I was reading through a skincare guide, and one of the shortest but by far the most powerful sentences in the guide hit me. Want to know what it was? You’re beautiful and you don’t need makeup. Y’all. That hit me in the feels. I’ve been feeling less than pretty lately, since I’ve been doing a hardcore skin detox (more on that in a minute).
You Don’t Need Makeup – But You Do Need a Skin Detox.
But y’all, she’s right! We can’t go through life afraid of people seeing us as we are. We also can’t go through life being afraid to look at our naked-faced selves in the mirror. Personally, I’ve been there, on both counts. I promise, the exhilarating feeling of going makeup-free – unapologetically, without shame, even when your skin is far from perfect – is life-changing!
Even if your skin isn’t where you want it to be, accepting yourself as you are is a powerful game-changer both physically and mentally.
To get me to a point where I was truly happy with my bare skin, I dug out a guide that I used when I first did the Whole 30 over a year ago: a comprehensive, three-part approach to healing and bringing radiant health to my OWN skin, hair, nails, and teeth. I also brought together strategies for self-care, home-care, and everything in-between.
And y’all. It changed my skin. Now, I still use many of her tips, but I’ve also found that doing a full on detox whenever things get a little out of control really helps. So. Want to know how to detox your skin?
No More Sugar
We know that refined sugar spikes our insulin levels, causing a burst of inflammation in the body (and on your skin).
What I didn’t realize is that inflammation is responsible for breaking down collagen and elastin, which keep your skin tight and wrinkle-free.
Eat More Greens
The beta-carotene contained in leafy greens like kale and collars delivers a youthful glow and neutralizes free radicals.
Not a kale fan? Spinach is a another good source of omega-3s, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, and vitamins B, C, and E.
Lemon Water
This is my favorite thing that I do every.single.morning. Why?
Drinking lemon water boosts your metabolism right when you wake up, and gets your body detoxing first thing in the morning. Plus it’s naturally alkaline, so it helps balance the pH levels in your body, reducing skin inflammation and flare-ups.
Lemons are also rich in vitamin C. This citrus fruit will help your body purge excess water weight and balance the sodium and potassium levels in your cells.
For added benefits, put a slice of lemon to a mug of warm water in the morning to encourage digestion or squeeze onto your salad when dining out in lieu of dressing.
More Cilantro
Cilantro is rich in antioxidants that prevent damage from free radicals and it helps the body purge “heavy metals” consumed in non-organic foods. Want to take it a step further? Add in some parsley too. Parsley is known for supporting liver and kidney function and acts as a metabolism booster while removing toxins.
No Soy
Soy is full of phytoestrogens that can make your face breakout.
Skip the Coffee
Caffeine is a diuretic, which means too much of it will leave you feeling dehydrated, often with a headache and under eye circles.
I drink unsweetened green or black tea instead.
Switch to Natural, Chemical-Free Products
So we’re no longer eating toxins…why would you smear your face or body with them?
Don’t Let Face Oil Scare You
Oiling a few nights a week keeps my skin dewy and hydrated. This is not the thick night crème you are used to but a thin veil of simple oils to calm, hydrate and help heal the skin. Contrary to popular belief, bacteria doesn’t grow in these oils. My go to is Blue Tansy Face Oil.
Water, Water Everywhere
Water increases your metabolism so much that if you’re chronically dehydrated, it can mean up to an 8-pound weight gain or more per year.
Make sure you drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water per day. For example, someone who weighs 200 pounds should be drinking 100 ounces of water a day.
Focus on Healthy Fats
Avocados, full of moisturizing monounsaturated fats, are a great source of antioxidant carotenoids like alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, and lutein provide significant protection for your skin from the environmental damage (what normally leads to fine lines and wrinkles).
What if you don’t want to go completely bare?
I understand that sometimes, makeup just feels like the right thing. And sometimes it can be really fun!
So if you want to wear makeup, there are a few brands I love and are safe for people dealing with skin issues.
Avoid Heavy Metals
In particular, my concern with most makeups is the presence of heavy metal contaminants. This is a huge problem in the “mineral makeup” industry.
Remember that the cosmetics industry is profoundly unregulated, so almost anything can end up in makeup and skincare – even the “natural” stuff – with absolutely no testing.
For people with systems dealing with toxin overload (an underlying issue for many people with skin and body issues) this can be a huge problem.
The following brands have my full faith. I use something from almost every line on a daily basis.
Skin Detox Friendly Makeup Options
- Beautycounter carries high-performing, more traditional products. I am in love with the Tint Skin Foundation, the Lengthening Mascara, and their lip shine
- Primal Life Organics is based on dried clays & flowers and has not only wonderful makeup options but amazing skin and tooth care, too.
When you’re trying a new product, remember to start slow, spot test, and pay attention to how your body and skin reacts to everything. This way you can better target your approach. No more auto-pilot when it comes to your body and skin!
