There is an assortment of skin care and beauty information out there on what to avoid chemically, habitually, and health-wise. What is truly best for your skin? Well, we’re here to help break it down for you.
Foods You Should Avoid
Basically, anything processed or with refined sugar is bad for skin and promotes breakouts. Fried foods are a big one and here’s why: the main reason is because of the vegetable oils and how they react when superheated. Once superheated, vegetable oils release free radicals, which then act as toxins, causing the cells to age faster. What does this mean for your skin? Dr. Rhonda Klein, an expert dermatologist, says “Hydrogenated trans fats found in deep fried food will also have a negative impact on your complexion … Deep fried foods lead to excess oil production within the skin”. I’m not saying to never eat fried foods, but just to limit and regulate your intake to avoid unhealthy skin. Sugar is another one to watch. That is not to say you can never enjoy your favorite sweet treat again, but limit your consumption. Sugar triggers a process in your blood called glycation, creating new molecules called AGEs (advanced glycation end products), according to a journal article by Georgia Soldatos about advanced glycation. Aside from the diseases AGEs may cause, they can also damage cells that keep your skin healthy and clear. Skin can lose firmness, elasticity, and blemishes can start to form. Maintaining a healthy diet is always a good idea for healthy skin. Foods rich in biotin, antioxidants, and vitamins A, C, E, and K are a few to take into consideration when choosing a healthier diet. Dr. Janet Prystowsky, a board-certified dermatologist reminds us to watch the alcohol intake, as well. It dehydrates the skin, which could lead to a myriad of problems like blemishes and breakouts.
Chemicals to Avoid
There are so many chemicals in manufactured beauty products that we don’t have a lot of information about, nor are they even FDA approved. So how do you know what to avoid? Organic options are always better when it comes to choosing skincare products, so look for natural ingredients. The Environmental Working Group lists all the chemicals found in certain skincare products that you should avoid:
- Soaps: triclosan and triclocarban
- Moisturizer and lip products: retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, retinoic acid and retinol in daytime products.
- Sunscreen: SPF above 50, retinyl palmitate, aerosol spray and powder sunscreen, oxybenzone, and added insect repellent.
Many cosmetic chemicals are designed to penetrate into the skin’s inner layers, according to the EWG’s website, and they do – this isn’t always a good thing when it comes to certain chemicals in skincare products. Preservatives find their way into the body through the skin – and nobody needs that.
Bad Habits Means Bad Skin
In addition to bad eating habits, there are other common mistakes you can make when taking care of your skin. Some more obvious than others, but there might be a few that you don’t even realize you are doing!
- Overcleansing: Dr. Ellen Marmur, a dermatologist says that this common mistake can dry out your skin quick! “It is important to clean your skin in the morning,” she says, “because this allows your skin to retain it’s natural oils. If you notice your skin drying up between washes, do a quick wipe-off of your makeup at night rather than a full cleanse.”
- Too much exfoliation – if scrubs or peels become painful, irritating, or cause redness of your skin, you are exfoliating too much! “Everything in moderation,” Dr. Mamur says. “If you experience any of these symptoms, it means you are removing the natural oils essential to your skin along with the dead skin cells.”
- Sleeping habits: the condition in which you are sleeping is just as important as making sure you are sleeping enough! Your pillowcase collects all sorts of gross stuff when you sleep: bacteria, dead skin cells, oil, and anything you may put on your face at night. This can clog your pores, so it is best to change your pillowcases every couple of weeks. To avoid wrinkles, try using a satin or silk pillowcase, rather than a rough, low thread count, cotton one.
- Skipping the sunscreen: we’ve been told a thousand times – protect your skin from those U.V. rays! Even if you have darker skin tones or are prone to tanning, it’s important to protect your skin from damaging rays that can cause skin cancer, wrinkles, and other unsightly skin blemishes.
How Delta-5 Can Promote Healthy Skin
Delta-5 is a natural oil derived from the seeds of a conifer tree. It is free of chemicals and is a completely organic product that is clinically proven to fight wrinkles, inflammation, redness, dry skin, and blemishes, in addition to protecting the skin against free radicals, promoting younger looking skin, and a glowing, clear, even-toned complexion. The profound effects of Delta-5 were discovered by Dr. Alvin Berger, a lipid nutrition expert. Just place 1-3 drops of Delta-5 on the desired area of skin, up to 3 times daily. Skin can look visibly better in just 24 hours with consistent use, and definitely beats any harsh chemicals you may find in other skincare products.
