Smooth, healthy-looking skin can defy birthdays and 
speak volumes about a person’s well-being. When one feels vibrant and youthful, whatever their age, their skin reflects this inner glow. In fact, skin is the largest organ in the body, and the outer manifestation of how well one is taking care of him- or herself.

Each year, more women—and an increasing number of men—spend billions of dollars on skin care treatments and products. What few realize, however, is that the apparent aging of skin is affected more by biology than chronology. In other words, the loss of elasticity, smoothness and tone in the skin can be delayed or even reversed with a holistic approach to skin care that includes a wholesome diet, a balanced lifestyle and the use of non-harmful products.

Diet and Skin

When it comes to cultivating healthy, radiant skin, food plays a supreme role. Many undesirable skin conditions and premature aging are largely due to a poor diet that causes inflammation in the body, impedes the elimination of toxins, and lacks vital nutrients that support the skin’s own healing abilities.

Here are some ways that diet can help a person look and feel their best:

Eliminating or greatly reducing sugar, red meat and excessive intake of animal protein in general combats inflammation in the body. Dieters should keep in mind that chemicals and sugars in processed foods can irritate the immune system, which will eventually show on skin. It’s also wise to steer clear of high fat foods and hydrogenated oils.

To eliminate toxins, everyone should stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, herbal teas or unsweetened fruit juice diluted with sparkling water. Limiting or avoiding caffeine, which is a diuretic and thus depletes the body of water, is wise. If a person drinks caffeinated coffee or tea, he or she should simultaneously increase water consumption. Most soda is full of chemicals, and therefore unfriendly to skin.

Fiber is key in staying regular and supporting the body’s natural detoxification process. Thus choosing whole grains over enriched flour in breads and pastas is advisable.

Americans generally don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables, yet it’s precisely this food group that will keep them looking and feeling vibrant. Fresh fruits and vegetables are chock-full of vitamins, minerals, trace minerals and phytochemicals, also known as antioxidants. Antioxidants such as vitamins A, E and C assure that skin is sufficiently armed to ward off daily assaults from air pollutants, damaging light rays, and the internal metabolic by-products of faulty diets and medications.

What’s good for the body is also good for the environment. When eating for healthy skin, we’re also supporting responsible and sustainable farming, which has a direct impact on the air we breathe and the water we consume.

A Lifestyle that Supports Radiant Skin

Skin displays innate intelligence as it responds constantly to changes in its external and internal environments. It has a remarkable ability to adapt, balance and heal itself. Even so, skin’s natural drive toward harmony will be supported and encouraged through good, restful sleep and relaxing activities.

A good night’s sleep works wonders on tired, stressed-out skin. When resting, the body works hard to regenerate and repair itself. Poor sleep interferes with this natural renewal cycle, and can leave one looking older than their real age.

When one takes time to relax and play, the balance of activity and rest rejuvenates, inspires and soothes the entire body. Yoga, meditation and Tai Chi as well as more vigorous exercise activities such as a dance class, martial arts or a local walking group offer restful balance. Rest does not always mean inactivity. Pleasure and play can increase a person’s ability to find tranquility and joy within, and that will show on his or her face.

The Sun—Friend or Foe?

Once sunbathing was regarded as a healing therapy for a host of illnesses, but times have changed. Rising air pollution and a depleted ozone layer have upset the natural environment. Skin cancer is on the rise in North America, and the American Academy of Dermatology reports that more than 90 percent of cancers occur on sun-exposed skin. Invisible rays called ultraviolet-A and ultraviolet-B can cause sunburn, wrinkles, discoloration, dilated blood vessels and changes in skin texture. Exposure may not always lead to cancer, but it will accelerate the aging process.

On the other hand, sunlight is vital for physical and emotional well-being, and heavy use of sunscreen prevents the body from producing vitamin D—an indispensable hormone that protects bones, reduces the risk of multiple sclerosis and cuts the risk of certain cancers. The Canadian Cancer Society now recognizes what naturopaths have long advocated, namely, that limited amounts of sun exposure—10 to 15 minutes a day—are essential for ensuring that the body can make sufficient amounts of vitamin D.

Be Skin Care Savvy—Holistically

Caring for skin does not have to be complicated, time-consuming or expensive. Skin can take care of itself if we perform three simple steps, twice a day.

Cleansing: Apply a mild cleanser, with or without exfoliating action, using a small muslin cloth in a circular motion, and rinse thoroughly with water.

Toning: Select a product based on natural aloe vera or floral waters (hydrosols) rather than just water. Apply liberally after cleansing to drench the skin with moisture.

Protecting: Prefer moisturizers packaged in tubes to those that come in jars, because each time a jar is opened, the contents are exposed to air, which can damage delicate plant oils contained in many cream formulas. Furthermore, unwanted bacteria can spoil the product each time fingers reach into the jar. For this reason, creams in jars require more preservatives to maintain their stability and effectiveness.

Warning: Hazardous Ingredients

Just as the public checks food labels, it’s important for us to read the labels on personal care products. Synthetic additives in cosmetics are largely unregulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, so that it’s up to industry to test and police their own products for safety. Skin is exposed to a multitude of chemicals every day—from dry cleaning and fabric softener residues in clothing, to body washes, deodorants, lotions and colognes. While individual chemicals may not cause immediate signs of toxicity, a combination of hazardous substances or repeated long-term use may cause problems. The following ingredients have been linked to allergic reactions, skin and eye irritations, nervous system disorders and even cancer.

• Methyl, Propyl, Butyl and Ethyl parabens used to inhibit bacterial growth and extend shelf life.

• Diethanolamine (DEA) and Triethanolamine (TEA) used as emulsifier and foaming agents.

• Diazolidinyl Urea and Imidazolidinyl Urea preservatives, which also go by the name “Germall” in high-end spa cosmetics.

• Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate present as a harsh detergent to build foam.

• Petrolatum or petroleum jelly, an incredibly cheap industrial by-product used as emollient that interferes with the body’s own moisturizing capability.

• Propylene Glycol (PEG or PPG) promotes retention of moisture.

• PVP/VA Copolymer is a petroleum-derived chemical often found in hair styling aids.

• Stearalkonium Chloride, originally developed as fabric softener, now appears in hair conditioning formulas.

• Synthetic colors, labeled as FD&C or D&C, enhance products’ visual appeal.

• Synthetic fragrances, usually only declared as “fragrance,” often comprise as many as 200 individual chemicals.

Products with the purest, most natural and organic ingredients are the best for use on skin. It’s also a good idea to keep personal environments free of chemicals such as air fresheners or scented candles, which release countless synthetic molecules into the air. Skin is the barrier between the inner and outer world, and it deserves a healthier lifestyle. A dewy, youthful complexion is no accident. It’s the reward of a holistic approach to personal care that benefits our total environment.
 
Monika Rice has a science background in holistic health and nutrition, and contributes to publications nationwide.