Taking a holistic approach to your skin’s health

NUTRITION

• Nurture your skin through proper nutrition and hydration. Eating a wide variety of plant-based foods will provide a spectrum of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to keep your skin healthy and hydrated. Minimize processed foods and focus on majority of your diet consisting whole, nutrient dense foods.
• Watch out for sugary food. A diet high in sugar activates inflammation and it binds to the collagen to skin, making it less elastic and more stiff.
• Maintain a healthy gut by including probiotic supplements or foods in your diet. A healthy gut microbiome helps stimulates your immune system and the production of anti-inflammatory molecules. These help fight against inflammation-associated skin conditions, such as atopic dermatitis, acne, rosacea, psoriasis, and eczema.

LIFESTYLE

• Take control of stress. Find stress-relieving strategies to help you cope. Take time for yourself. Set reasonable limits, scale back your to-do list and make time for hobbies.
• Protect your skin with skincare that contains sunscreen to prevent the UV ray damage. Don’t forget hats and UV protective sunglasses. Cover up with protective clothing such as long sleeve shirts and long pants or even special sun-protective clothing.
• Get adequate sleep. If you’re not prioritizing sleep, change that habit to making sure you get at least 6-8 hours of sleep each night. A place for sleep should ideally be dark, slightly cool, and quiet. Limit excessive caffeine intake at night. To be sure it won’t affect your sleep, allow at least 4-5 hours between caffeine intake and sleep.
• Exercise and sweat to flush out toxins trapped in our pores. Exercise can be anything that causes your heart rate to beat faster. Examples are aerobic exercise, biking or walking with your dog.

BEAUTY

• Choose skincare products without harsh abrasives, toxic chemicals and synthetic fragrances. These items can harm your health in ways beyond just skin irritation. Opt for more natural and organic plant-based ingredients in your skincare because they contain nutrients, phytochemicals and antioxidants to fight free radicals, inflammation, slow the aging process, and boost collagen and elastin production. Take time to find to a skincare routine that works for your unique skin and commit to it twice a day, every day.
• Cleanse your skin well daily with products such as a makeup remover and gentle cleanser. Don’t forget to exfoliate skin 2-3 times a week for healthy-looking complexion.
• Treat the skin around your eyes very gently. Use a specialty cream/treatment product made especially for the area around your eyes. Keep the area moisturized as it is more likely to dry out and cause wrinkles.