HOW TO PURIFY YOUR SKIN
Masks are a great home or clinical treatment. There are a number of marks on the market for specific skin concerns. Synergie Detox anTiox is a purifying detox mask designed to draw impurities from the skin and destroy free radicals. Skin steaming is also a good way to help purge the skin of toxins and unclog the pores. You don’t need a professional steamer- just put your face over a bowl of steaming, but not boiling water for ten minutes. The skin should feel warm but not uncomfortable. Overheating of the skin can cause damaging inflammation.
TIMING YOUR DETOX
Start your detox at least four weeks before a big event. Healthy eating and skincare should be a normal part of your general lifestyle but we all fall off the horse occasionally and need to get back on the saddle!, If you do decide to make a positive change in your food and skin routine, you should expect a degree of ‘purging’ and you may notice a skin breakout initially. This is a normal reaction and means the body is responding to change. Stick with the program and you will see the benefits.
HOW LONG
Every individual is unique so it difficult to estimate exactly when the skin will visible improve. It takes approximately thirty days for a full cell turnover. I usually notice that skin will show visible improvement following a full cell cycle.
INGREDIENTS TO AVOID
There are many foods and skin ingredients that I believe should not be used during a skin detox. The list is extensive, but includes the following:
Foods:
- highly processed foods
- refined carbohydrates
- high levels of glucose and fructose
- High levels of animal fats (with the exception of marine-derived oils)
- Excess caffeine
- Alcohol
Skin Ingredients:
- Artificial colour
- Artificial fragrance
- Paraben preservatives
- PEG
- Propylene glycol
- Sodium lauryl sulfate
- Benzoyl peroxide
SKIN HEALTH
The skin is the largest organ of our body. It is also the only organ that is in constant battle with both external environmental attack from UV light, pollutants, and internal challenges due to hormonal imbalance and poor nutrition. We are so fortunate to live in an era with so much valuable information on maintaining the health of our skin. However, the word ‘detox’ in my opinion is often overused and misunderstood. Many fad eating programs can actually result in toxic build up in the body and in extreme cases, malnutrition. The key is in understanding how to avoid subjecting our skin to environmental damage, adding high quality skin care ingredients to our daily routine and feeding our skin from the inside with a balanced nutritional regimen. So here is my skin detox plan based on my knowledge as a scientist and holistic health researcher.
YOUR DIET
Keep food processing to a minimum and aim for at least five natural colours (with an emphasis on vegetables) on your plate at each meal. Omega fatty acids, Zinc, Vitamin A, B, C, E, Selenium and antioxidants such as green tea and lycopene are very specific for the treatment of skin health.
These key nutrients help skin in the following ways:
- Supports immune function
- Supports liver detoxification pathways,
- Stimulates wound healing
- Anti-inflammatory
- Promotes collagen production
- Promotes hormonal balance
- Supports healthy mucus membranes in the skin
Vegetables and fruits are king!
- Dark green leafy vegetables such as kale and spinach are fabulous for stimulating liver detoxification, balancing hormones and general skin health.
- Fruits are also very important but try and avoid excess sugar consumption if you suffer from acne.
- Blueberries are a potent source of free radical scavenging antioxidants
- Lemons are excellent at reducing acidity in the bloodstream. It is considered the ultimate detox fruit! (see my Skin Detox Superjuice Recipe here)
Avoid dairy products for acne management
There are testosterone stimulators in dairy products that can exacerbate acne. It is wise to avoid dairy but still maintain calcium levels with almonds, kale, broccoli, tinned salmon with bones and sesame seeds.
Reduce Sugar and refined carbs:
Sugar actually contributes to the appearance of ageing! Glucose molecules (from refined sugars) in the bloodstream are able to bind to collagen fibres in the skin and cause them to become brittle. This is referred to as Advanced Glycation Ageing (AGE). Highly refined foods with a high sugar content also causes insulin spikes which can increase hormones that cause acne breakouts.
Follow a low GI-diet. This includes avoiding white flour-based products like
- white/processed breads
- white rice
- processed pasta
- biscuits (sweet and crackers)
- processed breakfast cereals
Increase Fiber:
Fiber improves glycemic control and aids in elimination of unwanted solid waste and toxins. You can increase your fiber adding the following to your diet:
- oat bran (excellent porridge base alternative to rolled oats as has a lower GI and more fiber)
- psyllium husks
Eat good fats
That era of the ‘low fat diet’ is behind us! Opt for fats high in omega fatty acids, and in the correct balance of omega 3, 6, and 9. These natural fats are vital for skin lubrication and luminosity. It is important to eat a much higher proportion of omega 3 fatty acids versus omega 6 oils to reduce inflammation in the body. The following foods and oils contain the ‘good fats’ vital for skin health.
- chia seeds
- flax seeds
- almonds
- walnuts
- macadamia nuts
- flaxseed oil (cold pressed and not for cooking)
- coconut oil (this is a true ‘super oil’ with evidence that it also helps stimulate metabolism. Great for cooking and flavouring sweet and savoury dishes)
- fish oil/krill oil/calamari oil
Antibacterials
It is also important to reduce the ‘bad bacteria’ on the skin, especially if you suffer from acne. This can be achieved by:
- Eating antimicrobial food such as raw garlic
- Avoiding touching the face and picking at skin blemished. This is a major cause of skin infection which can lead to permanent scarring
- Washing the face twice daily, straight after work or school.
- Adding antibacterial agents such as Manuka oil and Lemongrass to skin care (these are present in Blem-X and HydroGel )
Hydrate:
Good hydration is essential not only for skin but for general health. See my blog on hydration here for more information.
Topical skin care
Although my technical expertise is based on skincare formulating, I believe we must address the skin as an organ that needs nurturing from within as well as on the outside with clinical grade skincare.
SKINCARE DETOX
Some individuals are recommended to undertake a radical detox if their skin and general health has been compromised by environmental and dietary toxins.
If the skin has recently undergone a severe allergic reaction, I recommend a ten day skin detox when only pure glycerin and castor oil are used to cleanse and moisturise. These two simple ingredients do not contain any cosmeceutical actives. However, there is virtually no possibility of adverse reaction and the skin will be soothed and hydrated while the detoxification process occurs.
SENSITIVE SKIN DETOX ROUTINE:
It is unusual to need this type of radical detox. However, if you suffer from inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea and extreme sensitivity there are many skin products that must be avoided. The following Synergie Skin products can be used for these skin concerns:
DAY
- BioCleanse – gentle cleansing lotion
- Vitamin B – essential niacinamide serum (great for skin immunity and reducing redness_
- DermaCalm – anti-inflammatory moisturiser (high levels of potent anti-irritants)
NIGHT
- Cleansing Dust – gentle exfoliating cleansing powder
- Ultimate A – stabilised retinol serum
- Vitamin B – essential niacinamide serum
- De-Stress – calming facial oil (soothing skin oil with squalene and sea buckthorn)
OCCASIONAL
Luciderm – acid-free exfoliating serum. Use every few days (PM) for clients needing extra exfoliation.
ACNE DETOX ROUTINE:
DAY
- UltraCleanse – gel facial cleanser
- ReVeal – exfoliating serum (this will remove dead cell buildup and help clear blocked pores)
- Blem-X – acne and blemish spot serum (helps to calm, purify and reduce the gently dry up visible pimples)
- ÜberZinc – moisturiser with 21% zinc oxide
NIGHT
- UltraCleanse – gel facial cleanser
- Ultimate A – stabilised retinol serum (helps to regulate cell turnover and control excess oil)
- Vitamin B – essential niacinamide serum (helps to regulate oil production and calm the skin)
- HydroGel – light hydrating gel (oil-free moisturiser with active ingredients to help reduce to appearance of large pores and excess oil production)
WEEKLY
- MediScrub – facial scrub
- Detox anTiox – purifying detox mask
OCCASIONAL
- BAcne – body blemish serum
For an introductory set, we recommend the Synergie Skin Blemish Control Kit, a targeted mini kit for those with blemish-prone skin.
