Our inbox, Instagram DMs and website live chat are flooded every single day with similar questions: “I have (fill in the blank) skin. What’s the best way to care for it?”
So we’ve put together a new blog post series to help you navigate the products, practices and routines that best support where your skin is at today. With the ever-evolving nature of skin depending on seasons, stress levels or lifestyle shifts, you may find yourself moving from one post to another and taking a few topical suggestions from one and a couple self-care practices from another. And we 100% support that. ? Acne-prone skin? Check out our first post of the series here.
While we’ve compiled our go-to solutions for caring for specific skin conditions, we always recommend letting your skin guide you. Feel it out, play with products and enjoy the process!
Alright, here we go, post #2.
Our top tips for sensitive, reactive or stressed skin in need of some serious TLC.
CALM SKIN PRACTICES
Because every part of our being is connected, it’s important to take a holistic approach for a full skin healing protocol – and these practices are the perfect place to start.
Eczema, acne, psoriasis, redness, dermatitis, rosacea, dry/scaly skin are all skin conditions which can have the same root cause. Often (if not, always) inflammatory skin conditions are a sign that something is out of balance within the body and can be closely linked to nutrient deficiencies or digestive issues. The gut-skin connection is a real thing! What matters even more than what we put on our plate or pour in our glass is how our body actually absorbs these nutrients. Regardless of how many vitamins, minerals and healthy fats we consume, if they’re not being received and assimilated by the body, the skin suffers. Enter: red, irritated, inflamed skin.
Here are a few ways to provide your skin with the nutrients it needs + support optimal digestion:
- Foods to remove: Before we tell you what you’ll want to give up, think about what you’ll be getting in return – a calm, balanced complexion. Worth it, right? Okay, so 3 foods known to spike inflammation in the body (and therefore, the skin) are: alcohol, dairy and refined-sugar. While everyone processes foods differently, eliminating triggers like these (for at least a month) is a powerful place to start. Ditch your wine for a glass of kombucha, order your grass-fed burger without the cheese and swap sugar for raw honey to sweeten things up. Try it out and see how your reactive skin responds!
- Foods to replace: Don’t worry, you don’t have to deprive yourself while trying to soothe your skin! Now it’s time to load up on healthy fats and mineral-rich foods that boost hormonal health, minimize inflammatory responses and balance nutrient deficiencies. Some of the best foods to supplement a calm skin diet are: Brazil Nuts (1-2 nuts/day gives your body all the Selenium it needs!), Celtic Sea Salt (we literally sprinkle this on everything) and Bone Broth (an abundant source of vital minerals + serious gut healer).
- Get to bed early: We may sound like a broken record, but we can’t stress this point enough. Minimal sleep spikes cortisol levels, causing inflammation to increase and sensitivities to flare up. When we’re able to kick in the Parasympathetic Nervous System (it’s known as Rest + Digest for a reason!), our bodies are able to focus healing energy and restorative function on repairing + rebuilding the body.
- Detox your home: Having a home that supports your health may not immediately come to mind as a remedy for damaged skin, but creating a space that’s free of toxic chemicals, artificial fragrances and other dangerous ingredients that wreak havoc on your skin (and your hormones and your overall health) is an effective + lasting solution for relief of skin irritations, allergies and sensitivities. Replace toxic cleaning products and improve your air quality with these safe options to positively impact the health of your home, your family and your complexion!
