The Clean Beauty Revolution

Did you know that 60% of what we apply on our skin is directly absorbed into the bloodstream? It’s a very high figure, especially considering that we don’t pay enough attention to the products we use on a daily basis.

The skin is the largest organ and it is equally as important to take care of it on the inside as well as the outside. Our concept of how to take care of our skin is constantly changing and will continue to evolve as we become more conscious of the effect that beauty products have on our skin and our global health. As the Global Wellness Institute has revealed in their 2017 wellness trends report, we’re experiencing a shift between beauty and wellness, also known as the Clean Beauty Revolution. We simply can’t speak of skin health without emphasizing the link it has with one’s state of health. There is a fine line between beauty and wellbeing as there is an increasing body of scientific and medical evidence revealing the influence that our lifestyle habits have on our skin.

Why should we worry about the skin products we apply onto our skin? As we know, 60% of what we apply on our skin gets absorbed into the bloodstream, and if we take into consideration that most of conventional cosmetics are filled with harmful chemicals affecting our health negatively –from hormonal disruptions, skin irritations up to more severe cases like cancer-, we must inform ourselves well of the ingredients that the beauty products we use contain. As we become more conscious of this, cosmetic brands are feeling obliged to become more eco-friendly and are eliminating chemical ingredients like parabens and sulphates from their ingredient list. As a result, there are more and more natural options that we can choose from to take care of our skin in the best way possible.

Skin health must be understood from a holistic perspective, as everything we do has an affect on it. Whether it’s nutrition, sports, sleep and even our thoughts can affect our health, therefore our skin as well. We’re not only what we eat, but we’re also what we think and how we move.

With the arrival of summer, we all want to have glowing healthy skin. It’s important to note that there isn’t one miraculous skin product that does the trick. Our skin is a reflection of our inner health, therefore, it’s fundamental for us to stick to our healthy habits during this time of year as we are more exposed to sun rays, apply more chemical-laden skin products onto our skin and let loose on our healthy habits due to social affairs.

Taking into account that our skin absorbs what we apply onto it, we should aim to use products free from harmful chemicals like parabens, sulfates, preservatives, petroleum, synthetic fragrances, silicone, amongst many others. We can substitute creams for natural oils, like almond, coconut, jojoba or sesame oil. Aside from the multiple benefits they provide, they’re also completely natural and hydrate and nourish the skin deeply.

When it comes to protecting our skin from sun damage, it’s important to choose a sunscreen that isn’t toxic and that preferably contains minerals such as zinc oxide and titanium oxide, as they don’t block the skin pores and have an immediate protecting affect.

As the skin is the mirror to our health, what we eat has a major impact on it. It’s important to include foods rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, proteins and healthy fats.

What nutrients are essential for our skin health?

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Carotenoids (vitamin A and beta-carotene)
• Vitamin D
• Antioxidants
• Omega 3-6-9
• Probiotics

The concept of Clean Beauty gathers healthy nutrition, yoga, meditation, natural beauty products, as well as functional and holistic approaches. It’s the idea that everything influences our health and wellbeing and that we should move away from anything that isn’t natural and benefit from the natural resources that mother nature provides. The future of our health lies in prevention and in coming back to natural methods that have been used for thousands of years.