of your shampoo/hair products as these can make contact with the face, the same applies if you suffer from body skin irritations)
Example Skin Care Routine
1) Cleanse with non-irritating gentle cleanser such as (First Aid Beauty, Earth Science, 100% Pure,etc)
2) Serum/Oil (optional) to treat hyper-pigmentation, dryness, acne scarring, etc). I love using pure rosehip oil on lingering scars. Jurlique also makes a great redness serum with healing Calendula.
3) Moisturize with a clean moisturizer preferably aloe based. Choose one that is tailored to your needs. I found that moisturizers with Tea-tree/Neem help when I am suffering from active breakout! Tea-tree and Neem are both naturally anti-bacterial. This is my absolutely favorite skin gel. A must have! http://www.naturesaid.ca/
4) Once a week use a Clay Mask (Kaolin, Bentonite Clay) to withdraw impurities. Other masks that work great are turmeric and organic yoghurt, neem and fullers earth, and aloe vera masks.
3) Try to incorporate more skin friendly preferably organic foods into your diet think (green vegetables, fresh fruits, seeds, high quality protein, superfoods) I try to have a green juice or green smoothie every day to accomplish this goal.
4) Take a high quality probiotic daily. This will strengthen your immunity by increasing the amount of good bacteria in your gut. (Healthy digestion=beautiful skin)
5) Last but not least, I would recommend a Clarisonic Skin Brush with the Cashmere Brush Head (least irritating) to help naturally exfoliate your skin. It has made a world of a difference, and naturally helps to increase circulation and withdraw impurities.
If you know anyone suffering from skin troubles be KIND and sensitive to their struggles! Do not pass judgement or comment on their “flaws” what we need is love and acceptance. If you are suffering from problematic skin, recognize that this is not your fault. A lot of skin issues have to do with genetics and having less than perfect skin does not define you. We are all different so let’s just strive to be the best versions of ourselves.
**Please note, these are some of the advice and tips that have worked well for me. Everyone’s skin is different and you should always follow the advice of your doctor before drastically altering your lifestyle”“