We all want to look our best, and having healthy skin helps us look younger and feel more beautiful. Being the largest organ in our body, the skin has many functions and is constantly multitasking. Apart from acting as a protective barrier to keep bacteria, viruses, pollution and other contaminants from entering the body, the skin has the following functions:
- Regulates body temperature.
- Controls loss of moisture.
- Recognizes the feeling of pain to warn us of danger.
Your skin is often a reflection of your internal health. Dull or dry skin, breakouts, blemishes, pigmentation, or signs of premature aging such as fine lines or wrinkles may be signs that you need to pay closer attention to your diet and lifestyle. Here are 3 tips that can help promote healthy, beautiful skin from the inside out!
Tip 1: Watch your diet while adding the right supplements
Nutrition plays a vital role in skin health. The proper amounts of vitamins, minerals and fibre in your diet are known to be agents in good skin health. So be sure to eat foods that contain these important ingredients. These ingredients are found in fruits, vegetables and other highly nutritious foods.
Some people get skin outbreaks from excessive stress. Vitamin B Complex acts as a stress reliever. Furthermore, adequate intake of B vitamins prevents acne, rashes, dry and flaky skin, cracked lips and wrinkles.
Among the B vitamins, vitamin B3 (Niacin) is particularly helpful for healthy, youthful skin and anti-aging. This is because Niacin increases blood circulation throughout the body and to blood vessels close to the skin, oxygenating and sending nutrients to these cells and tissues.
Note: As Niacin is a vasodilator, it should not be taken in cases of bleeding or heavy menses. Caution should also be taken when one is taking blood thinning medications.
Vitamin C is arguably the most important nutrient for the body’s healthy function and in maintaining the skin’s appearance. It is an essential ingredient in over 300 metabolic functions within the body. In addition, it is essential in preventing a number of illnesses and helps the body heal and repair itself. It improves the immune system and enhances the endocrine system; which means vitamin C has a direct link to how your skin looks.
As vitamin C and Bs are water soluble, our body is unable to store them for use later. Daily intake of NewLife™ C Complex, B Complex and Niacin will help replenish the supply that your body needs.
NewLife™ Collasta contains a group of power-packed ingredients that are rich in antioxidants, collagen and astaxanthin. These ingredients are all extremely beneficial for skin repair and health. They help to improve skin elasticity, reduce wrinkles and increase blood flow to the skin. Astaxanthin provides a natural protection to the sun’s burning rays thus protecting your skin from developing sunburn; however, sunblock is still recommended for extended time outdoors!
Your skin and your gut are linked by what’s called the gut-skin axis. Research has found that your gut microbiome directly affects your skin. When your intestinal barrier isn’t healthy, bad bacteria enters the bloodstream, builds up in your skin and damages the skin microbiome. Bifidobacterium longum is a proven probiotic that all of us had on our skin at one time—even newborns have it. But most of us don’t have any of this beneficial bacterium on our skin anymore. Antibacterial soaps and body cleansers wash it away! But you can restore this probiotic! When you increase your body’s supply of Bifidobacterium longum, these essential bugs form a protective skin barrier that will:
- Fight infections
- Block environmental damage
- Boost immunity
- Balance pH levels
- Improve hydration
- Reduce wrinkle depth
- Increase skin elasticity
NewLife™ Immuflora® contains 10 billion viable cells of Bifidobac-terium longum and should be taken daily.
Take Immuflora® together with N.Zimes PA Plus™ and you will get a dynamic duo that work synergistically together to reduce inflammation and promote tissue repair – which can result in better skin health.
Add Flax Seed Oil and Extra Virgin Coconut Oil to your yoghurt or salad on a daily basis. They will help create a stronger skin barrier. They are also known to fight inflammation in the gut, which will show positive effects on the skin too. Last but not least, they are soothing and hydrating agents, resulting in a tighter, bouncier complexion.
Tip 2: Consider a healthy routine for skin care
Some of the most common ingredients in skincare products are actually the same chemicals listed under “hazardous materials” on warning signs and labels. They definitely shouldn’t be used in your skincare routine. Some examples:
Ethanol, methanol and other alcohols. These are all drying ingredients that strip away the skin’s natural oils and lead to premature aging and irritation.
Mineral oil. Derived from petroleum, it forms a film over your skin, clogging pores and hindering the skin’s natural ability to cleanse itself. With extended use, it can encourage acne and actually irritate and inflame skin. This results in an aging effect that makes fine lines and wrinkles much more visible.
The other area that needs your attention is soap. Soap should only be used where it’s absolutely needed in order to prevent the elimination of useful bacteria. Over soaping your whole body can cause excess dryness. On top of that, it may also kill off the good bacteria on our skin and actually harm our immunity.
Besides, not all soaps are created equal. One needs to look at the ingredients in the soap or body wash carefully. Stay away from these four main harmful ingredients:
Fragrance. Constant exposure to fragrances has been shown to negatively impact the central nervous system and can trigger allergies, migraines and asthma symptoms.
Parabens. Researchers have found that parabens are easily absorbed by your skin and they stay in your body tissues and fluids. Parabens were detected in breast milk, serum, urine, seminal fluid and in the breast tissues of patients with breast cancer. They are estrogen mimickers—meaning that once applied to the skin, they enter the bloodstream, and the body mistakes them for estrogen. When the body thinks there is an abnormally high amount of estrogen present in the bloodstream due to the presence of these hormone disruptors, it reacts in various ways: decreasing muscle mass, increasing fat deposits, causing early onset of puberty and spurring reproductive difficulties in both men and women. A study also found that parabens can sensitize the skin, causing allergic reactions.
Sulfates. They are used to create lather and bubbles. Common ones are SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) and SLES (sodium laureth sulfate). Sulfates strip the skin of its natural oils. They are also irritants for people with sensitive skin or eczema.
Triclosan. This chemical is most often found in antibacterial soap. Recent studies have found that triclosan actually promotes the emergence and growth of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotic cleansers. It also creates dioxins which have disruptive effects on the endocrine system and negatively affect thyroid functions and immune system.
So, what should we do? Here are our recommendations for clean, protected skin that will keep you looking young and healthy.
Use Castile Liquid Cleanser instead of commercial liquid soap:
- Enhanced with natural goodness, this is not a complex blend of detergents. Rather it is an ecologically-balanced cleanser made from
natural ingredients that are suitable for sensitive skin.
- Enriched with the essential oils of lavender, lemongrass, petitgrain, rosemary and eucalyptus. It gives a pleasant refreshing scent that
relaxes and refreshes.
- Cleanses and moisturises.
Mix equal parts of Castor Oil and Extra Virgin Coconut Oil together. Doing so will help promote absorption into the skin. Apply the mixture directly to the skin using a cotton ball. This will benefit your skin in the following ways:
- Anti-inflammatory: Chronic inflammation is a major component of many different types of skin disorders. The anti-inflammatory effect of
this oil mixture may be useful for soothing irritated skin.
- Antimicrobial: Many types of skin infections are caused by bacteria or fungi. Research has shown that there are specific components in
both Castor Oil and Extra Virgin Coconut Oil that can help protect the skin against harmful microorganisms.
- Moisturizing: Keeping your skin moisturized can help preserve its function and maintain overall skin health.
- Hydration: Castor Oil can draw moisture from the air into the skin, keeping the skin hydrated.
- Cleansing: This mixture can be used as a natural makeup remover.
Tip 3: Get enough rest
One common problem that many people face is prolonged periods of low-grade stress. This is not the normal “fight or flight” that the body is able to deal with. Long-term, low-grade stress is very unhealthy for the body and causes problems such as inflammation. It was found that when a person is stressed, the adrenal cortex converts adrenal androgens to the testosterone hormone in both males and females, which in turn results in overactive sebaceous glands. The increased amount of testosterone in the body can cause the face to be oily, while other areas of the body are still dry from dehydration. So, practising healthy stress management and making sure to get at least 7 to 8 hours of undisturbed sleep daily is one of the best ways to rejuvenate the skin.