If you follow the Pure Skin by Maggie blog or social media, you will hear us talking (a lot) about beauty from the inside out. But why do we stress this so much?
As with most things in life, skin care is not a simple, one-answer, one-size-fits-all discussion. There are many variables and our bodies are each so unique and intricately designed that what goes on outside the body affects the inside and what goes on inside the body affects the outside.
A holistic view point leads to more thorough, and effective, skin care. And that’s the bottom line, isn’t it? We want effective skin care that leads to beautiful, healthy skin!
Exercise
Okay, okay. You may be shaking your head. “Um, this is a skin care blog. Why are you talking about diet and exercise?” Wellll… Because they are important in every aspect of your health - inside & out!
We live in the beautiful state of Hawaii, with gorgeous weather year-round. Whether it’s a Hawaiian winter or a humid summer with the trade winds gone, exercise and the outdoors are part of our culture. In Honolulu alone, we have beaches, parks, hiking trails, and that’s just what you can do on your own. Jump in on Pilates or yoga in the park and you will add to your community. And no matter what you enjoy, they all come with an amazing view!
After we protect our skin from the sun, ahem, hint, hint, some time spent in that fresh air, working up a sweat can really benefit the skin. Our skin is the largest organ in the body and an important detox organ. Working up that sweat (and properly washing it off after!) can help our bodies detox more efficiently and get the toxic stuff out that can lead to breakouts. And come on, don’t you love the endorphin high after a brisk hike up Diamond Head or the even more challenging Koko Head? Not to mention the fact that moderate exercise promotes health in every system of the body. Hormone imbalances, digestion concerns, tight muscles from stress. Exercise is one of the least expensive and most impactful prescriptions!
Diet
This is a topic you may be more familiar with in relation to skin care. Ever heard that old myth that chocolate causes breakouts? It’s more like over-eating chocolate, and the accompanying sugar, but don’t get us started on a favorite treat! My chocoholic heart hurts every time I hear it blamed for breakouts.
There is more to diet and its connection to skin care than just chocolate, sugar and fried foods. We are each biologically unique and our bodies needs are unique as well. Some (lucky) people never have an issue with their skin in relation to foods, and others have inflammatory reactions that lead to the discovery of previously unknown food allergies. Dairy and refined sugars leading to breakouts. Gluten causing keratosis pilaris (a type of eczema). Other foods aggravating other skin issues.
A low-inflammatory diet of lots of good proteins, whether vegetarian or not, healthy fats (think of those avocados growing in your backyard!), and lots of varieties of vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables benefit your skin both in the short and long term. A little research, a few changes, and perhaps, exploring whether you have a food sensitivity or allergy, could be one of the missing links in your skin care plan that leads to the glowing complexion of your dreams.
Vitamins & Herbal Supplements
Whether or not you jump on board with dietary and other lifestyle adjustments, a simple change with powerful results for your skin is supplementing your diet with vitamins. (Quick tip - keep them right next to your morning coffee or tea as a reminder!)
Unfortunately, no matter how hard we work to eat all the right foods and enough of them, natural depletion of nutrients in our soil means we consume less of the nutrients we need. And, let’s face it, who wants to eat 5 cups of broccoli a day? Vitamins and supplements do not replace getting a rainbow of fruits and veggies every day, but they help us reach the nutritional amounts we need for optimal health. And herbs are a powerful part of that – plants as medicine!
We have watched so many clients come into our doors who were being helped by the treatments and products that we recommended, but the full potential of their skin was not realized until they made the simple adjustment of supplementing their diet.
Seeing the evidence of this led us to create the Pure Brightening Capsules and the Pure Skin Capsules. Formulated with vitamins and herbs that support the body’s natural healing process, from the inside out, we have seen clients achieve the beautiful skin they dreamed of, but always remained out of reach.
Consistency
So we have the components of healing the body from the inside out, but what ingredient is necessary to bind it all together for real results? Consistency! As with most parts of life, diet, exercise and vitamins are not a one time “fix”. A little every day is the key to greatness.
Let’s focus on the vitamin component. If you take vitamins until your skin looks better, but then stop, how will your body maintain the anti-inflammatory benefits or balance that it has achieved? The body, your natural detoxification processes, and your skin still need the “foods” such as Vitamin C, Grape Seed Extract, Ginseng, or Red Clover Extract to continue combatting the outside factors that we cannot control such as stress and pollution. Just as stopping an exercise plan leads to muscle loss, discontinuing vitamins that have led to health will lead to a loss of that progress.
The Why?
Beauty from the inside out takes time and diligence, but the rewards are endless and multiplied. Not just in having beautiful skin, but improved health from head to toe and an indefinable confidence that you are doing what you can for your health. Even watching the impact your actions and example make on those around you. That’s the beauty of the ‘ohana in Hawaii – our community and family that can seek health together.
Note: This article is not to replace medical advice. We recommend that you consult your physician before making any changes to your diet, exercise, or taking any supplements.
