Last week I talked about the importance of understanding that our skin is our largest organ and that our skin tells us much about our gut health.  It is a great barometer of our overall health.  If you didn’t have a chance to read about that topic, here is the link to read.  Our Skin is Our Great Barometer

Internally, your largest organ is your liver, and your liver is important in detoxifying your body of substances that don’t belong there. So, it is important to be concerned with what you put in your body and to keep your gut healthy and free from toxins.

The second way to care for your skin will be from the outside in.  Let’s say you are a great eater and are very conscious of what goes in your body, but your skin is still not doing well.  Then we must look at what is happening in our environment and what you are putting on your body.  Today I’m going to give you some tips on how to take care of your skin from the outside in.

9 Tips for Taking Care of Your Skin.

It’s hard to determine which one of these tips are most important (because they all are) and the sequence of the list below is no indication of that.  Take every tip and apply it to your skin and I believe you will like the results.  The first tip we understand.  Diet is critical to your gut health and your overall health.

• Diet

Be sure to eat a well-balanced diet that eliminates processed foods, artificial colors, preservatives and flavorings, sugar and foods with GMOs.  Get lots of greens and “whole foods” in your everyday diet.

• Water

Be sure to hydrate and there is no better way than with water.  For some, water is hard.  I know I never drank it as a kid.  I hated the taste.  I think because it tasted like metal probably from the copper pipes in our home.  But when I was pregnant with my first child, I really revamped my diet and started adding water.  At that time Evian was very popular.  I drank that by the gallons.  I fell in love with water.  Water is what I drink 90% of the time.  You can add some fresh squeezed lemon or lime, sliced cucumbers or fresh mint and you will find it so refreshing.

• Sleep

This is so important.  Getting a good 8 hours is critical to not only your health but to your skin.  Sleeping allows your body to detox and rejuvenate.  When you are not getting enough sleep, your skin is pale, your eyes can be puffy, and you overall look exhausted.  Make this a must!

• Fresh air and sunshine

Vitamin D is so critical to your health.  The sunlight stimulates your body to produce Vitamin D, which is known to be protective against many diseases.  You don’t want to overdue the sun, but sun is getting a bad rap.  I don’t believe it’s the sun that gives us skin cancer but the chemicals in the sunscreen that do.  Obviously you don’t want to burn your skin.  But blocking the sun fully from your skin is not healthy either.

It’s good to get 15-20 minutes a day of sun to give you a glow of health.  A little color never hurts.  But don’t add color via cosmetics.  Get the real deal.

• Exercise

This is one area that I am very weak in.  I find it hard to exercise and am currently working through why I have such a block here.  I know in my head and in my heart, it is critical for my overall health but yet I struggle with doing this.  But exercising keeps your skin toned, increases circulation and helps detox internal chemicals by sweating.  It also can help de-stress after a long stressful day.

• Stress

Keeping your level of stress down is critical for not only the health of your skin but the health of your overall body.  This can be hard for many as we live in such a time where everything around us seems to be in chaos, turmoil, confusion and downright evil.  So, finding what you can do to move from your sympathetic system (fight or flight) to the parasympathetic system (calm and peace) where you are in a state of relaxation.  You may have to try many things to find what works for you and what may have worked before may not work now.  So having a number of options you can do to relieve stress will be essential.

• Keep your skin clean

What you wash your face with daily is imperative to your health.  The cosmetic industry is so unregulated that you really need to educate yourself with ingredients and the impact of those ingredients on your health.  Check out my blog entitled What Are You Putting on Your Body and Is It Safe?  . I discuss the dangers of many of the ingredients in our cosmetics.  You can go to Whole Foods or your local health food store and find safe products.

Also, putting a filter on your shower can be beneficial.  Our water systems are filled with fluoride and chlorine; both which are not healthy for your skin nor your body.  The chlorine kills all bacteria (even the healthy ones) on your skin and can dry it out.

• Moisturize Your Skin

This is important to keep your skin soft and smooth.  Dry skin is itchy and unattractive … to say the least.  Be sure your moisturizer is safe and use products like Shea Butter and Aloe Vera.  AVOID ALL PETROLEUM BASED PRODUCTS.  They are made from the gas you put in your automobile.  That does not belong on your body.  This actually will dry your skin even more.

Also consider taking Omega-3s. Since I’ve been using Omega-3s, the dryness on the bottom of my feet is barely there.   I found this helped tremendously with my dry skin.  But I always moisturize my skin after each shower.  The combination of the Omega 3s and moisturizing has eliminated dry skin on my body and 98% on the bottom of my feet.  I used to have a battle with this.

• Tone Your Skin

Consider using a toner to give your skin a protective measure that will help remove residual oils and impurities.  After you cleanse your skin, use the toner.  Mine is a spray so it’s easy to spray my face.  There are many healthy recipes for toners as well.  Dr. Axe or Dr. Eric Z has a number of options.

• Exfoliate Your Skin

This helps to remove dead skin cells and unclog your pores.  It also will help the blood circulate in your skin and will refresh its surface.  Doing this 2 – 3 times a week will create a beautiful glow in your skin … barring you are eating well, drinking enough water and getting enough sleep.

Be sure you use a product that has a gentle exfoliate; a product that has ingredients such as ground cornmeal, oatmeal or finely chopped nuts.  You can even make your own exfoliating paste with water, rosewater or even some herbal teas.  Or consider making your own with sugar, essential oils and olive or almond oil.  These natural products will help draw toxins from your skin as well.

Bottom line we must be responsible and take care of our skin … as well as our body.

We are our best advocates.  Eat well, rest well, hydrate well and be careful what you put on your body.  Resolve to make little healthy changes each day.  You don’t have to change everything in one shot.  Make small changes each day and before you know it you will have achieved a greater level of health and feel and look good also.

Reach out if you would like some guidance in making changes to your body care products to be sure that what you are putting on your body is safe.   Yes! Let’s talk Regina

 

Your Spiritual Life and Health Coach … believing in you!