I have always had extremely sensitive skin. I've suffered from eczema since I was a baby and started to get acne when I was 11. People kept on telling me that I would grow out of it but it seems that I am doomed to suffer it for the near future anyhow. Over the years I have learned that my skin is a map of whats going on inside my body and as long as I obey the rules, my skin will stay pretty much free of blemishes.
1. Managing stress
I was always quite a nervy person especially in my early teens. Whenever I would get stressed about something, I would get small eczema patches on my arms, legs and on my face. Having dry peeling patches on your face is very embarrassing as a teenager and it's the worst place to get it because you can't hide it with clothing and makeup just makes it look worse. The only way to get rid of it was to manage my stress levels. What worked for me was exercising. When I'm stressed out, I don't want to sit down I need to find some way of releasing the pent up energy or it will show up on my face. Exercising calms stress on a mental level and it is scientifically proven that sweating releases toxins from the body.
2. Using the correct topical treatments
I have tried many expensive commercial skin products that claim to clear the skin and prevent new blemishes from appearing however, none of them have worked for me. Despite religiously washing, toning and moisturizing my face twice daily, I would still get pimples and my face looked red and blotchy without makeup. It turns out that over washing your face with harsh chemical products even if they claim to have been dermatologically tested on sensitive skin will dry out your skin causing it to secrete more oil and therefore create that horrible combination skin that is so difficult to work with. I make all my own face products now which works a dream and they are so much cheaper than the junk I've been putting on my face all this time.
- Coconut oil naturally has anti-microbial, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties which help reduce the appearance of blemishes. It also helps to balance the natural oils secreted by the body which will reduce dry patches and redness naturally. You can use it as a moisturizer and as a make-up remover. I prefer to use organic coconut oil which costs around 8 euros for 500 grams which would easily last me almost a year. I find that a little goes a long way with this stuff and if you put too much on, you end up looking a little slimy. If you don't like the smell of coconut oil, you can substitute it with shea butter although it does take longer to soak into the skin.
- Cleansing the skin with a chemical free face and body wash is the way to go. I prefer to make my own as I can regulate what goes in to them depending on what my skin needs are. I found that many store bought so called natural face and body washes to be overpriced and most of them have a weird consistency and don't really work. There are loads of different recipes online but I liked these ones best as they require next to no effort to make. You can also scent them with an essential oil of your choice.
I also found a recipe for DIY deodorant which actually works really well. I've been using it for over a month now and haven't had any problems with body odor and no allergic reactions which is super awesome!
3. Drink enough water
If I don't drink enough water I get really grumpy and I can't think straight. Scientists have found that most of the symptoms of hangovers are actually caused by dehydration and that you are much more likely to vomit when drinking because you haven't had enough water (worth keeping in mind). Drinking enough water enables the body to flush out toxins so that they don't show up on the skin. The recommended daily intake of water is 2 litres or 8 glasses. Although it's rare it is possible to die from drinking too much water in one go so don't go crazy either. I find myself forgetting to drink water especially when I'm at work so I've taken to carrying a refillable water bottle wherever I go and placing it somewhere where I wont miss it.
4. Maintaining a stable diet
My body is as sensitive on the inside as it is on the outside and whatever I eat shows up on my skin. I could list all of things that are obviously bad for the skin like refined sugars, Big Macs and smoking but I would rather tell you what is good for it instead.
Herbal teas
I recently saw an add for something called "skinny mint" which claims to help people detox and loose weight. I'm not denying that it works for some people because it does but they charge a huge amount of money (€24 euros for 14 days with free delivery) for what is effectively just tea. I looked into the ingredients and for the most part, they are things that you can buy either grow yourself or buy locally. This website goes through the benefits and and dangers of using this product. What caught my attention was the fact that they don't give any indication where the ingredients are sourced. Why would you want to drink something that doesn't even guarantee quality if it's so expensive? Also they use tea bags which are practical but the lowest quality. Companies like Barry's Tea and Twining's offer both loose leaf tea and tea bags. The tea bags are cheaper because it contains the dust that is left over after the tea making process and often is make out of the less expensive parts of the plant.
I like to keep my life simple. If I have an unset tummy, I drink ginger tea with fresh ginger that I buy in my local supermarket. For detoxing and clearing my skin, I drink nettle tea from fresh nettles that grow wild all over ireland (rinse them first) or loose leaf green tea that again I can buy from my local supermarket.
Skin foods
A good rule of thumb with this is if it's green, its good for your skin and the fresher the better. There are so many different options out there. I would generally go for things that are in season and are grown relatively locally for maximum quality and the best price. I'm not a big fan of floppy, overcooked spinach or broccoli so I usually go for cooking things al dente or just have it in a salad. Love salad. The reason most people are adversed to salad is because they've never eaten a good salad. Those pre-washed mixed salads at the supermarket usually look limp and taste bitter and slugging pre bottled caesar dressing on it wont make it taste better. There are loads of awesome salad recipes online to choose from and in my next post, I'll be sharing a few of my personal favorites.
Have a wonderful day! :)
