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Common Skincare Beauty Myths Busted—PART 2

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Common Skincare Beauty Myths – PART 2

Achieving a beautiful, youthful glow can be accomplished naturally. But first, we need to stop believing the most common skincare beauty myths.

In part 2 of this 2-part series, I’ll bust another 8 prolific beauty myths I’ve collected from the beauty industry, beauty experts, The Spa Dr.® followers, and my patients. Let’s rid ourselves of these beauty myths to focus on natural and safe beauty rituals that help us achieve true natural beauty from the inside out.

If you haven’t already, you can read Common Skincare Beauty Myths Busted – Part 1 Here

MYTH #9. Dry Brushes Your Face Make You Look Younger

Dry Brushing is a great way to exfoliate the skin, which will leave it feeling softer and help improve blood and lymphatic circulation throughout the body– but DO NOT use it on your face! It’s too harsh and abrasive for the delicate skin of your face. Dry Brushing isn’t safe for every skin type, especially the delicate skin of your face. It can cause small micro-cuts and lead to irritation and dryness.

Also, if you have skin conditions like rosacea, psoriasis, or eczema, then dry brushing your face can aggravate these conditions and do more harm than good. This can leave your skin looking dry and damaged — the opposite of the youthful glow.

I recommend using a gentle facial exfoliant that will gently remove dead skin without causing irritation, inflammation, or damage to your skin.

MYTH #10. Men Need To Use Men-Specific Skincare Products

There are many widespread myths about men and skincare. For example, a common myth is that men need to use skincare designed specifically for men. Men indeed have thicker skin than women, and because they don’t generally wear makeup, their skincare routine is usually simpler. But men need the same basic steps that women do to protect and maintain healthy skin.

However, when it comes to sun protection, the difference between men’s and women’s skin does become more apparent. These differences mean men are more likely to get certain types of skin cancer. So, men should be just as vigilant about wearing sunscreen.

MYTH #11. DIY Skincare Is Always Healthier And Safer

Just because you are using natural ingredients at home doesn’t mean DIY is healthier or safe for the skin. The skin has a specific pH that is slightly acidic. If you choose to use straight lemon juice, vinegar, baking soda, or even water, you can disrupt your skin’s natural pH and protective barrier functions.

Be careful in choosing a DIY skincare formula. Not every recipe you find on the internet is going to be effective or safe for the skin. You’ll want to find recipes that remain stable and safe during the application process and don’t interact with each other. And since DIY skincare can grow harmful bacteria and mold within a few days, it’s important to always make fresh batches. Also, always do a test patch to make sure your skin doesn’t have an adverse reaction. You can find more DIY skin care tips and recipes in my book.

MYTH #12. If You Have Oily Skin – Avoid Oil Based Skincare

If your skin tends to be oily, the idea of putting more oil on your face may sound counterintuitive, but this just isn’t true. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Oily skin is caused partly by the skin attempting to restore balance, hydration and protect itself. So, applying natural plant-based oils can be beneficial in restoring balance to the skin’s microbiome, which will effectively reduce oily skin.

One oil to avoid would be petroleum-derived mineral oils. Not only can these mineral oils have trace amounts of carcinogens left from the refining process, but they are not recommended for any skin type. Mainly because the oil will sit on the surface, clogs pores, and suffocates the skin—leading to more breakouts and more oil production.

MYTH #13. Using A Sharpie Instead Of Eyeliner Is Safe

NO – it is not safe to use a sharpie as an eyeliner! Sharpies have harsh chemicals and can cause irritation, allergic reactions, and lead to infections. The chemicals in a Sharpie include propanal, butanol, dyes, and diacetone alcohol. These chemicals should never come into contact with your eyes and can lead to permanent damage.

Butanol specifically is used as a paint thinner. Ask yourself – would you apply paint thinner near your eyes? Then using a Sharpie near the eye should be out of the question as well.

MYTH #14. Preparation H Gets Rid Of Puffiness Under The Eyes

In theory, the active ingredients could get rid of puffiness. Phenylephrine constricts blood vessels, and hydrocortisone is an anti-inflammatory. But if your finger slips and you get some of these ingredients in your eye, you may end up with some serious damage—then puffy eyes will be the least of your concerns.

Is it worth the risk?! Besides, there is no conclusive evidence that it works. It may bring on the feeling of tightness but doesn’t make any noticeable reduction to puffy eyes.

A safe alternative would be to try arnica gel—a plant extract used for bruises, pain relief, and swelling. Or dab an antioxidant serum under your eyes to reduce swelling.

MYTH #15. Using Hairspray Can Help Set Your Makeup

It is understandable that you might accidentally overspray and get hairspray on your face. But the beauty practice of purposefully using hairspray to set your makeup is quite detrimental to your skin.

Even if you ‘only’ spray it ahead of your face and then ‘walking through it,’ aerosols contain toxic chemicals that are harmful to your skin or when ingested or inhaled. At a minimum, they can cause redness, irritation, rashes, and allergic reactions. However, ingredients in hairspray like propylene glycol have been linked to poisoning as well as liver and kidney toxicity.

Aerosol lacquers and alcohols can cause blurred vision, breathing difficulty, and be very dehydrating for your skin — ultimately putting your health at risk and making your skin look older.

MYTH #16. Coffee Is A Great Exfoliant For The Skin

Coffee grounds that come straight from a coffee grinding machine aren’t ground fine enough for cosmetic use. The coffee ground will damage the skin by causing micro-tears across your skin as you exfoliate. Damaging your skin’s protective barrier puts it at risk of infections and experiencing skin issues.

Additionally, coffee grounds and body oils are the worst combination for your drains that even draino can’t cut through. Do your skin and your pipes a favor and steer clear of this beauty myth. Instead, adopt an exfoliation routine that is gentle with the goal to only slough the dead skin cells and help prevent clogged pores. Once a week is typically enough for an effective exfoliation routine. Also, choose a gentle exfoliant formulated to be effective while preserving your skin’s protective barrier qualities.

Achieve Natural Beauty

Becoming aware of your skin’s specific needs is important in your journey to achieving natural beauty from the inside out. You can learn your skin type by taking our skin quiz HERE. Once you know your skin type, you can choose a safe, effective, and natural skin care that will simplify and clean up your skin care to help you achieve naturally beautiful skin.

The Spa Dr.® Approach

At The Spa Dr.®, our approach is to help shine the light on skin care information and offer our guidance to nurture your skin care journey. We believe we provide information that will help support your self-care and healing, and we want you to feel safe and cared for within our community!

The Spa Dr.® offers natural skin care products that are safe and free from chemicals and toxins that can harm your skin and health. Our products are formulated to contain key nutrients in their pure and active form in order to provide optimal results. In addition, our products are pH balanced towards mild acidity to promote and protect a healthy skin microbiome.

If you are not already part of The Spa Dr. community, please join us at TheSpaDr.com and on social media.

Share this article with your friends and spread the word to promote natural beauty!

Common Skincare Beauty Myths Busted—PART I

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Common Skincare Beauty Myths – PART 1

Beauty myths have existed throughout time—from the beliefs that arsenic could lighten skin and belladonna could dilate pupils, to the bizarre notion that the warm urine of young boys could smooth wrinkles. Today, it’s clear how ludicrous and potentially dangerous these ideas were. But comparatively, many of the beauty practices used today are just as unscientific and irresponsible. Which of our current beauty practices will we look back on in a few decades and cringe about? 

In part 1 of this 2 part series, I’ll cover 8 of the most popular beauty myths I’ve collected from beauty experts, The Spa Dr.® followers, and my patients. Let’s burst the beauty myth bubble once and for all!!

Beauty Secrets That Are Really Beauty Killers

Over the years, I have encountered several myths and misconceptions about skin care that are detrimental to beautiful skin. It’s time to clear the air and put these beauty myths and urban legends to rest.

In part 1 of this 2 part series I’ll cover 8 of the most popular beauty myths I’ve collected from beauty experts, The Spa Dr.® followers, and my patients. Let’s burst the beauty myth bubble once and for all!

Here Are The First 8 Skincare Beauty Myths To Bust:

MYTH #1. Skin Gets “Used To” Products – So You Need To Switch Them Up

The simple answer is NO — over time, your skin doesn’t build up an immunity to skin care products. What does change is your skin needs. For example, the weather, your bathing habits, dehydration, poor diet, hormone imbalance, and using harsh endocrine-disrupting soaps and detergents can all play a role in triggering skin issues. It may be tempting to blame your skin care. But this would be a mistake if you already use a high-quality natural, safe, and effective skin care system. In fact, switching up your skin care may even have the opposite effect and slow your progress to achieving glowing skin.

Whether your skin easily breaks out, is uneven, sensitive, inflamed, showing signs of aging, dull or dry — start paying attention to the messages your skin is sending. Beautiful skin starts from the inside out, so instead, make sure you are well hydrated; focus on nutrition and incorporate more Omega-3 fatty acids into your diet; use a gentle cleanser that is pH balanced and won’t harm the skin’s microbiome; slather on a nutrient-rich antioxidant serum to protect against free radical damage.

MYTH #2. Washing Your Face More Can Help Reduce Breakouts

Trying to get that ‘squeaky clean’ feeling is terrible for your skin. It means you’ve washed away not only all the dirt but also all of the natural protection too. In fact, washing your face more often may produce the opposite results — like more breakouts and skin issues.

Instead, be consistent with washing your face twice a day and use a gentle and soothing pH-balanced cleanser free of toxins. One that can remove sweat, dirt, debris, and pollution from your skin without disrupting your skin’s barrier protection—like The Spa Dr® CLEAN Body Wash. Your goal should be to cleanse the skin and decrease harmful bacteria on its surface without stripping all the good bacteria and protective natural oils in the process.

MYTH #3. Lip Balm Dries Out Your Lips

Lip balms or lip hydrators contain waxes or emollients that create a barrier to seal in hydration to the lips. This barrier helps protect against weather, sun, and pollutants that can cause chapped lips. It is practically impossible for lip balm to be the cause of dry lips. And there is no good evidence that lip balms are chemically addictive to the lips.

So, it turns out lip balm addiction isn’t a thing. Unless, of course, you are using a lip balm or chapstick that contains harmful ingredients that can dry out your skin. For help finding safe skin care, Download a FREE Skin Care Ingredient Shopping Guide Now! It includes the top best ingredients to look for and the top worst ingredients to avoid.

MYTH #4. Putting Vaseline On Your Face Gets Rid Of Wrinkles

Vaseline or petroleum jelly contains mineral oil. Mineral oil is derived from crude oil, and there are some concerns about its safety. Because the refining process may not remove all the harmful impurities such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are carcinogenic.

Additionally, petroleum jelly can create the illusion of moisturized, hydrated skin — all the while suffocating, clogging, and hindering your skin, and causing skin issues. The result of using petroleum products that potentially exposes your skin needlessly to carcinogens could be the cause of fine lines and wrinkles, not the cure. To be safe, avoid mineral oils and petroleum products altogether.

MYTH #5. You Don’t Need To Use Anti-Aging Products Until You’re Older

It’s never too early to start taking care of your skin and counteracting the visible signs of aging. Properly caring for your skin is analogous to caring for your health. You wouldn’t wait to start eating healthy or exercising until you turn 50 to maintain and enjoy good health.

Your skin will benefit at any age from skin care products that contain natural and organic ingredients that promote ageless beauty and a youthful glow.

It’s also never too early to protect your skin (and health) from the sun’s damaging UVB, UVA, and IR rays. Use a mineral-based sunscreen to protect against oxidative damage directly to the skin caused by UVB and UVA rays, and take antioxidant-rich supplements to protect against internal free radical cell damage caused by IR rays. Both oxidative and free radical damage will cause inflammation, collagen breakdown, DNA damage, and pigmentation changes that contribute to premature aging of the skin.

MYTH #6. Steam And Hot Water Open Your Pores

Most people believe using steam, and hot water to wash your face will help because it ‘opens your pores.’ Your pores aren’t muscle – they can’t open and contract regardless of water temperature. And there is nothing that can physically ‘make’ the pores smaller or bigger.

However, warm water can make the skin structure more pliable and help loosen residue, debris, oil, and dirt in the pores. Not too hot, though — hot water can break down proteins and damage the skin’s barrier protection, leading to breakouts, eczema, and dry, irritated skin. Using warm water combined with a gentle cleanser and exfoliating sponge will safely clear pores for clean, silky smooth skin.

MYTH #7. “Natural” Means It’s Good For You

The lack of regulation in the skincare industry combines with an increase in customer demand for natural skincare has left the door open for many mainstream companies to misrepresent their products as “natural” or “clean.”

Many consumers rely on advertising and labels to help them choose products they believe to be safe and healthy. Unfortunately, many companies exploit this and knowing mislead consumers with terms like “natural.” When in fact, their products contain fragrances and ingredients linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, and reproductive harm.

Choose pure and natural skin care, like The Spa Dr. ®’s Daily Essential system, which is EWG VERIFIED™. This indicates the products meet the Environmental Working Group’s strict standards for transparency and health.

MYTH #8. You Should Exfoliate Your Skin Daily

Over-exfoliating daily may strip the skin of its barrier protection and physically damage skin cells—leaving it chronically irritated, inflamed, and hypersensitive. This damage can lead to more breakouts, skin issues, and accelerated aging.

While we all enjoy the radiant look that younger skin cells provide— once or twice a week is typically enough to help slough off dead skin cells and prevent clogged pores. Your exfoliation schedule will depend on your skin type.

When exfoliating, use very little pressure. Also, minimize friction by applying water or a cleanser as a light lubricant. It should feel good both during and after the treatment. Also, use a gentle exfoliant, like The Spa Dr.® Pearl and Rose Exfoliant, to do the job while preserving your skin’s protective barrier qualities.

The Spa Dr.® Approach

Morals and fears won’t keep women from wanting to look younger. And why should they settle for a less-than-ideal look? The good news is this goal can be accomplished naturally and without exposure to possible health harms lurking in many foundation bottles, eyeshadow palettes, and the like. We need to stop looking for hope in a jar and turn our focus to address the issues from the inside-out.

At The Spa Dr.®, our approach is to help shine the light on skin care information and offer our guidance to nurture your skin care journey. We believe we provide information that will help support your self-care and healing, and we want you to feel safe and cared for within our community!

The Spa Dr.® offers natural skin care products that are safe and free from chemicals and toxins that can harm your skin and health. Our products are formulated to contain key nutrients in their pure and active form in order to provide optimal results. In addition, our products are pH balanced towards mild acidity to promote and protect a healthy skin microbiome.

If you are not already part of The Spa Dr. community, please join us at TheSpaDr.com and on social media.

Share this article with your friends and spread the word to promote natural beauty!

Soothe Dry Skin In Winter Naturally

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Dry Skin In Winter

Dry skin patches or overall dry skin that occurs during the winter months is a typical seasonal issue. It can result from many factors beyond the weather. Including your bathing routine, skin care routine, age, diet, and soap choices, to name a few.

If you are experiencing dry skin, addressing the triggers will allow you to make changes. These changes can soothe and renew your skin’s natural barrier protection. Because untreated and severely dry skin can develop into more serious conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis. These skin conditions can create very uncomfortable inflamed, itchy, and cracked skin — making you vulnerable to infections.

The skin’s barrier protection is your body’s first line of defense against pathogens that can affect your skin and overall health. Part of this natural barrier protection is a healthy skin microbiome. The microbiome helps maintain moisture levels and protect the skin and body from pathogens and irritants that can affect your skin and overall health.

The good news is that there are many natural approaches to soothe and care for your dry skin during the winter. Here’s a look at the causes of severely dry winter skin, and then steps you can take to help soothe, nourish and care for your skin naturally.

 

Winter Causes Of Dry Skin

Here are the common winter triggers behind your dry skin:

Cold Weather: Skin tends to be driest in the winter when temperatures and humidity levels plummet, and stormy winds blow. This combination creates arid air that draws moisture away from the surface and dehydrates your skin.

Bathing Habits: Showering in very hot water during cold winter months dries and can even damage your skin’s surface. Additionally, enjoying a long shower can be a part of the problem because a long shower (or bath) and hot water will strip natural oils from your skin, disrupting your skin’s barrier protection. Even the way you dry off can add to the problem. Rough towel drying can irritate skin and over-exfoliate.

Indoor Heating: All forms of heating, including space heaters, fireplaces, central heating, and wood-burning stoves, will reduce the humidity in the surrounding air. Lower humidity levels will cause the water in your skin to evaporate more quickly, leaving it dry.

Harsh Soaps (and Detergents): Many popular soaps are formulated to remove oils from your skin aggressively. Most regular detergents aim to rid clothes of sweat, oils, and stains while adding a lasting fresh scent. Soaps (and detergents) can contain harsh irritants, fragrances, a high pH, or chemicals. All of which can be harmful to the skin’s protective barrier, moisture levels, and microbiome.

Dehydration: You may not be as thirsty as you would be during the hot summer months, but you lose water through your skin just the same. Especially if you spend much of your time indoors with the heat cranked up. Your body is over 70% water. If you aren’t drinking enough water, your skin may become dry, flaky, dull, wrinkled, and sag.

Poor Diet: Nutrition is vital for your health and your skin. An unhealthy diet or a diet deficient in essential nutrients and building blocks, such as fatty acids, can leave your body deficient in the components it needs to maintain healthy cells and proper body functions.

 

Caring For Dry Skin

Here are a few ways to soothe, nourish and care for your irritated, itchy skin naturally:

Humidify Home: Spending much of your time in dry indoor air or, if you live in an arid area, can dry out your skin. A humidifier can help increase the moisture to an optimal level of 40-50% humidity. Also, be sure to use the humidifier at night to diffuse cool moisture to your skin during the long night hours.

Gently Cleanse: A “squeaky clean” feeling is terrible for your skin. It means you’ve washed away much of the natural protection that keeps your skin from drying out. Effectively melt away that sweat, dirt, debris, and pollution from your skin naturally with a gentle and soothing pH balanced cleanser like The Spa Dr® CLEAN Body Wash.

Short Warm Showers: Long hot showers may feel good in cold weather, but they deplete your skin’s lipid layer and decrease its ability to stay hydrated. Start babying your skin – use a water temperature that would be suitable for sensitive baby skin. Keep your shower under 10 minutes (5 minutes is optimal) to help decrease the evaporation of your skin’s natural hydration.

Stay Hydrated: Moisturize your skin inside and outside regularly. Drink plenty of fluids. Also, increase foods with high water content, like fruits and vegetables, to keep your skin hydrated from the inside. Apply a nutrient-rich body lotion like The Spa Dr® HYDRATE Body Moisturizer or oil blend like ENHANCE: Glow Boost. Both provide skin-loving nutrients to quench dry skin and help replenish the skin’s natural barrier.

Moisturize Correctly: Timing when you moisturize can be the easiest way to soothe dry skin. As soon as you get out of the shower, gently pat your skin dry, then immediately moisturize to seal in moisture. Moisturize throughout the day when needed. In the evening before bed, finish the day off with a nutrient-rich oil. I recommend using coconut, almond, or an all-natural plant-based oil blend to hydrate.

Always Protect: No matter the weather, our skin is exposed to many environmental toxins, free radicals, and stressors. These can cause dry skin – not to mention lead to premature signs of aging. So, slather on a nutrient-rich antioxidant serum, and when outside, use natural sun care. Protect and nourish your skin to combat environmental stress and maintain healthy skin.

Focus On Nutrition: Your skin depends on natural lipids to maintain its hydrated glow. Eating nutrient-rich foods, and natural fats provides your body with the building blocks to support healthy skin. These protective lipids and microbiome keep your skin looking soft, supple, plump, and radiant.

 

Beyond Dry Winter Skin

If you find your dry skin isn’t improving with at-home remedies, consider keeping a journal. A journal of your habits may help determine what could be contributing to dry skin. While it may just be harsh winter weather or the factors discussed above causing your dry skin – it may be more. There can be underlying causes, such as hypothyroidism. So, if you have chronically dry skin, talk to your healthcare provider to see if the root cause goes beyond the skin.

If you live with chronically dry skin and want to find out more about possible triggers, take my skin quiz.

 

The Spa Dr.® Approach

At The Spa Dr.®, our approach is to help shine the light on skin care information and offer guidance to nurture your skin care journey. We believe the information we provide will help support your self-care and healing, and we want you to feel safe and cared for within our community!

The Spa Dr.® offers natural skin care products that are safe and free from chemicals and toxins, which disrupt hormones. Our products are specially formulated to contain key nutrients in their pure and active form to provide optimal results. In addition, our products are pH balanced towards mild acidity to promote a healthy skin microbiome.

If you are not already part of The Spa Dr. community, please join us at TheSpaDr.com and on social media.

Feel free to share this article with your friends and spread the word to promote natural beauty.

A Softer Approach to Exfoliation

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Soft Exfoliation

For decades, the “gold standard” skincare routine went something like this: cleanse, tone, exfoliate, and moisturize. Daily exfoliation may still be the norm in many conventional skin care routines, but our understanding of the skin’s structure, function, and microbiome have made it clear a conservative soft exfoliation approach is needed. 

Exfoliation Basics

The two categories of exfoliation — chemical & mechanical 

Chemical Exfoliation involves using a low pH product such as alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) products, a group of plant and animal-derived acids used in various skincare products. AHAs such as glycolic or mandelic acid; or enzymes synthesized fruits such as kiwi, pineapple, and papaya. These exfoliants can be applied as controlled, single treatments by an aesthetician; or incorporated into products such as cleansers and serums. Chemical exfoliants work by dissolving corneocytes (the “dead” skin cells on the skin’s surface) that fall off in their own time. Chemical exfoliants also dissolve some protein structures in the epidermis’ deeper layers, stimulating the skin, and activating a healing cascade to develop new dermal collagen and elastin.

Mechanical Exfoliation involves using physical tools or topical abrasives. Physical tools include brushes, sponges, or a rough washcloth. Topical abrasives include pastes and scrubs that contain tiny granules, such as salt, sugar, or even coffee grounds. The idea is to use motion to gently slough away dead skin cells (corneocytes) from the skin’s surface. When done softly, mechanical exfoliation has the added benefit of stimulating blood flow to the skin’s surface to support healthy blood and lymph circulation – too rough, and the skin’s inflammatory response can be triggered. 

More Is NOT More With Exfoliation

Unfortunately, a “more is more” attitude has become the industry trend. The goal is no longer to improve the skin’s glow by only removing the cells about to fall off on their own. Instead, the goal is to remove enough surface proteins to the point it inflicts an injury to the skin’s deeper layers. This approach triggers an inflammatory response within the dermis. The intention is to encourage fibroblasts (the cells that provide structure to the skin) to produce more collagen and elastin. 

The visible result of activating more fibroblasts is firmer, smoother, plumper, more youthful-looking skin. However, the plumpness you see due to this harsh approach is not an increase in fibroblasts producing younger, healthier-looking skin, but in fact, it’s swelling — skinflammation. Unfortunately, this industry technique is excessively triggering the skins’ inflammatory response and overworking fibroblasts. 

You see, the skin naturally regenerates itself every month. However, by triggering an excessive inflammatory response, fibroblasts can become overworked and damaged. In the long run, damaged fibroblasts will lead to a prematurely thinned dermis and slower collagen production. Harsh and excessive exfoliation can lead to a compromised skin barrier function, disrupted skin microbiome, and hyper- or hypopigmentation.

How To Exfoliate Gently & Safely

Many people benefit from periodic, gentle exfoliation. To safely and gently exfoliate, you want to feel the granules, but it should not feel like you are “sanding” your face. Nor should it leave your skin feeling chafed, dry, or tight. When applying the exfoliant, use very little pressure and minimize friction by applying water as a light lubricant. All you need to do is use soft circular motions and let the scrub do the work.

It’s best to use a scrub no more than once or twice a week. The goal is to support the skin’s natural exfoliation function — not to take it over. Think of exfoliation as a supplement to your daily skincare routine. It should be done in a way that feels good during and after the treatment. If your skin is extra sensitive, you may want to start by only exfoliating once every other week. 

Choosing A Gentle Exfoliant

When choosing a mechanical exfoliant, like a scrub, look for one that includes tiny, non-jagged granules. Look for ingredients such as powdered flower petals, clays, or even pearls. It should also contain soothing and emollient (moisturizing) ingredients like natural plant oils and aloe vera gel to protect as you polish.

An excellent exfoliant such as The Spa Dr.® Pearl and Rose Petal Facial Exfoliant is a very soft scrub that contains antioxidant beet root extract, powdered rose petals, and finely milled freshwater pearls to delicately & gently exfoliate and leave your skin feeling smoother and more radiant looking. 

When choosing a chemical exfoliant, choose skin care products with a low concentration of fruit enzymes, such as the organic pineapple fruit extract in The Spa Dr.® NOURISH Antioxidant Serum. A very gentle enzymatic exfoliant you can use is raw honey — check out the DIY skin care recipes in Dr. Cates’ book, Clean Skin from Within, for inspiration.

Bonus tip: the best way to help your skin naturally and gently exfoliate itself  is to drink enough water on a daily basis! Dehydrated skin tends to want to hold onto its “armor”. In contrast, hydrated skin is more expansive and willing to let the armor go.

Stress & Your Skin From The Inside Out

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Connection Between Stress & Your Skin

Stress shows up on our skin in many ways – acne, eczema, psoriasis, vitiligo, rosacea, dullness or dryness, oiliness, sensitivities, and irritations — even premature aging. Your mind and skin are closely interconnected. If you are suffering from any of the skin conditions above, you are well aware they can cause you stress. But did you know your skin condition can be triggered by stress? It’s true — stress is NOT solely a mental state!

Stress and your skin condition flare-ups are linked. Your body has a physiological response to the emotional changes you experience in your psychological state. This includes its response to stress, depression, and anxiety. In other words, stress has a real effect on your entire body, including the health of your hair, skin, and nails. When you are stressed, new skin issues can develop, or existing skin issues may flare-up.

The great news is there are many practical and straightforward steps you can take to ease the effects of stress on your skin.

First, let’s discuss the impact stress has on different skin conditions. Then, I’ll share my top tips on decreasing stress — so you can keep your mind, body, and skin clear and radiantly healthy.

Effects Of Stress On Skin Conditions

Acne – Stress and skin conditions like acne go hand-in-hand. Stress may not be the main cause of acne, but it is a big player. When you are stressed out, your adrenal glands release the hormone cortisol. A surge in cortisol causes increased sebum production, which triggers acne. Chronically high levels of cortisol can lead to sugar cravings, and eating sugar also increases acne breakouts. The presence of pimples is already stressful enough!

Eczema – Anxiety and stress about work, school, and home can cause an eczema flare-up. In part due to high cortisol levels triggered by stress, inflammation in the body can worsen existing skinflammation issues, like eczema.
The itching and discomfort of your eczema are stressful and may disrupt your sleep. But added stress can aggravate this further by unsettling your peace of mind and preventing any restful sleep. Studies have shown that sleep plays a role by impacting our skin’s ability to heal eczema. The combination of stress and eczema can provoke symptoms and make things worse.

Rosacea – Those of you with rosacea know that dealing with its visible symptoms may trigger more flushing, which can lead to even more stress. In a National Rosacea Society survey, people living with rosacea reported feeling anxious, depressed, and worried. Many reported having problems at work, in their marriage, and with meeting new people.
If you have rosacea, you already know it impacts your life on more than just a physical level, and I know how frustrating that can be. Women can sometimes cover it up with makeup, but that doesn’t address the underlying problem.

Vitiligo – This autoimmune skin disorder is characterized by white spots or patches appearing on the skin. Vitiligo spots lack pigmentation caused by the destruction or weakening of the pigment cells in those areas. Stress is not the direct cause of vitiligo, but it can make it worse. We know that stress negatively impacts our immune system, and being anxious or stressed can aggravate autoimmune conditions (including vitiligo and psoriasis).

Premature Aging – When we’re having a bad day, we usually frown more. While I’m a big fan of smile lines, I don’t think anyone likes the look of excessive frown lines, which are likely to occur with chronic stress. High levels of cortisol are likely to cause insomnia, belly fat, and an inability to roll with what life brings our way.

Top 10 Tips To Lower Stress

1. Laugh! – When we laugh, our cortisol levels drop, and serotonin (our mood-boosting neurotransmitter) increases. It’s the easiest way to stop stress fast. And, remember, smile lines are so much sexier than frown lines!

2. Breathwork – This might seem like a simple task, but most people don’t know how to breathe to relieve stress. The first step is to be aware of your breathing. Next, take deep breaths that expand your chest and belly while relaxing your muscles in your neck and shoulders. (Tip: try counting to 10 while breathing in and then another 10 count while breathing out.)

3. Positive Support Group – We can’t always choose who is around us at work and school, but we can choose with whom we spend our free time. Look for people who radiate positivity. You know who they are, and you’ll be happier for it! When we’re positive, too, our skin is more likely to heal and have a healthy glow.

4. Visualization – It only takes a few minutes and can reduce stress quickly. Close your eyes and picture a scene you love, such as a beach, mountaintop, or picnic spot, and sit quietly to fully experience the beauty, serenity, and joy it brings. If you have skin issues, you can also visualize your tissues’ healing and healthy, glowing skin taking over.

5. Nature – Step away from your computer, phone, or energy-zapping situation and into nature. Even if it’s just a quick walk around the block or park, a few moments in the sun and fresh air can boost your mood and give you a little extra Vitamin D to brighten your day. Not to mention, it’s a great time to take a break from a stressful situation and breathe.

6. Move Your Body – Studies show that moderate exercise improves our energy, mood, and sleep. If we exercise every morning (without overdoing it), it can help balance our adrenal function to better cope with stress.

7. Sleep Soundly – Sleep is essential to help us energize, manage stress, and stay focused and positive. Optimally, we should all get about 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night. (Tip: Try taking a warm bath with a few drops of lavender essential oil and some Epsom salt before bedtime.)

8. Healthy Diet – A healthy diet includes plenty of fresh vegetables and high-quality protein to ensure your body has all the nutrients it needs to keep your hormones balanced and your skin healthy. (Tip: Start your day with a nutrient-packed smoothie and skip the grains and sugar.)

9. Gratitude – Research shows gratitude helps us feel happier, improve our health, be better at dealing with problems that arise, and build solid relationships. (Tip: Start a gratitude journal and write down one thing every day that you’re grateful for.)

10. Meditation – research shows that meditation helps you lower stress, be more compassionate, improve sleep, boost mood, decrease inflammation, and even lower yearly doctor costs! The goal of mindfulness meditation is to focus and quiet your mind to have greater clarity and inner calm. (Tip: close your eyes and focus on a word that brings you a sense of peace. Let go of all other thoughts.)

6 Quick Fix Remedies For Signs Of Stress

1. Puffiness Under Eyes – Try arnica gel, a plant extract useful for bruises, pain relief, and swelling. The active chemicals in arnica may reduce swelling, decrease pain, and act as antibiotics, which can be helpful for puffy eyes. .You can also dab an antioxidant serum under your eyes to reduce swelling.

2. Breakouts – Use a purifying mud mask or try this DIY turmeric + honey paste: Mix 1 Tbsp plain yogurt, 1 Tbsp raw honey, and 1 tsp turmeric powder into a paste. Apply to face and neck and leave for about 10 to 15 minutes. Then wash with cool water, pat your skin dry, and apply your favorite serum and moisturizer.

3. Dullness – Use an exfoliant to remove dead skin cells from the surface of your skin and leave your skin feeling smoother and more radiant looking. A plant-based oil blend will also hydrate the skin and reduce the dullness that many Sage skin types have.

4. Extra Oily – Don’t over-cleanse — that is the biggest mistake! Use a gentle cleanser twice a day, and softly pat the skin dry. Use a plant-based oil blend with anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties to provide hydration without breakouts. Try using blotting papers. The papers won’t treat the sebum production, but they’ll lift excess oil from your skin to reduce shininess.

5. Sensitive Skin – On your face, use The Spa Dr.  Clear: Gentle Cleanser and leave it on for a minute. For your body, try an oatmeal bath.

6. Dry Skin – Glow Boost, or another plant-based oil, like argan oil are great for hydrating dry skin. AVOID synthetic mineral oil, or petroleum-based oil. The concern is that these oils may have impurities and they don’t provide nourishment for your skin.

Stress Can Effect Anyone’s Skin

Even if you don’t live with a skin condition, you may not treat your skin well when dealing with stress. Stress for many people often leads to bad habits, for instance by neglecting there skin care regimen or picking and rubbing bumps and blemishes. Bad habits, such as picking and rubbing, are dangerous because they can cause permanent scarring. While neglecting proper skin care can lead to new skin issues, breakouts or flare-ups.

You can have healthy glowing skin by nourishing your body on the inside with healthy foods and nutrients. Then, nourish your skin from the outside by selecting skin care products that are pure, natural, safe, and properly pH-balanced to gently care for your skin.

The Spa Dr.® Approach

At The Spa Dr.®, our approach is to help shine the light on skin care information and offer guidance to nurture your skin care journey. We believe the information we provide will help support your self-care and healing, and we want you to feel safe and cared for within our community!

The Spa Dr.® offers natural skin care products that are safe and free from chemicals and toxins, which disrupt hormones. Our products are specially formulated to contain key nutrients in their pure and active form to provide optimal results. In addition, our products are pH balanced towards mild acidity to promote healthy skin microbiome.

If you are not already part of The Spa Dr. community, please join us at TheSpaDr.com and on social media.

Feel free to share this article with your friends and spread the word to promote natural beauty.

Do you have any stress-relieving or natural beauty tips you’d like to share?

Sugar And Your Skin From The Inside Out

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Do you have a sweet tooth? Many of us do — and many of us experience an increase in sugar cravings after indulging in the traditional holiday season carb-laden foods and treats. It’s understandable after over a month of celebrating that you may be facing intense post-holiday sugar cravings. After all, all of those yummy carbohydrates and treats signaled our body to release serotonin, which makes us feel fabulous, even if only temporarily. It’s no wonder our brain continues to desire more.

Unfortunately, sugar can wreak havoc – from the inside – to affect our skin outside, not to mention the negative impact it can have on our overall health and wellbeing.

So, let’s take a look at the effects sugar has on our body from the inside out. So, we can see why it is crucial to get those cravings under control for the sake of our health and our skin.

Sugars Effect Inside

Inside the body, sugar triggers a cascade of negative responses – from spiking blood sugar, to inflammation, to a suppressed immune system. More severe consequences arise from regularly eating excessive amounts of sugar, like chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, microbiome disturbances, and leaky gut syndrome.

Weakened Immune System – You may already know that the average American eats about 22 teaspoons of sugar EVERY day — that is almost a ½ cup of sugar! But did you know that consuming this much sugar can suppress your white blood cells’ ability to kill germs by 40% for up to 5 hours — and suppressing our immune system’s response is not something any of us want right now!

Unstable Blood Sugar – Sugar causes your blood glucose levels to shift quickly, as your blood sugar rises and then falls sharply after you eat. These rapid shifts in blood sugar can cause symptoms that can be severe enough to interfere with daily life, including feeling sluggish, shaky, and even increasing hunger. Over time, your body may not be able to lower your blood sugar as effectively, leading to type 2 diabetes.

Inflammation – Sugar and refined carbohydrates cause inflammation in the body. Over time, this inflammation caused by poor eating habits can lead to several health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, liver disease, and cancer.

Sugars Effect Outside

It should come as no surprise that if sugar can wreak such havoc on the inside of our body that its effects will also wreak havoc externally on our skin. Many skin problems such as acne, rosacea, and eczema are exacerbated by the sugar you eat. But most importantly, consuming sugar in excess has a lasting effect by causing wrinkles and sagging skin.

Inflammation – Chronic inflammation also sets off enzymes called metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the skin. These enzymes are found in the spaces between skin cells and have a two-fold effect by breaking down collagen and elastin in the skin while also inhibiting their production, leading to the premature aging of your skin.

Glycation – The body uses glucose as a primary fuel source. Still, if glucose is consumed in excess or not used and metabolized properly, our baseline blood sugar levels increase, leading to glycation issues. Glycation occurs when glucose binds to collagen and elastin in the body, making it more rigid. This internal glycation has an external effect by leading to skin that is wrinkled and sagging.

Increased Insulin – Another problem with increased blood sugar is that it causes high insulin production, which triggers excess sebum production and androgen activity. This leads to acne breakouts.

Avoid The Effects

To avoid the negative effects of sugar, avoid refined sugar, and sweeteners that spike your blood sugar. You’ll also want to avoid (or limit) high-glycemic carbohydrates, including refined white bread, pasta, and desserts, which rapidly convert into glucose in the body.

It might be difficult for you to imagine a life without sugar. Many people have actual sugar addictions and find it hard to stop eating sugar. You do not have to stop eating sugar all the time, but instead, make healthier choices.

For example, swap white table sugar for an alternative, like plant-based stevia or monk fruit. You can also eat fresh fruits and berries to enjoy a more refreshing but still delicious sweet taste. Plus, fruits and berries are naturally hydrating, whereas sugar is dehydrating, which leads to an appearance of dull and parched skin.

Overall, blood sugar imbalances are one of the significant root causes of skin issues. To find out if this is one of your root causes, take our skin personality quiz.

The Sweet News

There is good news about sugar! It isn’t all bad when it is used on the outside of the body. Sugar causes many skin problems from the inside — but used on the outside, it is a natural and useful beauty tool! When used topically, sugar can contribute to radiant and luminous skin on the face and body.

Sugar is beneficial when used outside because it is one of the world’s oldest humectants. This means it pulls moisture from the environment and draws it into the skin. Using a sugar scrub on the skin, especially when combined with another moisturizing agent, helps naturally hydrate your skin. Another benefit of sugar, when used on the skin, is that it is a natural glycolic acid source. Glycolic acid promotes cell turnover to bring out your natural radiance and is typically used to minimize discoloration so you can reveal brighter younger-looking skin.

Sugar scrubs help soften your skin by removing dead skin cells, dirt, and pollutants and help unclog pores. Sugar scrubs are also better to use than salt scrubs. Most of the time, sugar granules are smaller and more gentle than salt granules, predominantly brown sugar. Brown sugar is softer than granulated sugar, so it is useful for sensitive skin, including on the face.

Raw sugar is usually more coarse than other sugar types, so avoid using it on the face.
If you want to try out a sugar exfoliant at home, try my easy 2-ingredient recipe that uses brown sugar and aloe vera gel. Aloe vera gel has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties and easily penetrates the skin to soothe and deliver nourishment quickly. Combine this exfoliant to make a mild and nourishing scrub that is gentle enough to use on your face.

Brown Sugar Exfoliant:

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon organic brown sugar
½ teaspoon aloe vera gel

In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and aloe vera gel. Apply to your body or face and gently massage for two to five minutes. Rinse with warm water and a washcloth. Use only once per week. For the face, I also recommend natural exfoliants specifically made for the face.

Join The Cleanse

Want to learn HOW to kick sugar cravings for good and achieve clean, naturally glowing skin and vibrant health? There’s an actual process — and I’d love to share it with you! Join me on January 25th for my FREE 2-week Clean Skin From Within Reboot! All you need to be successful during this Reboot is a copy of my book, which you can get FREE here, and join our Facebook group here!

Are you looking for some great tips to stop the cravings NOW? – read my article on how to stop sugar cravings.

The Spa Dr.® Approach

At The Spa Dr.® – our approach is to help shine the light on skin care information and offer guidance to nurture your skin care journey. We believe the information we provide will help support your self-care and healing, and we want you to feel safe and cared for within our community!

If you are not already part of The Spa Dr. community, I invite you to join us on social media.
I hope you enjoyed these natural beauty tips. Feel free to share them with your friends, and spread the word to promote natural beauty.

I would love to hear about your story. Which strategies have you found to curb the sugar cravings? Do you have a DIY sugar exfoliant recipe you’d love to share?

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