It's not a cliché, as our grandmothers and mothers often repeated about home methods of body care. The kitchen can indeed be an unfathomable kingdom of super healthy ingredients that magically improve skin tone, eliminate pimples and moisturize you from the inside. We, women of the 21st century, have forgotten about these home benefits and it's no wonder, since we are encouraged from every side to try another cosmetic novelty in a beautiful package with colorful inscriptions. Today we go back to basics, forget about the chemical compositions of color cosmetics and turn to nature, which offers beautiful, nourished skin without acne and wrinkles. Reach for it with us.
Beautiful skin starts in your gut.
You've probably heard more than once that our intestines and the bacterial flora gathered there are the basis for the proper, healthy functioning of your entire body. Their good functioning affects the nervous system, digestive system, proper mental state and the appearance of our skin. Intestinal disorders lead to depression, the development of irritable bowel syndrome, allergies, atopic dermatitis and even adult acne. Their impact on the condition of our body is therefore significant! If you have noticed a significant deterioration in the condition of your skin, it may be the result of improperly functioning intestines. And what spoils our intestines? Blanca Bożena Społowicz lists these factors on her
blog :
“+ dysregulated circadian rhythm - is the main factor in the disruption of the immune system, + overload of the nervous system, + excessive stress - causes the secretion of cortisol and consequently a decrease in immunity, + taking antibiotics, contraceptive pills, steroids, + deficiencies of vitamins and elements, + infections, + iron supplementation, + inappropriate diet, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, + environmental pollution.”
Proper diet is the key to achieving beautiful skin without acne and wrinkles.
An inappropriate diet and vitamin and element deficiencies are factors that cause our intestines to function poorly. So let's tackle them first. In her book "Beauty Food", Emilie Hebert explains exactly what we should permanently include in our diet if we want to enjoy healthy and radiant skin. What's more, the author has matched food products to skin type - so your next meal is served on a plate. Is your problem
dry skin that does not produce enough sebum on its own? Go for Essential Unsaturated Fatty Acids, which improve elasticity and strengthen the hydrolipid barrier. You will find them in wild salmon, linseed, chia seeds, walnuts, olive oil, avocado and evening primrose oil.
On the other side of the barricade, we have
oily skin , which secretes too much sebum. In case of problems with oily skin, choose products containing copper, zinc and antioxidants, i.e. red beans, lentils, chickpeas, artichokes, wholemeal bread, pumpkin seeds, oatmeal, cashews or pecan nuts. Oily skin does not like processed, fatty and sugary products. If you struggle with
acne, imperfections and clogged pores , first of all, stop squeezing pimples - this way you spread bacteria all over your face. Then, eliminate hydrogenated fats, cow's milk and gluten from your diet. Finally, your plate should regularly include foods with a low glycemic index, rich in sulfur and omega-3 acids, such as asparagus, garlic, onions, cabbage, radishes, whole grain flour, almonds, spinach, wild salmon, walnuts and hazelnuts.
And what does
sensitive skin, known for its pickiness and prone to irritation and redness, like ? In its case, focus on vitamin A, selenium and silicon. Include carrots, kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, sweet potatoes, Brazil nuts, coconut water, cucumber, bananas and black rice in your diet on a regular basis. For its good, limit your alcohol and coffee intake and quit smoking. Is your complexion
lacking radiance and would you simply like to restore its radiant appearance? Start by eliminating white bread, white rice and white pasta from your diet. Replace them with whole grain versions, which will improve digestion. Choose more foods containing vitamin C, selenium and carotenoids, such as carrots, tomatoes, mango, papaya, kiwi, cabbage, kale, beets, sweet potatoes, onions, garlic, cumin, curry and pepper. Spices also have an additional stimulating effect on the digestive system.
Homemade cosmetics are a way to beautiful skin.
Luckily, in drugstores and online stores we can already find an increasingly rich selection of cosmetics based on natural ingredients. Many cosmetic brands consciously limit or eliminate to zero the use of preservatives, SLS, mineral oils or paraffin. We are increasingly conscious of the issue of facial and body skin care, because we are beginning to understand that what we put on it also gets inside and has a significant impact not only on our appearance, but above all on our health. We are therefore glad that you are keenly interested in the topic of natural cosmetics. But did you know that you can also prepare 100% natural ones in the comfort of your own... kitchen? Kitchen shelves are a treasure trove of ingredients from which you can make simple, homemade cosmetics. Let's start with the coffee machine. From ground coffee grounds, already used for this delicious drink, you can make the simplest cosmetic in the world -
a body scrub . In addition to coffee, to make it, you will need:
- olive oil or coconut oil - both will moisturize your skin wonderfully
- brown sugar - an ingredient that will remove dead skin
- a few drops of your favorite scented oil - for example orange, which gives off a wonderful aroma during the treatment
Mix all these ingredients together thoroughly in the right proportions for you and seal in a glass container. Remember to use up such a homemade peeling quite quickly - its beauty lies in the lack of preservatives, which also shortens the shelf life.
Honey. You have certainly read more than one article on its beneficial effects on our body. In order not to catch a cold with the first colder day in the fall, all you need to do is eat a spoonful of honey a day throughout the year. It is best if it is acacia honey, which beautifully supports our immunity. Honey also wonderfully moisturizes and regenerates the epidermis, which is why so many cosmetic brands release entire lines of cosmetics equipped with honey extracts. Marta Kucińska, a facial yoga instructor and creator of the JogaPiekna.com blog, convinces that you can also use honey to... wash your face: “
It is a fantastic way to gently cleanse, combined with nourishing the skin. After a few days of washing your face with honey, you will notice a huge difference - the skin becomes smooth and radiant.” However, Marta warns that you should wash your face with honey mainly in the morning. She prefers to leave evening make-up removal to stronger cosmetics that will thoroughly cleanse the skin of make-up, sebum and impurities.
Emilie Herbert also gives a simple recipe for beautiful skin in her book “Beauty Food”. Her regenerating serum consists of only two ingredients, but what ingredients! Mix one tablespoon
of avocado oil with one tablespoon
of argan oil . Store the finished mixture in a dark glass bottle. This homemade serum will intensively moisturize and regenerate your skin.
Appropriate supplementation will complement your skin care.
When planning your skin care from the inside, it is worth remembering about supplements that will support beautiful skin on the skincare diet detox. The vitamin that we should supply our body with all year round is primarily
vitamin D. We live in a climate zone that is deprived of sunlight for about half a year, and it is this sunlight that triggers the process of synthesis of 7-dehydrocholesterol to vitamin D in the skin. Dermatologists recommend constant vitamin D supplementation, and in the autumn-winter season at a minimum level of 800-2000 IU (international units). Why? Well, vitamin D affects, among others, the proper functioning of the musculoskeletal system, the digestive system, the urinary system, the nervous system, and its deficiency can affect the development of, among others, atopic dermatitis or bronchial asthma. One small vitamin and such a huge importance for our body. Minimalist care is not only about limiting the cosmetics used and choosing those with the most natural composition. It is, above all, a balanced, healthy diet that will be appropriately adjusted to the needs of our skin, thoughtful supplementation and using the benefits that are hidden in the comfort of your own kitchen.
