I’ve taken courses on skincare and nutrition and have researched natural medicine and healthy foods. It’s fascinating how our diet affects our body’s health. There are some nutrients you can both ingest and apply topically, some that can only be ingested (or produced by the body) and some that can only be applied topically. Today we’re going to look at how our diet affects our skin, what nutrients the skin needs, what benefits they provide and what foods you can eat.
 
To maintain healthy skin, you need water, vitamins A, B, C and E, zinc, essential fatty acids and proteins:

• Water helps hydrate skin, preventing it from drying out and the appearance of wrinkles.
  
• Vitamin A boosts collagen production, gives skin elasticity and reduces wrinkles.
  
• The B vitamins provide anti-inflammatory, wound healing and antioxidant benefits as well as increasing elasticity and reducing wrinkles.
  
• Vitamin C increases collagen production, is an anti-oxidant and reduces inflammation.
  
• Vitamin E is an anti-inflammatory and repairs damaged skin.
  
• Zinc helps with wound healing and has some anti-inflammatory and UV protecting benefits.
  
• Essential fatty acids help protect the skin from UV and contribute to anti-aging (Essential Fatty Acids and Skin Health, Oregon State University).
  
• Lastly, it requires three types of protein: collagen, elastin and keratin which help with elasticity, wrinkles and barrier protection.

 
Collagen cannot be applied topically as the molecules are too big to absorb through the skin. Collagen doesn’t exist in any food other than homemade bone broth and is instead produced in the body (The Best Way You Can Get More Collagen, Cleveland Clinic). As we get older our body produces less collagen. Here’s what to eat to help boost collagen production:

• Citrus
• Garlic
• Carrots
• Chia seeds, flax seeds, peanuts, pistachios, pumpkin seeds
• Avocados
• Green tea
• Red pepper
• Spinach
• Strawberries
• Tomatoes
• Beef, fish, chicken, eggs, dairy

 
Zinc can be found in:

• kidney, liver, beef, lamb, scallops
• eggs
• nuts and legumes

 
These foods contain antioxidants:

• red wine, green tea
• blueberries, blackberries, grapes, strawberries, raspberries, plums, 
• tomatoes, avocados, pumpkin
• mustard, turmeric,
• broccoli, beets, sweet potatoes, carrots, kale, spinach
• prunes, raisins
• olive oil

 
Eat many of these different foods and make your skin happy. It will reward you with beautiful, healthy looking skin!
 
Essential Fatty Acids and Skin Health https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/essential-fatty-acids
The Best Way You Can Get More Collagen https://health.clevelandclinic.org/the-best-way-you-can-get-more-collagen/

“There is no single disease which causes more psychic trauma and more maladjustment between parents and children, more general insecurity and feelings of inferiority and greater sums of psychic assessment than does acne vulgaris” (Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine 3rd Edition, 2012).
 
Wow! Even 20 years after my acne it still reminds me of those feelings. My acne was something I never talked about, but I’m ready to share my story with you now.
 
My acne started in junior high school and my doctor started me with soaps and cleansers (Neutrogena, pHisoderm and Sea Breeze) and then topicals. No improvement, just acne and drier skin. Then I tried courses of antibiotics (tetracycline, minocycline, erythromycin, etc.). Nada. Finally I tried Accutane in high school. If you’re not familiar with it, it has a long rap sheet of side effects and can cause severe birth defects and liver damage. I was required to be on birth control pills and have my blood and urine tested every month. But it was a miracle, it worked! And back then I didn’t care about the side effects, I just wanted to look normal. I experienced night blindness (which meant I couldn’t drive at night) and dry cracked, bleeding lips. I was on it for a few months and my clear skin lasted for about a year. But it came back, and I was back on it for another round.
 
Worse than the side effects was the embarrassment, low self-esteem and social stigma. I remember working my cashier job and having customers giving me unsolicited advice. I was told to try sugar paste, baking soda paste and toothpaste. I know they all meant well but it embarrassed me further and each comment was a constant reminder of my acne. 
 
I was told not to eat sweets. I cut sugar out of my diet but it seemed to make no difference.
 
In a teen magazine, I read an interview with Catherine Bach (who played Daisy Duke in the Dukes of Hazzard - loved that show!) and she talked about how she was an ugly kid. She advised readers that ‘every ugly duckling turns into a beautiful swan’. I held onto that hope for years. I’m certainly no swan but my looks definitely improved.
 
The school photographers were able to touch up my photos, which made me look better but they felt fake. I threw away any photo of me with acne except a single untouched high school graduation photo, pictured here (complete with bushy eyebrows and permed and back-combed hair!). 
 
My acne problems weren’t over however. Well into my late-twenties I used ProActiv and stayed on the birth control pill which helped keep things in check. These days I still get whiteheads if I’ve had too much sugar or have lost weight (the toxins stored in your fat are released into your bloodstream). As a matter of fact, as I write this I’m experiencing two cysts which I rarely get unless I’ve been eating poorly (I’ve been eating fast food for a couple of days!).
 
I guess you can say I was left feeling scarred for life. All this time I’ve been covering my face with foundation or a tan, looking but not seeing the marks on my skin. I’m finally ready to face it, to look in the mirror and see my scars and my broken capillaries for what they are.
 
But enough about me, I’d like to share with you what I’ve learned so far, from experience, research and by reading Clear Skin by Nicholas Perricone, MD.
 
Let’s start with how acne forms as its important in understanding how to prevent or reduce acne. When there’s an increase in inflammatory chemicals in the cell, proinflammatory cytokines (proteins) are produced by your immune system. Cytokines make the skin cells sticky and trap dead skin cells, clogging the pore (Perricone, N., MD, The Clear Skin Prescription, 2004). This causes sebum and bacteria to build up resulting in a comedo (whitehead or blackhead). A comedo can develop into a papule or pustule, better known as a pimple. These can develop into nodules or cysts.
 
When we’re stressed, lacking sleep or eating inflammatory foods (not just sugar but high glycemic foods such as juices, white bread, potatoes, white rice, etc.), the hormone cortisol is released, increasing our blood sugar and leading to inflammation (Perricone, N., MD, The Clear Skin Prescription, 2004). Additionally, the hormone androgen exacerbates the condition by increasing sebum production. 
 
In order to reduce inflammation, we need to drink plenty of water, sleep well, reduce stress and consume an anti-inflammatory diet. This diet means low glycemic index foods, moderate amounts of lean protein and unsaturated fats (olive oil, avocados, salmon, nuts and seeds) and plenty of vegetables. Here are some resources to check the glycemic index of foods:

•       https://www.glycemicindex.com/foodSearch.php
•       https://guidelines.diabetes.ca/docs/patient-resources/glycemic-index-food-guide.pdf
•       https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/glycemic-index-and-glycemic-load-for-100-foods

 
Topical anti-inflammatories can also be used in conjunction with an anti-inflammatory diet. Look for products with alpha lipoic acid, dimethylaminoethanol and glutathione (Perricone, N., MD, The Clear Skin Prescription, 2004).
 
Another alternative is to look at a face map, especially if your acne occurs in one spot. This is based on Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. Think of it like reflexology, where problems with a specific part of your body are a window to an internal problem. This helped me clear up the acne on the tip of my nose. The face map says it may be related to circulation, heart issues or gastrointestinal problems; and as soon as I resumed regular exercise, it cleared up. Here’s a comprehensive face map for you to explore: https://www.muktiorganics.com/blog/face-mapping-how-to-read-your-skin-from-within.
 
Hopefully one of these more natural ways to deal with your acne works for you. And there’s a bonus. The side effects of eating an anti-inflammatory diet are disease prevention and looking younger!

Last weekend I tried a lotion bar, a face scrub and two face masks from Pinterest recipes. Based on how other recipes turned out, I was a little afraid! Here's what happened:

1. Turmeric Face Mask: This one scared me the most, as pictured above, as I've seen what turmeric can do to your fingers in cooking. But I figured I'd start with this one first since I had a face scrub to test. Did I mention I had to help a friend at the Expo Centre and my mother and father in-law were coming over? Anyway the recipe called for honey, yogurt, rice flour and turmeric. All I had was Greek yogurt so I needed to thin it out. I applied it, wearing a white shirt, no less. That's the problem when you have a 'get-it-done' personality! And then I anxiously waited the 15 minutes by googling how to remove turmeric stains on skin. My fingers were already stained. I learned that milk is recommended in the mask as it prevents staining (ummm...yogurt too??) and that organic, wild turmeric will not stain (it's not edible). I was armed with a few back up options for stain removal. Okay, how bad could it be? I rinsed it off and it wasn't as bad as I imagined but I was still jaundiced looking. But was my face ever soft! The scrub (below) didn't remove much so I went straight to my Facial Toner. I went through four cotton pads and was back to normal. Phew! My face was so soft I couldn't stop touching it! Improvements: I would definitely use regular yogurt or the wild turmeric as it may be better at preventing stains. And no white shirts! Conclusion: I'm keeping this one! And its great for all skin types. Unfortunately the link to the recipe no longer works but I'll share it with you here: Mix 1/2 tsp honey, 1 tsp yogurt, 1 tsp rice flour and 1 tsp turmeric in a small bowl. Wash your face and pat dry. Apply a thin layer to your face and let it dry for 15 minutes. Rinse off using facial soap. Apply your favourite moisturizer.
2. Aloe Green Tea Face Scrub: I was really hoping that this would remove my yellow stains but it was not to be. It was very pretty looking with the tea leaf pieces in coconut oil. But looks aren't everything! Oh my, was it greasy! I knew coconut oil shouldn't be used on the face (it can clog your pores) but I was willing to risk it. I rinsed and rinsed and even my toner couldn't get it all off. Improvements: Yikes, find another recipe! Conclusion: Looks can be deceiving!
3. Homemade Lavender Lotion Bars:  Easy to make when you don't want to fuss with an emulsified lotion or carry-on restrictions when flying. Recipe said to use silicone molds but I always like to challenge the recipe and used plastic ones. The two oval ones came out fine but the two square ones broke apart. They were a little greasy but not bad. I didn't really care for them but two others who tried them quite liked them.  Improvements: Tough one as I prefer something lighter. More experimentation may be required. Conclusion: Try them yourself! And let me know what you think. Would you use  Lavender Bars?
4. Homemade Acne Mask: So I don't have acne but bentonite clay and apple cider vinegar are still quite popular these days. And I wouldn't let that stop me from trying! This one is easy peasy - equal amounts of each; although recipe said 2 tbsps, I found that was enough for 2-3 uses. I applied it and waited to see if there was any burning sensations. No burning but man could I feel my face tightening up! About five minutes after washing it off, my face became red and warm. This is apparently normal as the bentonite clay increases blood circulation while drawing out impurities. And it didn't last long. My skin was soft but nothing like the turmeric face mask. Improvements: Make less. Conclusion: If I had acne I would give it a couple more tries. Try it here.

A little better luck this time! For the most part, I don't recommend using Pinterest for skincare products. Not because I'm in the business, but for your own safety. Sure, there was no damage done here but many recipes don't use preservatives or emulsifiers AND don't tell you to refrigerate or shake before using. Additionally, a lot of them promise miracles that don't work and use astounding before and after pictures. And quite often essential oil safety is not known by these authors. Basically it comes down to the experience of the author and typically you can't tell what that is. Awesome for food recipes and crafts though! Is there a skincare recipe that you want to try but just aren't sure? Tell me here and I can have a look at it for you.

It was a rainy and snowy weekend so I decided to try out some body care recipes I had pinned on Pinterest. I wasn't very optimistic based on my previous experience but I thought I'd try out products I've never made before. I chose hairspray, a face mask and his and hers shaving creams. Here's what happened:

1. All Natural Homemade Hairspray - Okay, I admit this one scared me right from the start - basically its sugar and water. And the recipe said to replace it "when it no longer looks the same". What are we looking for here...mold, yeast? Eeeekk!! It was easy to make and I halved the recipe cause you just never know. You could also add essential oil but the recipe should have instructed you to shake before using. I sprayed it on lightly and waited for it to dry. Cautiously I put my hand to my hair. Hmmm...not too bad. It felt a bit stiff. Improvements: Next time I would add a preservative, essential oils and a solubilizer. Conclusion: It's not good enough to switch to but I'd definitely make some if I was in a jam! I have run out of hairspray, forgotten to pack it on a trip and I've had it taken away from me at airport security in Mexico. Of course you do need an empty spray bottle on hand.
2. Lavender Green Clay Mask - I have another confession - I'm a face mask virgin. Other than having one at a spa, I mean. I halved this recipe and substituted lavender essential oil for lavender buds. Easy to make! The recipe promised me that it would thicken over a few hours. Nope. Not even overnight. The clay sank to the bottom and there was clear water on top. I drained off most of the water (and probably most of the lavender), applied it to my face and set a timer for 10 minutes. It was a very thin paste and didn't cover my face well. I waited for the reaction described by the author, "I found this clay makes my face throb and it gets itchy and sore". Nothing. Phew! Improvements: I would cut the amount of water in half. Conclusion: I would use a different type of clay as this one is good for oily and acne skin. But I'm intrigued and will definitely experiment some more!
3. Homemade Mens Shaving Cream - Whipped up a batch of this for my honey to try. He's such a good sport! He was impressed by the creamy texture of it until he put it on. Made mostly with coconut oil, shea butter and almond oil, it just melted on his skin and didn't give a smooth shave. And apparently it was a bugger to wash out of the sink! Improvements: Nope, this one's going in the trash. Conclusion: It wasn't a total waste as it can be used as a body butter.
4. Homemade Shaving Cream for Women - Made with shea butter and coconut oil. The instructions said to add aloe vera gel but it wasn't listed in the ingredients. I had some on hand and decided to try it anyway, even though it doesn't mix with oils. Took it in the shower with me and same problem as above. Plus the razor was greasy and now so was the shower floor! Improvements: Trash it. Conclusion: I now have lots of body butter! Maybe a lotion bar would work better?

Come back next week when I try lotion bars, a face scrub and two more face masks!

Have you tried making something from Pinterest? Was it a tragic fail or super success?

You know the feeling. That tingly, prickly sensation you get after applying a skincare product. Reminds me of the days of Sea Breeze! Many people assume that this reaction means that the product is working but that's not necessarily the case.

Products such as chemical exfoliators can tingle for a good reason. Chemical exfoliators may include Alpha Hydroxy Acids (lactic acid, glycolic acid) and Beta Hydroxy Acids (salicylic acid). These acids will usually cause a reaction when they absorb into your skin. These acids have a pH about 3-4 and your skin has a pH of about 5.5 (1 = very acidic, 7 = neutral, 14 = very alkaline) and this causes the skin to become temporarily unbalanced. Applying a lotion or face oil afterward will help rebalance your skin's pH.

Face masks containing menthol, peppermint or camphor can cause stinging. Avoid these if you have sensitive or dry skin.

Other ingredients that can cause tingling are alcohol, surfactants such as SLS (sodium lauryl sulphate) and some preservatives. As well, your skin's barrier function may be weak which makes it susceptible to irritation and inflammation.

If the tingling is mild and doesn't last long then it's probably fine. If the tingling becomes stinging or burning, lasts a long time or causes redness or peeling, it's doing you more harm than good.

For more information see:
https://www.beautifulwithbrains.com/ok-skincare-products-tingle
http://www.vivawoman.net/2010/08/is-a-tingling-sensation-on-the-skin-good-or-bad/

Using natural deodorant is a great way to avoid aluminum, parabens, phthalates, propylene glycol and triclosan, etc. However, it's not without its challenges!

First let's talk about body odour. BO is caused by bacteria breaking down our sweat into acids. Sweating is a natural body function that controls body temperature. So no sweat, no BO. But antiperspirants use aluminum which plugs your sweat glands and traps toxins, bacteria and chemicals in your body.

Know those yellow armpit stains? They're not actually from sweat. They are a result of the reaction between sweat and aluminum. No aluminum - no yellow stains. Yes, you can wear white again!!!

Natural deodorant incorporates ingredients that absorb your sweat and are anti-bacterial. You might sweat a little more but toxins are removed in your sweat, bacteria is decreased  and you won't stink.

So if you're thinking of switching, here's what you need to know:

• If you have sensitive skin, avoid deodorants containing baking soda (it can cause irritation and darkening of the skin from alkaline burns)
• Your body will need to detox and this may take days or a couple of weeks. You may be extra sweaty as your sweat glands overcompensate from being plugged up with aluminum. You may develop bumps and tenderness as your body pushes out the toxins, bacteria and chemical crud that has been trapped there.
• You can make the detox period easier by drinking lots of water, avoiding processed food and by getting sweaty (either by working out or in a  sauna).
• Apply natural deodorant after showering, while your skin is still warm. Dry your armpits well and give them two light swipes of deodorant.

The physical size of your pores is determined by genetics. Those with fair skin usually have small pores while those with olive or darker complexions usually have larger pores. If you have dry skin you probably have small pores. If you have oily skin and acne, you probably have larger pores. Some people's pores get larger as they age. However the appearance of your pores can be reduced by:

• wearing sunscreen
• not popping pimples
• cleaning and moisturizing regularly and exfoliating 1-3 times a week
• using noncomedogenic products that contain clay (masks) or witch hazel (toner)

Ever had a red itchy patch under your wedding ring? It's called Wedding Ring Dermatitis and it's a common skin rash. You are more likely to get it if you have sensitive skin, eczema or allergies. You can wear your ring for several years and suddenly develop it. 

It's caused by an allergy to nickel (most gold and platinum rings contain a small amount) or from a buildup of soap, skin cells and/or lotion under the ring (bacteria make their home here and can cause irritation).

How do you get rid of it or prevent it? If it's a nickel allergy, stop wearing it. If its from irritation, clean your ring by boiling it in vinegar and peroxide (safe for diamonds but not recommended for pearls and opal - please check on other gemstones) and wear it on a different finger, remove the ring for washing your hands, use a mild soap and dry your hands thoroughly. To speed healing, use a moisturizing product containing shea butter and tea tree (tea tree is also antibacterial).