Skin: 20 Tips to Manage the 6 Factors Impacting Your Skin

Like any hardware- if you don’t take care of it, it will become worn out, unappealing, and even start breaking down. 

There are so many variables that affect our skin health and appearance- including (but not limited to): 

• Stress
• Nutrition/Diet
• Sleep
• Environment
• Hydration
• Hygiene

Your skin does SO much for you. What are you doing to take care of your skin? 

There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to finding the right skincare practices for you. You are unique and have unique variables in your life and body that will require you to simply pay attention, listen to your body, and give it what it needs.

With that said, there are some basics everyone can start with and adjust the actuals accordingly. 

Let’s break it down.

Stress. We’ve all got it. No one’s immune to it- BUT, you do have a choice in how you deal with it. I love that word: “choice”. A simple, beautiful, and powerful word that means freedom.
There are SO many ways to deal with stress; so, feel free to pick and choose, mix and match, or come up with your own- if you do, share it in the comments so the rest of us can be inspired <3

Here are some ideas for reducing the stress in your life:

1. Meditation. Before you start whinging: “ugggh, I’ve tried it, it does NOT work for me”; “I’m not good at it”; “I don’t know how”; or, “I don’t have time”- I offer solutions- YouTube is chock a block full of guided meditations from 2 minutes to several hours long with a variety of styles that is sure to suit your needs. 

Some of my favorites include:

           a. Emily Fletcher: (“I don’t know how”, “I don’t have time”, “it can’t work for                                   me”- this video is for you). 

           b. The Mindful Movement and The Meditative Mind are wonderful for very                                     short or longer guided and non-guided meditations. 

           c. If you want to do what Shane Chunephisal (aka Shane Thunder) calls                                        “the lazy (wo)man’s meditation”, try some sound bath                                                          healing (OMG, this stuff is uhhhhmazing).

           d. Deepak Chopra often has 21-day free meditation programs as well.

If you want more mediation suggestions, write me an email or drop a comment below and I’ll share more of my favs. 

-Pro Tip: start your day with a gratitude meditation and watch the changes unfold.

     2. Exercise. This is one of my go to’s because, not only does it tick off a “to-do” item, but- it keeps           me fit and healthy, releases endorphins, clears the mind, keeps me present, and, obviously,                 relieves stress. 

     3. Self-Care. Of course, I’m a huge advocate of self-care. I LOVE a good spa day, a beach holiday, a          good book, or even just a day to do absolutely NOTHING. It’s an easy one to keep bumping down          the priority list- but, don’t. You need that time for you. You deserve that time. Don’t reschedule it.          If you don’t take care of you first, you can’t take care of those you love at the level in which they              deserve. So, grab your favorite herbal blend, or a coconut (juice) and relax, my darling xxx. 

Nutrition/Diet. I’m not talkin’ about going on some yo-yo fad diet. In fact, don’t even go near them. They are unhealthy and unsustainable (ask me how I know -_- ). There’s no one diet that’s right for everyone. Your body is so unique that you would need to factor in your daily activities, your blood type, habits, environment, and so much more to hash out the “right” diet for you. 

Instead, let’s just look at the bottom line- make healthy, mindful choices.

As a general rule of thumb- it’s always a good idea to stay away from:

• refined and processed sugars- dehydrate the skin, increase oil production, exasperate skin issues, speed aging, and increase inflammation (Lindberg, 2019 and Hou, 2016)
• alcohol- dries the skin, contains a lot of sugar, and can contain sulfites or yeast that will wreak havoc on your skin
• fatty foods- unhealthy fats, that is; such as fried or greasy foods, trans fat, or saturated fat. A study from the University of California - Davis Health, Western diet rich in fat and sugar linked to skin inflammation, (Yehya, 2020) found, as the title suggests, that a Western diet high in saturated fats and sucrose may cause skin inflammation and lead to issues such as psoriasis. 
• highly processed foods- I think the #1 tip you’ll hear from anyone that has any experience in following a healthy diet will say “shop the outer circuit of the market”. In other words, avoid the middle isles where you’ll usually find packaged goods. That’s obviously not a hard and fast rule- there’s still plenty of processed foods in the refrigerated section (lunch meats, for example) and some healthy options in the packaged section (nuts, seeds, oats etc). 

Opt for:

• fresh veggies, 
• fresh or frozen fruit, 
• cook at home, 
• and meal prep to save time. 

Some of my favorite blogs/sites for inspiration are: 

      1. Chocolatecoveredkatie.com (she’s got you covered for ALL the diets); 

      2. Fitmencook.com (no, it’s not just for men); and, 

      3. Yummly.com (this one, you can adjust the filters SO much, you’ll never be stuck for a Gluten-              Free, Low FODMAPS, Vegan, No Nuts recipe again).

*Warning*- begin browsing at your own risk. Not recommended before bed as you may lose beauty sleep. There’s so much inspiration and ideas here that you’ll inevitably get lost in the wonderful world of food art. 

Sleep. So, in actuality, you need rest- not sleep as such. Before you start telling me “no, I NEED sleep; I love my sleep”, etc- hear me out. You need x amount of sleep hours because it takes your brain that long to go through a REM sleep cycle the recommended 4-5 times per night. 

The technology we use in Propriis from Mystech actually allows your brain to enter a REM cycle much faster, and deeper, meaning you would require less sleeping hours to get some quality rest*.
Now, if you don’t use Mystech, on its own or in Propriis, you will need to set more time aside for this- and, do this you must, if you want to reveal that radiant skin of yours- that is why they call it “beauty sleep” after all!

Environment. OMG, this one is huge. From the climate you live in, to the air quality outside, as well as where you spend most of your time; these factors play a massive role in the appearance and health of your skin. 

If you’re being exposed to a lot of cigarette smoke, high humidity, dry climates, cold climates, etc- you need to consider these factors when choosing your skincare products and regimen. This one can be tricky, but- in short, you need to keep your skin clean and hydrated. 

Some things you can do:

1. Wipe your face throughout the day. You don’t need to use a cleanser every time. Just a wet cloth  to remove excess dirt and oils can go a long way. You could also opt for a cotton pad and toner. 

  2. Pay attention to your sebum (oil) production. If your skin looks as though it’s producing a lot of       oil, skip the serum or extra moisturizer for a couple of days until it rebalances. If it persists for             longer than usual, it may be time to consider a few changes in either your products or your regimen. 

     Do note that other variables could be affecting you momentarily (time of month, ladies); changes in       stress contributors; travel, diet changes, and more). Make sure you take these into account before         making any significant changes to your routine if these are temporary factors.

  3. On the other hand, if your skin has been looking dry or flaky, use a gentle exfoliant, oil cleanser,          toner (natural, of course), and serum to start bringing your skin back to life. This may also be a            sign that you are dehydrated, so- drink more water and some electrolytes (like coconut water). 

Which brings us to the next point...

Hydration. Beauty really does start from the inside and radiates out. It’s true of your heart, and your skin. 

1. Drink plenty of water to keep your body- and your skin- hydrated. 

           a. You should also note that drinking too much water (ya, that’s a thing) can flush out necessary                electrolytes. An easy way to tell is when you still feel thirsty no matter how much water you                drink. Then, opt for some coconut water or pH balanced water (which is best for making                    sure your body is actually absorbing the water you’re drinking). 

           b. If you don’t have a Kangen water machine or want to spend loads of bottled water for                        financial or environmental reasons, you can alkalize your water with some ACV (apple                    cider vinegar- make sure it’s “with the mother”) or add a squeeze of lemon. 

   2. Apply serums and moisturizers while your skin is still damp. This makes it easier for your skin          to absorb the product and lock in moisture. 

Let’s talk about Hygiene. 

Obviously, cleaning your skin is incredibly important for its health and appearance. Keeping it clean can be a challenge in some environments. So, let’s take a look at some tips to keep in mind. 

1. C’mon- you know this one. DON’T SLEEP WITH YOUR MAKEUP ON. Little mites eat it off your eyes at night. If bugs feasting on your face isn’t enough to convince you to take your make-up off before bed, hopefully the stained pillow cases will be. 

     Besides, you’re naturally beautiful- do you even need make-up? Reveal the stunner that you are and       go bare-faced =D 

     If you do opt for make-up (no judgment here), make sure you read your labels and stay away from       the ingredients that cause issues you’re working so hard to protect your skin from. 

  2. Wash your face. An oil cleanser can work wonders. We’ve all been taught to look for “oil-free” on          our labels. We should’ve been looking out for “alcohol” and “water” as ingredients to avoid (as a            general rule). 

      With an oil cleanser, you’re fighting like with like, removing dirt, and balancing oil production.            With alcohol and water, you’re drying the skin.

      If you use alcohol, make sure it’s not one of the “bad” ones. Look out for skin-friendly fatty-alcohols        like stearyl, cetyl, and sustainably sourced Cetearyl alcohol. 

      Water as an ingredient automatically means there are preservatives. Not to mention the carbon            footprint to ship tap water. Big thumbs down.

The bottom line- we have different needs, that will require different products and methods for properly looking after our skin. The key points remain the same: 

• get proper rest, 
• stay hydrated, 
• keep your skin clean and moisturized, 
• make healthy eating choices, 
• get some exercise, and 
• relieve stress in a way that works for you. 

Most importantly- smile. It’s beautiful, it’s contagious, and it’s a natural stress-reducer ;)   

There are definitely other factors that contribute to the health and appearance of your skin. I hope these tips have given you a good starting point for revealing your radiance! If you enjoyed this post, follow us on social media and sign up to get my newsletter with all the latest blog posts, insider deals, DIY tips, and more! 

I’d love to hear from you- in the comments below, tell me what skin issue(s) you’ve struggled with and what you did to solve it! Or, if you haven’t solved it yet- drop it in the comments or write me an email and I’ll do my best to offer a solution. There are so many wonderful natural alternatives out there to remedy every concern.  

Just know that you are beautiful and unique- and, you are not alone.

*This notice is required by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The statements on this site have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Any information that may be found anywhere on this site is not presented as a substitute, nor intended to be a substitute for medical advice, treatment or diagnosis.

Note: This site does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. In the event you use any of the information on this site for yourself, Propriis LLC accepts no responsibility for your actions.

References

Hou, K., 2016. Do You Have ‘Sugar Face’?. [online] The Cut. Available at: <https://www.thecut.com/2016/04/sugar-skin-face-beauty.html> [Accessed 11 July 2020].

Lindberg, S., 2019. Yes, Eating A Lot Of Sugar Can Affect Your Skin. Here's How.. [online] Insider. Available at: <https://www.insider.com/how-eating-sugar-affects-your-skin-2019-7> [Accessed 11 July 2020].

Nationalgeographic.com. 2017. Skin And How It Functions. [online] Available at: <https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/health-and-human-body/human-body/skin/> [Accessed 11 July 2020].

Yehya, N., 2020. Western Diet Rich In Fat And Sugar Linked To Skin Inflammation. [online] UC DAVIS HEALTH. Available at: <https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200218161720.htm#:~:text=Dietary%20components%2C%20rather%20than%20obesity,Davis%20Health%20researchers%20has%20found.> [Accessed 11 July 2020].