6 Factors that Sabotage Healthy Skin + Solutions

Recently I did a video on ” 5 Habits for Healthy Skin ” from within. Your skin is the largest organ in your body and is greatly impacted by your daily habits including  what you eat  , how much water you drink, and the  supplements  you take. That being said, many people still believe that beautiful skin is found in an expensive bottle of face cream. While face care products can certainly support skin health, they are not the only factor or the silver bullet for healthy skin.

In today’s video, I’m sharing 6 factors that sabotage healthy skin. I’m also sharing solutions for each factor. I will share why lack of sleep, chronic stress, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, veggie oils, sugar, and dairy mess with your skin.

Now that you’ve got all the factors that sabotage healthy skin, here are solutions for each that I’ve shared in the video.  

A study in the Journal Clinical and Experimental Dermatology found that people who slept 7-9 hours a night had skin that was more moisturized and that could protect and heal itself better after being exposed to sunlight compared to those who slept 5 hrs or less.

Solutions:

• Aim for 7-9 hours as an adult.
• Avoid alcohol or stimulants before bed.
• Avoid  bright lights and technology before bed   (if you must, wear blue light-blocking glasses).
• Take a warm, relaxing bath.
• Drink a calming cup of herbal tea.
• Practice  4-7-8 breathing.
  

Chronic stress can increase inflammation, causing skin aging and accelerating the formation of wrinkles, plus it triggers most skin conditions from acne to  rosacea. Too much chronic stress even starts to break down your collagen and elastin – ack! Anecdotally, and not surprisingly, over the years all the clients I’ve seen one-on-one who look older than their biological age are always the people who tell me their stress is high. 

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Solutions:

•  4-7-8 breathing   every night before bed. Do it 10 times.
•  Nature.   Get outside in nature every single day for a minimum of 20 minutes!
• 10-minute daily guided meditation.
• Gratitude practice.

The endocrine system is a network of glands and organs that produce, store, and secrete hormones. Hormones are messengers that bring information to cells and help maintain whole-body balance or homeostasis. In short, endocrine disrupters alter the natural rhythm of your hormones. They are pretty much everywhere – in cosmetics, personal care, household cleaners, water, food, plastic packaging, receipts (BPA), non-stick surfaces, flame retardant clothing, dust in your home.

Solutions:

• Avoid  fragrance  and any product with fragrance or perfume listed as an ingredient.
• Use clean natural beauty products.
• Eat organic, and avoid foods that are highly sprayed with pesticides such as the dirty dozen.
• Put a filter on your water –  see the one we have!
• Use a HEPA filter on your vacuum to remove dust from your home.

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The consumption of these oils has increased dramatically in the last decade and they are best avoided because they are treated with multiple pesticides and chemicals (many of them are made from GMOs), extracted with solvents such as hexane, and subjected to an unbelievable amount of processing from bleaching to deodorizing and more. 

Solution:

• Choose healthy oils such as avocado oil, olive oil, flax, hemp, organic pastured butter or ghee, and coconut oil. 
• Check out  Healthy Fats Part 1   and  Part 2.

Sugar elevates blood sugar and insulin levels. Having excess insulin in your blood can cause your oil glands to produce more oil, increasing your risks of acne. 

Solutions:

• Keep your blood sugar balanced by eating an array of whole foods, good fat and protein.
• Limit refined sugar and grains.
• Use  natural sweeteners .

Studies have linked dairy to both acne and eczema. A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology examined the diets of 47,355 women and found a strong connection between milk and milk products intake and breakouts.

• Make your own  nut cheese.  It’s delicious!!
• Use avocado in place of cheese.
• Try goat or sheep dairy instead- many people are able to tolerate it much better!
• Make your own  nut milk.

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There you have it! My six factors that can sabotage healthy skin and solutions for each! If you came here because you have a skin issue, I truly hope this information helps you.

You may also want to consider picking up my Joyous Detox Cookbook!

Wishing you healthy, glowing skin from within,

Joy

Ps. Be sure to check out  5 Daily Habits for Healthy Skin   here.