Skincare is Healthcare

"I like my skin best when it's clean and glowy, and that comes from sleep, hydration, and happiness." - Tracee Ellis Ross

Skincare is Healthcare: Take Care of it so it Takes Care of You 

Your skin is your body’s largest organ and it has a pretty big job to do! It covers and protects your internal organs from the environment, direct injury, and risk of infection. It also regulates your body temperature, so you don’t immediately overheat or freeze to death in certain surroundings. Without your skin, you’d die.

Necessarily, skincare should be viewed as important as healthcare; and not just a routine to cover up your skin to make it "pretty”. Taking care of your skin is an act of self-love and compassion for all your body has endured over your lifetime.  

The condition and appearance of your skin reflects the state of your inner health and wellbeing. It’s a good first indicator for when things might be off physically or mentally, thus requiring a deeper examination and diagnosis by a medical professional. 

Nourishing yourself from the inside out with better choices in nutrition, cleaner skincare, and self-care practices are vital to maintaining good skin and health as you mature. 

Put Good In, Get Good Out

Miraculously, your skin continuously regenerates by shedding dead tissue to reveal new layers of your epidermis throughout the day. It lovingly expands for extra weight and life, as well as shrinks to accommodate smaller physiques. 

Without being asked, your skin restores itself from wounds caused by injuries to leave sentimental reminders of just how resilient you are! Nevertheless, the quality of your skin and its ability to heal are only as good as the things you consume.  

• You are what you eat and do! The foods you eat have a direct impact on how you feel and look! To maintain good health and glowing skin, it’s necessary to incorporate foods high in essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals such as fish, berries, avocado, lean meats, nuts, and leafy vegetables into your diet. Also, reducing your exposure to stress, smoking, alcohol, and drugs will produce a healthier body, clearer skin and mind! 
  
  
• Adequate sleep and water does a body good. Don’t skip your Beauty Sleep! Do your best to get 7-9 solid hours of snooze time to improve your appearance, not unless you love feeling sluggish with dark circles and bags under your eyes! Not to mention, sleep is the time-out your body needs to repair itself, while digesting food to convert it into valuable energy. 

Similarly, we need water for essential bodily functions - respiration, metabolizing foods, and flushing toxins and waste from the body. Drinking a sufficient amount of water promotes elasticity and hydration of your skin to diminish wrinkles, scars, and premature signs of aging. 

• Move it. Physical activity is a big plus for your skin and body. The extra blood flow and oxygen being pumped through your body nourishes your skin and cells, while getting rid of toxins through your pores. It’s a total body detox; just don’t forget to cleanse your skin after to wash away the gunk.  

Cleanse and Hydrate

Regularly wash your skin with a gentle soap to remove bacteria, dirt, toxins, shed skin, and excess oils. Soaps contain cleansers, also known as surfactants.

Harsh surfactants and chemicals may leave your skin tight, itchy or irritated. On the other hand, soaps that leave your skin feeling dirty or oily can be too gentle; not having enough surfactants to get the job done. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it might be time to try a new cleanser or cleansing method.  

• Oil cleansing is the truth! What is an oil cleanse you ask? It involves lathering your skin down with pure plant-based oils that naturally have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties to “wash” away dead skin, makeup, and pollutants. Scientifically, “like attracts like” where the cleansing oils stick to and dissolve dirt and oils on the skin.   

• Benefits of an oil cleanse 
• Soothes and heals dry, irritated and sensitive skin
• Cleans pores and reduces breakouts
• Reduces oily skin and acne by dissolving excess oils on your skin

• Which oil should I use?
  Some good basic natural cleansing oil options include coconut, olive, jojoba, rosehip, and castor oils. Just go easy on the castor oil because too much can dry the skin out; it’s also not recommended for sensitive skin.  

Follow up the oil cleanse with your favorite water-based cleanser or a gentle moisturizing bar of soap to remove any leftover oils. 

For those who wear makeup, the oil cleansing routine is highly recommended if you want to maintain healthy blemish-free skin. Sleeping in makeup or not removing it correctly will cause irritation and breakouts from clogged pores. There are many products you can purchase to remove makeup, but this simple oil cleansing method is by far the cheapest and most natural way to go. Your skin will thank you later! 

Lastly, good skin care habits should include keeping it hydrated with quality moisturizers and products made with humectants, plant-based oils, and emollients to support and repair your skin’s barrier protection. 

Protect

Your skin is your body’s first line of defense to your external environment, but it can’t protect itself alone. Wearing sunscreen and protective clothing to shade your delicate skin from direct ultraviolet rays prevent sun damage or worse, cancer! Also, knowing what’s in the products you use are key to preserving your skin and health in the long-run.  

• Sunscreen is your friend. EVERYONE needs protection from the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays, even melanated skin! A good broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30 is recommended for daily use. If you have dark skin and are searching for a good sunscreen that doesn’t leave a white nasty film on your skin, check out this list of the best sunscreens for dark skin in 2022.  
  
  
• Read your product’s ingredient labels. Educating yourself on the ingredients in the products you consume are both empowering and important to your skin’s care. If something looks like a chemical or you’re unsure how it might affect your health, you can look it up in the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Database online. The database allows you to search by ingredient name, brand or product name to learn about its safety rating and toxicity warnings. 
  
  
• Simplify Your Skincare Routine. Less is more and natural is best! Skincare products can get pretty expensive when all you really need are these three things: 

1. Cleanser
2. Moisturizer
3. Sunscreen

It’s just that simple! When shopping for skincare products to add to your simplified routine, look for those made with fewer ingredients that are mostly plant-derived. In many cases, products with long ingredient lists are filled with chemicals or synthetics that are harmful when absorbed into your bloodstream over time. 

Because skincare is healthcare, look for products that contain ingredients you recognize or research the product and brand for reassurance. Give your skin a little love today, it deserves it! 

Disclaimer: This material is for informational purposes only. It does not replace the advice or counsel of a doctor or health care professional. You should consult with, and rely only on the advice of, your physician or health care professional.