The 4 Pillars for Healthy Skin

Healthy skin is not something that can be achieved overnight, or just by changing moisturisers or adding in a serum. Sure, curating a skincare routine that supports the structure and function of healthy skin is one crucial element in your skin story, but it’s not the only one. In this blog post I hope to educate you on our 4 Pillars for Healthy Skin, and how taking a holistic approach is essential for building long term skin health and beauty from within.

What You Eat

Choosing foods that support healthy skin from within

The foods you choose to eat on a daily basis are either nourishing your skin from within or hurting it. Your skin cells have an approximately 4 week life cycle (this slows as we age), and new cells, like all cells in your body, are made from what you put in your mouth. There is not other resource that the body can pull from other than what you fuel yourself with. Vitamins A, B, C, E, minerals such as calcium, copper and zinc, fibre, water, essential fatty acids and antioxidants are all crucial for building long term healthy skin. On a daily basis you should be aiming to eat 8 serves of different coloured vegetables, 2000mg of essential fatty acids (we recommend 1-2 tablespoons of the Bestow Beauty Plus oil) 2 liters of water, good quality proteins such as tempeh, sprouted chickpeas, lentils and other legumes, and organic tofu with every meal as well as good quality fats such as coconut, almonds, walnuts, avocado, hemp, tahini and chia seeds. Foods that congest and inflame your skin from the inside such as fatty meats, sugar and processed foods should be reduced or avoided completely, as these don’t supply your body with the right building blocks needed to build healthy cells.

What You Do

Creating skincare rituals that support your skin’s structure and function

Choosing skincare that supports the structure and function of healthy skin, and creating daily rituals that encourage you to look after your skin, is our second pillar for healthy skin. We choose to work with skincare that is corneotherapeutic, this means it supports the skin’s barrier defence systems, rather than stripping away the first lines of defence, which can often result in a vicious cycle of ‘feels good for a few days now I’m severely dehydrated and congested again!’ Your skincare at home should be enjoyable to use and leave your skin feeling hydrated and functioning well - you should never feel like you need to apply moisturiser because your skin is ‘tight and dry’ after cleansing. Your skincare shouldn’t include parabens, nasty preservatives, occlusive agents (unless for a specific purpose), added fragrance or colours. Since when did your skin produce those things? Never, so it seems highly unlikely that it needs them added, correct? Carving out time for self care (in the form of a dreamy facial) once a month is also high on our list of essential items for healthy skin - for both the physical benefits and boost your facialist can give your skin each month, as well as the myriad physical benefits of ‘switching off’ and connecting back in with your source. We don’t underestimate the profound benefit an hour under our hands brings to every woman who comes into our clinic.

What You Say

Constantly on the negative-self-talk bandwagon?

If you’re constantly telling yourself stories such as “my skin is sooooo bad!” “I always get a pimple when I have a date” or “I’m too fat/not skinny enough”, then what messages do you think the cells in your body are hearing, and responding to? The same way that you have the power to create your own reality - if you haven’t heard of the Law of Attraction, look it up, but the basic premise is your beliefs create your reality - the same way, your thoughts and beliefs create your body! Dr Bruce Lipton, PhD, in his book The Biology of Belief explains how through scientific research he has discovered that your thoughts directly effect the cells in your body. It’s time to change your narrative, but you’ve got to start with your beliefs. Find the root of why you tell yourself these negative stories, and then very quickly you will realise they’re not the truth, and you can edit and adjust and watch the magic happen!

How You React

Constantly in stress response mode?

If you find yourself ‘reacting’ to things and situations, in a way that feels uncontrolled or emotional, that is a key indicator that your body has cortisol and adrenaline pumping through it. But more often than not, people tell us “I’m not stressed”. Please darling, you are. Constant emails, social media, work, after work commitments, kids, housework, cooking, the need to be everything to everyone, even if you relate to just one of these things, you’ve got stress hormones racing through your body, maybe not all of the time but often. One easy way to stop being so reactive, and switch yourself from ‘fight or flight’ into ‘rest and digest’ is through your breath. Stop right now and just watch where your breath is coming from. Is it in your chest? Probably yes. Adopt the routine of taking 10 deep belly breaths, eyes closed, full inhales and exhales, 3 times a day, and notice the profound effect this has on your daily life. Sometimes naturopathic help is needed to manage chronic stress, and daily herbs can help support your adrenals. The daily practice of skin soaking is another beautiful way to stop and reset your nervous system, while simultaneously promoting healthy skin, and a ritual we love to teach all our clients.

Want to learn more? Book an appointment and let’s get you started on your Skin Health Journey with us today.