unlock your best skin
The 6 steps to unlock your best skin.
1.
HYDRATION
Do you know how much water you’re supposed to drink in a day?
According to the My Health Alberta website, you should drink at least 6-8 glasses of fluid (ideally water) every day…but do you know why?
Windsor Dermatology states that, “beyond flushing waste out of your body and helping your vital organs function properly, hydration also helps nourish your skin.”
Some of these Key Benefits include:
Improving Elasticity of the Skin
As you age, your skin naturally slows down it’s production of collagen which is one of the primary contributors to skin elasticity. One of the key components to collagen is...you guessed it...water! Not only can you achieve this hydration through ingesting water, but you can also help by moisturizing your skin with a clean, toxic free skin care routine.
Helping to Flush Toxins
We are exposed to toxins every single day...the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the bed we sleep in, the products we use, and even the air we breathe. Fortunately, our bodies have a built in system to help flush these toxins and water is one of the most vital parts of helping this system flush toxins from the inside out.
Reducing Oil Production
Do you experience oily skin or acne prone skin? Have you ever been told to use LESS moisture and avoid moisturizing? In reality, drying your skin out by refusing it it’s much needed moisture can actually trigger it to create even more oil to make up for the dryness. By drinking sufficient water and paying attention to the needs of your skin, you can determine the optimal amount of hydration to help plateau your oil production.
Helps to Achieve a Smooth and Glowing Complexion
Have you ever noticed the cracks that appear on a dry dirt road? When you start paying closer attention to how your skin is showing up, you may notice a similar appearance to the surface of your skin. Dehydration can look dull and wrinkly whereas hydrated skin will show a more radiant glow. Notice what happens to your dry, dull complexion as you start to increase your water consumption and introduce hydration into your skin care routine.
How can we achieve this?
Adequate water intake
Mindful hydration: Look for clear to slightly yellow coloured urine, soft bowel movements, and hydrated skin. Constipation, dark yellow urine, and dry itchy skin can be signs of dehydration. The treatment can be simple; HYDRATION
Hyaluronic Acid
Is a sugar that is naturally produced by our bodies, binds to collagen, and holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water and it’s job job is to draw in moisture. However, your skin's level of hyaluronic acid and collagen decrease with age, so adding in supplementation can be very helpful.
One note of caution is that if you have severely dry skin, it is advised that you apply a moisturizer AFTER you’ve applied your hyalouronic serum as without it, the serum may actually draw moisture out of the deeper layers of skin, releasing that moisture from the surface and causing further dehydration.
Protective Moisturizer
Look for moisturizers that contain essential oils and are free from parabens, phthalates, and fragrance which have been known to harm the body. See our Personal Care Industry Guide
2.
EXFOLIATION
We get rid of tens of thousands of dead skin cells every minute and anything that interferes with normal skin shedding will create a build-up of dead skin causing the skin to look dull, dry and lackluster as well as clogging pores and contributing to some skin conditions.
Ideally, you want to incorporate a regular exfoliation practice into your skin care routine that will assist your skin with the removal of these dead skin cells. See our Guide to Exfoliation for more details.
Why?
Removes dry, dead skin cells
Improves circulation
Unclogs pores
Allows products to absorb more effectively
How?
Mechanical Exfoliation:
Microdermabrasion: at home or spa service. My favourite at-home option is the Microdermabrasion by Silk n Revit.
Exfoliating scrub: Beautycounter’s Countercontrol Clear Pore Cleanser and Counterman Daily Exfoliating Cleanser are a few of my favourite options.
Face cloth or facial rounds: My favourite facial rounds are from boutique love attack and can be found at www.loveattack.ca
Chemical Exfoliation:
Peels: These can be completed in a clinical spa setting or at home as well. Typically made up of both Alpha Hydroxy and Beta Hydroxy acids which act on the superficial and deeper layers of the skin to exfoliate. Beautycounter’s Overnight Resurfacing Peel can be used for a gentle yet effective option and I highly recommend it for at home use.
3.
NOURISHMENT
Most of us know that in order to live our best life and maintain a healthy lifestyle, we need to eat “healthy” foods and avoid “junk”. But what does that actually mean? Have you paused to consider WHY that green tea, those berries, or that spinach are “good” for you? Let’s dive in...
According to the Skin Health Institute, “What you are eating can make an enormous difference to how your skin looks and feels, as well as having an impact on common skin conditions.”
Why?
Our skin uses the nutrients from the food we consume to repair and rebuild. The foods we consume can help reduce inflammation and fight the damage of free radicals.
How?
Adding antioxidants, vitamins & minerals, and omegas into your diet is a great start while avoiding processed food, refined sugar, and alcohol.
Of course, what I’m about to share are simple suggestions and prior to making any diet, nutritional, or supplemental changes, it is always advised to consult a professional.
Look for:
Foods that are strong antioxidants like berries & avocados. Nuts and Seeds which are rich in Vitamin E to help combat free radical damage and green tea which helps to rejuvenate skin cells. Carrots & Dark, Leafy Greens are also a great addition as they offer a rich source of beta-carotene which also acts as an antioxidant: the darker the green, higher the antioxidants.
Optimizing your vitamin & mineral intake can also have an impact on your skin health. Vitamin C found in many foods, but particularly berries & kiwi fruit acts as a powerful antioxidant and is essential in building collagen. Collagen is a protein that gives your skin its elasticity, maintains hydration, and strengthens capillaries to help reduce spider veins and easy bruising. Vitamin A is also formed by beta carotene, so another reason to be adding in those leafy greens and carrots. And lastly, Zinc and Selenium are minerals that offer reduced inflammation, improved skin healing, and help to prevent infection. Zinc can be found in things like mussels & Oysters and selenium can be found in barley. According to webmd, selenium also helps certain antioxidants protect your skin from UV rays which can help to reduce your risk for skin concerns. Of course supplementation is also an option. Lastly Omegas...these are rich essential fatty acids that nourish our skin from the inside out and help to also reduce inflammation. One of my favourite supplements is from Bend Beauty.
Avoid:
You may have heard “chocolate causes pimples” or “if I eat that slice of cake, my skin will break out”, well there is actually something to that.
Refined and processed carbohydrates found in processed foods and refined sugar (ie. white sugar) cause a spike in blood sugar levels resulting in a response from your pancreas to release insulin. This insulin production can also impact oil production and cause a stress response.
Alcohol increases hormone fluctuations by releasing glucocorticoids and adrenal androgens during stress which causes the stimulation of oil glands as well as inflammation. This means that reducing your alcohol intake can reduce your stress which in turn can reduce your oil production and inflammation.
4.
MOVEMENT
Once again, anyone who is striving to live a healthy lifestyle knows that it’s important to MOVE your body. But are you aware of the physiological influence that movement can have on your skin?
Why?
Improved circulation which helps deliver those vitamins, minerals, and nutrients throughout your body.
Detoxification which helps your body eliminate those toxins that we are exposed to every single day.
Promotes collagen production which as you heard helps to give your skin its elasticity, maintain it’s hydration, and strengthen the capillaries to help reduce spider veins and bruising.
How?
Strength Training tones muscles and helps maintain skin's firmness.While Cardiovascular training helps flush toxins from the body, improves circulation which helps feed those nutrients to the cells. And lastly, we enjoy stress reduction. Moving the body reduces levels of the body's stress hormones: adrenaline and cortisol and stimulates endorphins which are the body’s natural painkillers and mood elevators, giving you feelings of relaxation and optimism.
5.
KNow your skin
Learn about your skin type and the best practices you can take. Check out this article to determine your skin type!
6.
Know your Products
We’ve put together a collection of products with NO harmful ingredients, that are here to create better beauty standards across Canada and the US.
Would you like to be featured in our guides?
Do you have an experience, knowledge, or curiosity to share? Let us know!
Resources
https://www.windsordermatology.com/the-importance-of-hydration-for-your-skin
https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/Pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=abk5466
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/features/exercise
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/exercising-to-relax
Disclaimer
This resource/presentation is intended for educational purposes only and does not replace independent judgment. Statements of fact and opinions expressed are those of the participants individually and, unless expressly stated to the contrary, are not the opinion or position of Trisha Conrad and Trisha Conrad Consulting Corporation, it’s cosponsors, or its affiliates. Trisha Conrad and Trisha Conrad Consulting Corporation do not endorse or approve, and assume no responsibility for, the content, accuracy or completeness of the information presented. Attendees should note that sessions are recorded and may be published in various media, including print, audio and video formats without further notice.