Skin Suffering from the Holiday Festivities?

The gluttony of yummy foods during the holidays can definitely affect the look and feel of your skin. Large amounts of sugar, dairy and unhealthy fats often trigger breakouts, inflammation, or other skin concerns. Below are a few practical steps you can take right away to help improve your skin’s condition.

·       Hydrate: Staying hydrated helps maintain your skin's elasticity and helps flush out toxins that could lead to skin issues. Alcohol, coffee and other things can dehydrate your body, making your skin look dull and feel dry.

·       Try to Avoid Dairy: Some people find that dairy can worsen acne or cause other skin issues.

·       Get Your Omega-3s: Healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids can reduce inflammation in the body, which can benefit your skin. You can find omega-3s in fish, flaxseeds & walnuts.

·       Consider Supplements: Some supplements can support skin health, like:

• Vitamin C: Helps with collagen production and can improve the overall texture of your skin.

• Zinc: Known to help reduce acne.

• Probiotics: Good gut health is linked to healthy skin, so a probiotic supplement might help balance your gut bacteria.

·       Use Gentle Skincare Products: Make sure you’re using skincare products that work with your skin type. Harsh scrubbing or too many products can irritate your skin. Look for:

o   Gentle cleansers that won’t strip your skin.

o   Moisturizers with ingredients like hyaluronic acid to keep your skin hydrated. (Unless you live in a dry environment. Hyaluronic acid in a desert-like (low humidity) environment will dehydrate your skin even MORE.

• Practice Consistent Skincare: Establish a daily skincare routine that includes cleansing to remove excess oil and dirt, exfoliating once or twice a week (but not too much, as it can irritate skin) and using serums and moisturizing products to keep your skin barrier intact.

·       Exercise: Exercise improves blood circulation, which helps deliver nutrients to your skin. Just remember to wash your face afterward to avoid clogged pores from sweat.

The best thing you can do, though, is book a professional peel, facial, or microdermabrasion treatment for immediate improvement in skin issues, overall complexion, and texture. Our professional organic enzyme peels are gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin and are only $58 — plus they include L.E.D. light therapy, which enhances results and leaves the skin looking and feeling noticeably fantastic right away.

Give Thanks for Turkey!

Turkey has some serious benefits for skin! Eat your fair share (or more ) this Thanksgiving!

Benefits for skin when consuming turkey:

• B-complex vitamins niacin, B6 and B12, help your body hydrate the skin, build collagen to plump the skin and cell renewal for healthy glowing skin. It also helps to prevent pigmentation from forming, reduces acne, soften the skin's overall texture, and limits irritation and inflammation while supporting a healthy skin barrier.

• Choline helps build collagen, making it a key nutrient for maintaining youthful and firm skin. By promoting collagen production, choline helps to minimize the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, improving skin texture and elasticity.

• Magnesium helps to ensure your skin is protected against external damage as it regulates cellular regeneration and repair.

• Selenium helps slow cellular damage that accumulates with age.

• Potassium helps support new skin cell growth, which helps heal blemishes and scars.

• Zinc regulates oil production, reduces inflammation and supports skin healing. Zinc is also believed to play a role in collagen synthesis and DNA repair; the combination of which can help keep skin looking healthier and more youthful.

* Note: taking extra zinc is not likely to improve your skin, but not getting enough can cause problems like acne, eczema, and dermatitis.

-Shelly Todd, Esthetician, J Renee