How to get your glow on: My best year-round skin tips
“What’s up with your skin?” is one of the top questions I receive, which is ironic because I have not always had good skin. Actually, quite the opposite.
This is such a great place to start on a health journey because skin issues bother us. We want to look good, but even more importantly, we want to feel good. We want to be comfortable and confident in our own skin (pun intended)! And it’s hard to feel that way when your visible skin is acting up.
Our skin actually does us a huge favor. Our skin is a mirror of our bodies. You know those research cows who have windows in their sides so you can see their digestive tracts? Think of your skin like a window into your internal environment.
We can SEE the skin, but we can’t see the GI tract or the liver or the pancreas. Our skin screams at us that something is wrong or out of balance and we respond by buying a different chemically-laden cream at the store instead of adjusting our diet or lifestyle.
Your skin, or integumentary system, is the largest organ in your body and covers approximately 20 square feet of the body. It is a visual representation of what is going on internally and often, one of the first telltale signs (that we actually pay attention to) that something is amiss.
When I was growing up, I constantly had eczema, super sensitive reactive skin, and rashes. With no other symptoms it’s super easy to write these skin issues off as a coincidence. Now I know that those were the first signs that my body was reacting to something in the environment—food, chemicals, toxins, etc.
Skin issues are NOT normal.
Acne, weak or brittle nails, eczema, rashes, breakouts, dark under-eye circles: these are all signs of an internal problem.
What we put on our skin is super important, but it is not the root cause of skin issues.
For example, when I drink wine, I usually wake up the next morning with darker circles under my eyes. Of course, the circles go away, but they don’t go away as a result of my eye cream. My eye cream certainly feels good and may reduce puffiness in the moment, but my eye circles have permanently gone away because I don’t drink wine very often.
Another common example is stress-related acne breakouts. Maybe an acne product you use helps clear up your skin quickly, but it’s only stress management tools that really keep the acne away long-term.
That being said, most personal care products are full of really nasty, organ-damaging, carcinogenic chemicals that are not doing your body any favors.
So, in getting back to the main question here, my answer is multi-faceted. I wanted to give you different options and insights, but don’t get overwhelmed. Like many health concerns, there’s a lot to this. But don’t let that stop you from fixing the root cause. And don’t be scared to start small; Remember that small shifts add up to big results.
Lifestyle Tips
1) First and foremost, I eat foods that bless my body. This is a constantly evolving practice, and I’ve really had to hone in on the skill of listening to my body.
Here’s one example. If you suffer from eczema, I would be willing to bet that your diet plays a large role. You just have not yet realized what your problem foods are (Hint: it might be gluten, dairy, or nightshades).
Diet is arguably the biggest component to glowing skin. There is no amount of expensive skin products that can make up for a poor diet.
I highly suggest working with a holistic health professional to help you discover the link between your diet and your skin.
2) I drink a shitload of water. I started tracking my water intake and that has really helped me stay on the straight and narrow. I know how many ounces of liquid my water bottle holds, so I know that 3 “water bottles” per day is optimal for me. Then I make tally marks in my planner of how many “water bottles” I drink each day. Come up with a simple system you will stick with to track your water intake.
3) I do my best to get quality sleep every night. My genetics make this challenging sometimes…Let’s just say I run a little hot.
So, I have to be vigilant about my sleep preparation. I try to make it a point to wind down about an hour before I want to go to bed. I get a lot of physical activity in during the day so I am tired. I use blue blocker glasses in the evening. And I take melatonin. Figure out what works for you and then do your best. For faster results, work with a health coach who can help you optimize your sleep patterns.
4) I sauna. Seriously, sweating without makeup on is huge you guys. Get the toxins out.
Product Tips
1) I use doTerra’s Essential Skin Care and undiluted essential oils.
Back in the day, I used CeraVe and OXY. Until one day I realized that the OXY I was using before bed was bleaching all my sheets and towels and I thought to myself: “What is this doing to my body if it is bleaching my bedding?”
I LOVE doTerra’s skin line (face wash, face lotion, toner, tightening serum, and eye cream) because it contains fabulous ingredients, my skin loves it, and it’s so easy to use! I don’t know about you, but there’s nothing about a 20-step skin regimen that appeals to me.
Before I go to sleep I put a few drops of undiluted essential oils on my skin’s acne-prone areas. I used to think that putting oil on my skin would make my skin oily. Now I realize that this could not be further from the truth because oil absorbs oil. Some of my favorites are copaiba, frankincense, and melaleuca.
Message me for a free consult if you are curious about using essential oils. I don’t recommend just trying some without consulting someone first because they are very powerful and this is how people have bad experiences.
2) I use a face roller when I wake up in the mornings. It’s like a massage for your face! Seriously, it feels amazing, de-puffs your face and eyes, and is a great stress reliever! Definitely worth the purchase. I wash my face in the mornings, then put a few drops of my favorite essential oil on my face and use the roller before I put on my lotion.
3) When I decide to wear makeup (which has happened approximately 4 times in the last 3 months lol—thanks Coronavirus), I use clean makeup. My favorite is Honest Beauty and Ilia. There’s a lot of great natural makeup lines out there these days. Have fun experimenting with new products!
4) I use natural sunscreen. Luckily there’s some decent options now. My favorite brand is Coola, but SunBum is a good one too!
Some labels to look for in a quality, safe sunscreen: Hypoallergenic, Reef Friendly, Cruelty Free, Vegan, Paraben Free, Gluten Free, PABA Free, and Organic.
5) I *try* to use natural deodorant. This will have to be a whole other blog post, but I’m sure you’ve heard about all the terrible ingredients in conventional deodorant. Honestly, I struggle with this and I know how hard it can be to find one that actually works. I have personally found this one by Primally Pure to be the most consistently effective and contain the cleanest ingredients.
Use code PRIME10 at checkout for 10% off your first order. Tip: They have TONS of other awesome skin care products! Be sure to check them out!
6) I stopped using nail polish. I have had terrible nails for my entire life, so I constantly used the clear polishes that touted themselves as nail strength builders. Then I learned what was in those small jars and I got a hit to stop painting my nails. And the rest is history.
Don’t worry, if you enjoy painting your nails, there’s some clean options now. Learn more here.
What happened when I got my diet and personal care products in order
This might feel overwhelming and I get that. For me, this all was a gradual change over a few years.
But for some more motivation, let me recap some of the best benefits I have experienced:
1) I don’t instantly become a lobster in the sun; actually, these days I get tan! Ok, I still burn if I’m not careful (have you seen how white I am?!), but my skin does not REACT in really crazy ways. Seriously, ask my best friends about the time I ended up in the Fort Lauderdale emergency room after having a major sun reaction at 18 years old—my entire body was red and purple and painful and swollen. WTF?!
2) I don’t randomly break out (in rashes or acne) like I used to. And after high school, who wants to keep having weird breakouts?
3) My skin is no longer this weird inconsistent combo of oily and dry. It has finally found equilibrium. And most days I don’t wear makeup: 1) because I just don’t really care that much and 2) because I don’t need it anymore.
4) My nails are SUPER strong for the first time in my life. And I have not used nail polish in at least 1 year. Easier for me and healthier nails? YES PLEASE.
To reiterate, skin problems are NOT normal. Take the hint from your body that something is out of whack.
Luckily, dealing with skin issues is easier than many other health conditions. It’s well worth the time to pay attention.
I do suggest getting some help with where to start on this, especially in regards to essential oils. Contact me for a free consult and to learn more about how to make the shift to better products. I would love to help you get your glow on!
Xoxo