Who doesn't want glowing, blemish-free skin? In my work as a clinical herbalist, I've met a lot of folks who are plagued with acne or other chronic skin issues like rosacea or eczema. You'd be surprised at how many of them list improving their facial appearance as a primary goal for their healing plan, even when other, seemingly more serious, issues are present. It illustrates how much emphasis we put on how we look to the outside world. Everyone wants to look their best, even when they don't feel well on the inside.
Over the counter treatments, skincare products, and pharmaceuticals are more popular than ever as a means to control problem skin, and it's BIG BUSINESS. No doubt about it: acneic skin is a huge moneymaker. I can't fault anyone for wanting clear skin. I'm no different. The problem that I have with the skincare industry is how often the products marketed to those with problem skin are loaded with ingredients that can toxify the body, ultimately creating a worse internal environment for your skin. This in turn makes it impossible for your skin to truly heal. Meds can be very helpful, but they come with a host of side effects, and as with most drugs, only mask the problem. As soon as you stop taking the meds, the skin outbreaks come right back.
The truth is that most skin problems can be handled naturally, without harsh or expensive products. Don't get me wrong. Chronic conditions like eczema, rosacea, or cystic acne often require a full workup with a clinician like me or naturopathic doctor, due to underlying causes contributing to the skin condition (i.e. autoimmune disorder, hormone dysregulation, deep-seated toxicity, etc). If you have severe outbreaks or another chronic condition, it's worth it to enlist a coach, get the right testing, and learn about what's going on inside of your unique self. Having said that, there are steps that EVERYONE can take, regardless of what kind of skin issue they're dealing with, to help improve the health and appearance of their skin. Teenagers take note! The vast majority of people can sidestep the pricey, harsh products and have great skin naturally. Here are three actionable steps that you can implement right now (Today!) to help create your most beautiful skin.
1. Drink Water
Image by Viacheslav Blizniuk at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
This one seems like a no-brainer, and it's the tip that you've heard time and again, but it bears repeating. So many people, especially Americans, are chronically dehydrated. We eat too much, and drink too little. Worse, what we do drink is often nutritionally and toxically dreadful. Dehydration alone can lead to acne. So step up your game with how much and what you're drinking. Pure water is the winner in all races when it comes to properly hydrating the body. I prefer filtered or spring water. The chlorine, fluoride and some of the other disinfectants in tap water are known to interfere with thyroid function.
Note that the old advice that you should drink 8 glasses of water a day is not actually backed up by science. The more active you are, the more water you need. Drink when you're thirsty and make it a healthy drink is better advice. For those who are attempting to break out of the cycle of eating when they're thirsty instead of drinking, then go ahead and aim for 5-8 glasses of water per day as a goal. As you fix that habit, you'll get to know your body better, and be able to tell the difference between hunger and thirst.
Herbal Infusions are nutritionally dense and very easy to make. Image by Jennifer Capestany.
Don't like water? Kick it up by adding fruit and herbs to it. Cucumbers, lemons, limes, or mint are all good ways to add a little flavor to plain water. Herbal teas are also fine, as are the more potent herbal infusions. Herbs like red clover and stinging nettle are great for increasing nutrient intake and helping move waste materials away from inflamed skin. Choose organic wherever you can to minimize toxin intake.
2. Honey as a Face Cleanser
Image by comzeal at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Back when I was selling my natural skincare products at farmers markets and online, Honey Cleansers were my biggest seller, and with good reason! Honey was my most effective tool for reducing redness, calming irritated skin, and reducing the severity of breakouts. It was magic for all kinds of faces (except allergic ones, of course). Honey has been used in skincare for thousands of years, and has an established reputation for dealing with problem skin. Honey's beneficial properties include being:
- antibacterial
- moisturizing
- humectant (help prevent moisture loss)
- healing
The beauty industry is well aware of honey's therapeutic properties. It finds its way into numerous skincare products; however, there's no need to adulterate honey in any way to be able to use it as a face cleanser. Honey is already shelf stable (no preservatives required) and is easy to use straight. Simply wet your face, apply a very small amount of honey to your face and neck area, and then gently wipe it off with a warm cloth. Done! Finish with a protective facial oil or natural moisturizer.
One of the Honey Cleansers that I used to sell. Image by Jennifer Capestany.
I prefer raw honey as a face cleanser. It still has all of its healing properties and isn't adulterated as regular honey so often is these days. I've been asked if manuka honey or jarrah honey is best. You can use either of those if you like; however, both are expensive and in most cases, just not necessary. I like to keep a jar of manuka honey around, but I reserve it for wound healing purposes. If you want to take your raw honey cleanser to the next level, a cheaper and still highly effective step is to infuse it with fresh or dried herbs (fresh is best). This is done by filling up a jar with fresh herb and then covering it over with honey. Let that steep for 2-6 weeks, strain off the herb, and there's your infused honey. I have it on the docket to make a video to demonstrate this easy method. Herbs that work synergistically with honey for problem skin include sage, lavender, chamomile, and stinging nettle.
3. Don't Skip a Moisturizer
I get this a lot with folks who have very oily skin. They cleanse, or cleanse and then use a toner, but skip a moisturizer altogether. It's understandable. The last thing that people with acneic or oily skin want to do is put more oil on their faces! But in my experience, this is usually a misstep. Think of it this way: Skin that breaks out easily is very sensitive to internal and environmental changes. Your skin is one path that the body uses to shed waste materials. This is a natural and necessary process; however, skin that's breaking out is often very reactive to that process. In fact it's reactive to a lot of factors (what you eat, what you're exposed to, hormone levels, etc). So putting a layer between you and the outside world is a good idea when your skin is sensitive to what it's being exposed to.
There are numerous natural moisturizers available for reactive skin. My first recommendation is simply oil. Yup, just oil, a thin layer, spread gently over the face and neck is often all that you need to help protect the skin from environmental stressors. Certain oils also have healing properties all their own. Coconut oil and shea butter come to mind as well known oils/butters for soothing and boosting healing in the skin. If you have pores that clog easily, pay attention to the comedogenic number of the oil that you want to use. The scale runs from 0 to 5, with 0 being the most noncomedogenic (won't clog pores). Coconut oil, for example, is magic for many, but some seem to break out more when they apply it to their face. Coconut oil is actually mid to high on the comedogenic scale , coming in as high as a 4 level rating. Therefore, it has potential to clog pores, and can actually contribute to breakouts in very reactive skin. You know yourself. If you believe that coconut oil breaks you out more, then choose lighter oils like hemp seed oil, argan oil, or even olive oil (mid-range on the comedogenic scale) for moisturizing.
ALWAYS choose organic oils for your face, and remember that a little goes a long way. I put my facial oils into dropper bottles, and apply a series of drops to my face, and then gently spread it around. This ensures that I don't glop on too much. Can you use herb infused oils on your face? Sure! Calendula, plantain (Plantago genus), rose petals, and lavender come to mind as great herbs for the face. You can learn how to make your own infused oils by reading my how-to article on that here.
Effective skincare can be both natural and affordable. Incorporate these tips into your skincare regimen, and see if you don't notice a difference!
References
- "Assessment of lifetime exposure to trihalomethanes through different ...." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16556748. Accessed 24 May. 2017.
- "Bromine and thyroid hormone activity. - NCBI - NIH." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC501258/. Accessed 24 May. 2017.
- "Effects of air pollution on the skin: A review. - NCBI." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28195077. Accessed 24 May. 2017.
- "Cutaneous responses to environmental stressors - NCBI - NIH." 10 Oct. 2012, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3495295/. Accessed 24 May. 2017.
- "Air pollution and skin diseases: Adverse effects of airborne particulate ...." 25 Mar. 2016, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27018067. Accessed 24 May. 2017.
Author: Jennifer Capestany
Jennifer is a clinical herbalist and health coach, specializing in autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Her interest in plant medicine led Jennifer to spend years studying herbology, physiology, and nutrition. She works one-on-one with her clients via her herbalist and health coaching business, Prairie Hawk Botanica. Jennifer lives on a homestead in rural Texas with her husband, 2 children, and various animals. In her spare time she loves to be in her large herb and vegetable garden. Sharing herb knowledge and her love of natural healing with others is her calling. Steem and Bitcoin accepted.
