Beauty is More than Skin Deep

Beauty Tips

By Gian Ruiz

I recently visited a Shiseido store in Rockwell where they give free skin consultations, and to my surprise even with almost acne free skin (but scars and blemishes all over) I ended up with an E grade for my skin. It felt like repeating a class in Skin101 to think that I’m a brand manager for skincare line!

The results showed that I failed in 2 aspects of skin care which were moisturization and elasticity. This made me realize that while I was staying true to my skincare regimen certain lifestyle factors had made it ineffective. I had forgotten that the appearance of true flawless skin has a lot to do with what’s happening inside of the body. Good complexion is directly proportionate to how you support certain organs of the body (e.g. liver, thyroid) to resist and eliminate toxins that eventually seep through the skin.

Acne and blemishes simply occur because certain liver and kidney functions that regulate toxin levels do not 100% flush it out. As a result the skin acts as an emergency platform by which excretion of these toxins result to acne or breakouts on the skin. Someone who suffers from acne on a regular basis will usually have some kind of toxic buildup which is stressing his or her liver.

So what to avoid then? Sugar, artificial colors and flavorings, MSG. Toxic exposure like inhaling corrosive chemicals, paint fumes or gasoline are some of the noted things to look out for. Ironically, synthetic chemicals in make up, cover up and acne treatments and most commercial “skincare” products can be the culprit as well.

The most important universal rule in detoxification process is hydration. Drinking your 8 glasses of water a day is the best skin care tip one can research about. While adding up essential fatty acids to ones diet in the form of omega-3 and omega-6 (the reason why Eskimos live healthily despite extreme weather conditions!) can help in the flushing out of these toxins. Best sources are fish oils, freash avocado, sunflower and pumpkin seed butters and oils.

Why should we indulge in natural skin care?
Your skin looks after you, from the inside and out. It is part of the body’s detoxification system, as well as the face you show the world and your body’s first defense from the elements, bacteria and viruses, and the wear of stress and strain.

Most cleansers, makeup, and other beauty products are full of harsh synthetic chemicals that may be harmful to skin. Natural solutions for healthy skin care are better for you, support a cleaner environment (some of the chemicals in hair care and cosmetic products, that we wash down the drain daily, have been linked to infertility and other health problems in whales), and natural techniques work at least as well as drug store skin care options.

So the next time I head off and have my skin checked or pick up an interesting bottle of skin care “cure”, I should just save more time and money by watching first what I put inside my body.