Temps are on the rise, and it seems like everyone and their mother is on some kind of diet or cleanse to get their bodies swimsuit-ready for summer. But while that focus is usually on winter pudge, might we remind you that you'll be showing off your skin more than anything else? Everything from winter weather to product overuse to diet can wreak havoc on your complexion, and the best way to find your natural glow again is to put your skin on a detox of its own.
This is the idea behind skincare guru Adina Grigore's new book, Skin Cleanse: The Simple, All-Natural Program for Clear, Calm, Happy Skin, which calls for an overhaul of your beauty routine from the inside out. Grigore is the founder of S.W. Basics, a Brooklyn-based, 100 percent natural, and handcrafted skincare line that is such a runaway success, retailers like Target have taken notice. In Skin Clean, Grigore takes aim at a variety of factors that could be clogging up your complexion, from the foods you eat to the skincare products you think are totally fine (products labeled as "natural" are often not at all, as the term is completely unregulated). "Your skin is your body's largest organ and a pretty accurate reflection of your overall health," she told us. "It's the sum of many parts–so detoxing encompasses a variety of elements."
It might sound a bit overwhelming, but there are some easy steps to take that can make a world of difference before your very eyes. Here, Grigore offers a foolproof guide to unearthing naturally beautiful skin, just in time for the warmer weather. (Psst: It starts from the inside out.)
"Focus on eating plenty of whole, nutrient-dense vegetables, prioritizing leafy greens.
They'll give you the most bang for your buck in the skin department, as they're loaded with antioxidants (which fight free radicals) and also contain high levels of vitamin A (which repairs damaged skin), along with a slew of other beauty vitamins and minerals (folate, beta-carotene, B vitamins, vitamin E, iron, calcium, magnesium). Think spinach, kale, and nettles for spring!"
"Don't forget to consume skin-friendly healthy fats (also known as EFAs, essential fatty acids). These 'good fats' are critical to helping your body produce healthy cells, including skin cells. They're also important elements in the production of sebum, which is responsible for keeping the skin hydrated and youthful-looking. Find them in avocado, eggs, walnuts, and wild salmon."
"There's an ongoing debate in the wellness community about just how much water we should be consuming. Ignore the details and just drink more, period. Cancer patients are told to drink up to a gallon a day– a gallon!–to flush the chemotherapy toxins out of their system. This is a pretty extreme example, but it illustrates just how powerful drinking water can be in detoxifying."
"People with healthy bacteria on their skin break out less! Seriously. One study shows that people with clear skin have 20 percent more bacteria production than those with acne. Researchers are actually working on a topical bacterial product to apply to the skin to clean it. People get really freaked out by bacteria and fermented foods, largely because we've become such a pasteurization-happy culture. Yet, our bodies rely on thriving bacterial ecosystems–particularly within our gut–to support healthy functioning of our digestive tract and immune systems. Some good sources include sauerkraut, tempeh, kimchee, miso, kefir, and unsweetened yogurt."
"Processed sugar, processed fat, synthetic flavor (often masquerading as 'natural' flavor), fake coloring, and preservatives are just some of the many common no-nos you'll find here in wrapper land. I call them dead ingredients; they do nothing for your skin except aggravate it, since your body is working so hard to figure out how the heck you're going to process them. Rule of thumb? If you can't understand what the ingredient is, don't eat it."
"Sigh. I love dairy, and I love meat. But unfortunately, we're not seeing the best versions of either in a lot of the food we eat today. For example, most cows are fed a diet that's loaded with hormones and antibiotics. This will end up in your milk or in your meat, and of course in your body. The result? Hormones affect your skin, potentially causing imbalances and breakouts; antibiotics kill good bacteria, which, as I've discussed, is also not good for your skin. Be really picky about the products you're buying (always look for grass-fed and organic) and eat them prudently."
"Dr. Frank Lipman has called alcohol 'liquid sugar,' and it's known to be one of the most inflammatory things we consume—terrible news for your skin. Moreover, alcohol is dehydrating; overconsumption causes the skin to become bloated and puffy in an attempt to retain as much water as possible. While I firmly believe in moderation, severely cutting back on your alcohol intake is an important element of a skin detox."
"Complex, preservative-laden ingredient lists are just as problematic in your cleanser as they are in your candy bar, and can seriously wreck havoc on your skin. Think of it this way: Every ingredient-filled product you apply, your skin processes. If you're applying a lot, your skin is processing a lot—and unfortunately, it's probably not very good stuff (think: fragrances, fillers, preservatives). Begin your detox by scaling your beauty routine back, one product at a time. You will see that your skin won't go into chaos and, eventually, you'll have the confidence to go completely product-free for one day, which is the ultimate goal of a skin detox."
"I am so wary to recommend 'natural' products since the word is wildly unregulated (a beauty product can have a slew of synthetic ingredients and one natural element and still be labeled 'natural'). That noted, avoid confusion and go straight to the source: Your kitchen or health food store. I think substituting a plant-based oil for your daily moisturizer is a great place to start. Other natural swaps include apple cider vinegar (a great astringent and pH balancer) for your toner, bacteria-fighting baking soda for your zit treatment or as a deodorant, and yummy, coarse sugar for your body scrub. These natural ingredients will eventually become your arsenal for a true skin detox."
