How The Right Diet Can Enhance Your Organic Skincare Routine

The condition of our skin is influenced by a number of factors, from our age, to genetics, how well it has been looked after over the years, and also our diet. Therefore, achieving the healthy glowing skin that most of us aspire to requires a holistic approach, feeding it both from within and without. 

We can’t change our age or genetic inheritance, but we can certainly make a huge difference to the condition of our skin by combining organic skincare products with a healthy diet. This is particularly the case if you have sensitive skin that can be easily upset by the harsh synthetic ingredients found in many conventional products. 

Here’s a look at the connection between diet and skin health, and how eating well can help you to gain the maximum benefit from using organic natural products. 

Feeding your skin

Nutritionists recommend that above all else, you should eat a well balanced diet that doesn’t exclude or severely restrict any of the major food groups. This is because our skin needs a range of nutrients, vitamins and minerals to stay in good condition. In particular, it needs vitamins A, B2, B3, B6, C, D, E, zinc and selenium to survive and thrive. 

Antioxidants are also important, as they can help the skin to repair damage more efficiently and may have a protective effect from environmental pollutants. Vegetables such as artichokes, spinach, carrots, beans and sweet potatoes are excellent sources of vitamins and antioxidants. 

Fruit is also another good source, particularly dark coloured berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, cherries and cranberries), plums, apples, and prunes. Our skin also needs omega-3 fatty acids to help it maintain its structure and suppleness. These can be obtained from nuts especially walnuts, seeds like flax, hemp and chia, some pulses, oily fish or algal oil supplement.

The importance of hydration

Staying hydrated is also important to maintain the elasticity of your skin. You may have noticed that when you have become dehydrated, your skin feels dry and tight, your lips are prone to chapping, and it doesn’t fall quickly back into place when you pinch it. 

This is because your body is diverting water away from the skin and towards the essential organs in an effort to stave off the more serious consequences of dehydration. This can leave your skin looking dull, sallow and lacking in plumpness and softness. 

It’s recommended that adults drink at least six to eight glasses of water a day to stay well hydrated. Adding a pinch of sea salt to your water will ensure hydration occurs on a cellular level. This will prevent your skin from becoming excessively dry, and also help to flush out toxins, reducing the likelihood of blemishes and inflammation. 

Combining diet with the right skincare products

Good skin starts with what we put into our bodies, but what we put on the outside also matters too. Organic skincare products that are free from harsh chemicals such as  parabens, and sulphates are much less likely to irritate sensitive skin and disrupt the natural moisture barrier. 

Look for high quality products from a trusted supplier, and read the labels carefully to make sure they don’t contain any harmful ingredients, or those that go against your ethos, such as animal derivatives. 

Natural products for older skin

As we age, our skin becomes drier and our bodies produce less collagen. Therefore more mature skin will benefit from products that contain replenishing ingredients such as rosehip oil, shea butter and evening primrose oil. 

Natural products for acne prone skin

Acne can be a distressing problem and there’s no one size fits all when it comes to treating it. Doctors may recommend products such as benzoyl peroxide, which may dry up spots and blemishes, but can also leave the surrounding skin very dry and sore. 

Natural alternatives such as lemon balm and witch hazel can reduce the appearance of blemishes, and will be much more gentle on the skin, keeping it looking and feeling good. 

Natural products for eczema

Eczema can make skin very dry, irritated and prone to developing cracks. This can be made worse by using the incorrect skin products. Many people find that ingredients such as aloe vera, shea butter, and jojoba oil soothe inflamed skin and leave it feeling soft and comfortable. 

Other lifestyle tips to keep your skin in top condition

Sun protection: Protecting your skin from the sun is an important part of any skincare routine. Ultraviolet light can damage the collagen and elastin in the skin, making it more prone to developing fine lines and wrinkles. Regular exposure and especially when sunburn occurs, can cause other issues such as pigmentation, redness, rough patches, and cancerous or non cancerous skin tumours. 

Avoid smoking: smoking pollutes your body with toxins and prevents it from producing a steady supply of collagen, the building block protein for our skin. Therefore smokers face issues such as premature ageing of the skin and a dull sagging complexion.

Avoid alcohol: alcohol is toxic to every cell in our bodies and as such does have a negative impact on our skin health. 

Get enough sleep: Our skin repairs itself when we are asleep, so getting enough sleep is crucial to avoid dull skin and troublesome spots, dry patches and discolouration. 

Staying active: exercise boosts the circulation, helping the blood transport essential vitamins and nutrients to the skin and creating radiance and bloom.