How to improve your skin health (without touching your skin!)

Beauty trends are hard to keep track of. Let’s see…have you tried putting snails on your face? How about using lube as a makeup primer? Maybe, you got yourself a skincare mini-fridge.

We’re all for experimenting with skincare products. But, there comes a point– maybe as a snail crawls across your cheek (the goop they secrete is said to be good for the skin)— when you ask yourself: How did it get this complicated?

While that’s a question we’ll leave to the sociologists, we do have a few pointers for getting back to the basics. Simple ways to improve your skin health without adding another step (or living creature) to your routine.

Beauty sleep is real

As you sleep, your body repairs itself and your epidermis is no exception. Overnight, blood flow to the skin increases, allowing it to rebuild collagen and repair damage resulting from UV exposure. Aim for at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep to ensure your body has enough time for restoration. Otherwise, poor sleep can lead to faster skin aging and slower recovery from environmental stressors.

The position you sleep in can also affect your skin health. For example, sleeping on your stomach or side can cause constant friction between the sheets and your skin. This can lead to irritation and, over time, wrinkles. An easy fix is sleeping on your back. But, if you enjoy sleeping on your side, make sure your sheets are made from a soft material like silk.

Add more skin-friendly foods to your diet

In addition to drinking plenty of water, seek out skin-healthy food. Think of it as improving your skin from the inside out. Here are a few foods that your skin will thank you for:

• Tomatoes: Research shows that eating tomatoes regularly might decrease your chances of developing skin cancer. Regularly adding tomato paste to your meals is linked to fewer sunburns. So whether you enjoy them in a salad or sandwich pasta sauce, tomatoes do more than satisfy your taste buds.
• Kale: This vegetable is a great source of lutein and zeaxanthin (types of plant chemicals) that can also protect the skin from UV damage. Kale chips, kale salad, kale smoothie? Take your pick for a skin boost. 
• Green Tea: The numerous health benefits of green tea are no secret. It contains compounds known as polyphenols that revive dying skin cells– which might speed up the process of healing wounds or skin conditions. Try a healing cup a day.
• Mangoes: The delicious tropical fruit is packed with antioxidants, which can protect collagen and boost production. When they’re in season, slice them up and eat them fresh.

Stress management 

When you’re stressed, your body releases a hormone known as cortisol which then activates your flight or fight response. High cortisol levels make it harder for the skin to retain moisture, leading to dryness and dullness. As a result of dryness, the sebaceous glands might kick into overdrive, increasing oil production and causing clogged pores and breakouts. Cortisol can also cause skin inflammation and trigger conditions like eczema and psoriasis.

For healthier skin (body, and mind), try different stress management techniques. Cut down your to-do list, and prioritize sleep and activities you enjoy. Consider adding yoga to your routine– it’s proven to reduce stress and anxiety.

Simplify with turmeric

We created our turmeric-powered skincare collection for people whose medicine cabinets are jam-packed with products 🙋. Turmeric is versatile enough to do the work of a dozen ingredients. It’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory; it protects, renews, and nourishes. When paired with the other super ingredients we chose, it’s unstoppable. 

Along with your skin-healthy habits, our skincare products are a beautiful way to simplify.