Skin Detox 101 : Everything You Need To Know
Fed up of skin that is blemished, dull, or dry looking? Wondering what you can do to boost the look and health of your skin? Adding detoxification practices to your skincare regime may be just the solution you are looking for. Keep reading to find out more about this subject.
Toxins in the skin, and what to do about them
The thought of congested and toxin ladened skin is not a pleasant one, particularly when we realize that skin in such a state can struggle to maintain balance and health. Indeed, such skin will act like a dirty canvas for most things you put on top of it, something that means getting it to absorb moisturizer, or even to look good with foundation over the tip can be a real challenge. Not to mention that clogged pores can seriously increase your chances of spots and breakouts.
Fortunately, you can usually tell if your skin is congested and toxin ladened because it will show one or more of the following symptoms: sagging, wrinkles, oil, sensitivity, dryness, dullness, or uneven skin tone. If you do find that you are suffering from one of these issues, then it's probably time to start detoxing your skin, a process you can learn more about in the sections below.
What is a skin detox?
Before we move on to the ways that you can detox your skin, let's take some time to define what the process of skin detoxification is.
Put simply, a skin detox is a way of removing the toxins and impurities that linger in the skin, thereby freeing it up to function in the most effective way possible. Indeed, as the skin is an organ in our body, and the largest one to boot, taking some additional action to take care of it is vitally important.
After all, our skin is not only an aesthetic concern but it is our first line of defense against issues such as infection, as well as being an essential part of healthy and effective temperature regulation.
Unfortunately, in our modern lives, we are surrounded by all sorts of chemicals, pollutants, and contaminants that are bad for our skin. A situation that leads to all sorts of problems from sensitivity to clogging, which in turn makes it hard for the skin to do its job most effectively.
The good news is that a decent skincare regimen can help to counter and minimize such skin issues. Although for it to be as effective as possible, regular detoxification needs to be a part of this process.
What are the benefits of a skin detox?
The benefits of performing a skin detox are many and varied. Of course, the most important one by far is that by removing the things that are clogging and detoxifying your skin, you may make it so much easier for it to perform efficiently, which is vital to your overall health.
The great news is that by regularly detoxifying your skin you can improve its aesthetic appearance too. You can even expect tighter and firmer skin after a detox, as well as cleaner and clearer skin too!
How to do a skin detox?
Now you know what a skin detox is, as well as the benefits involved, we can move on to the methods you can use. There are many to consider as well, although doing them all at once maybe a bit much.
Instead, read the list and descriptions below and decide on the change that will be easiest for you to make and start there, adding more as needed, and as you build confidence in your skin detox regime.
Begin with proper hydration
The first method of skin detoxification to consider is hydration. Indeed, there are two ways of ensuring that your kind is hydrated enough.
The first is to drink more water, something that helps to hydrate your skin from the inside out. Yes, this means drinking plenty of water and avoiding caffeinated, milky, and alcoholic beverages. Carbonated drinks are also a bad idea, as these tend to contain artificial sweeteners which can also be problematic for the body to process, and result in dehydration.
The second is to use hydrating skin products like moisturizers and serums. Serums in particular can be very useful for this because their structure makes them very easy for your skin to absorb. They also come with a range of added ingredients that can help with other skin issues such as Hyaluronic Acid which hydrates and plumps, and Niacinamide which helps lessen the appearance of blemishes and uneven skin. The great thing is that the serum acts as a carrier for these other ingredients making it easier for them to be absorbed and get straight to work.
Add toner to your regime
The next way you can help detox your skin is to include toner into your daily skincare regime. Most people think that the only purpose of toner is to lessen the size of pores, however, this is not the case. Toner is also vital in the processes of balancing the PH levels of the skin, as well as making sure residues from the cleanser you use are fully removed and do not end up clogging your pores.
Be sure to cleanse your skin twice
You may think that cleansing your skin twice sounds a bit like overkill, however, there is more than one benefit to a more extended skincare routine. The first is that when cleansing twice you will do less damage to the skin because you won't have to press so hard to remove all the first and makeup on the very first go. Indeed, if you pick the right cleaner you can break down a great deal of the products on your face without having drag at your skin, something that can cause damage and sagging.
Of course, the second benefit is that by cleansing twice you maximize your chances of removing all of the oil, makeup, and dirt that is present, thereby ensuring that your skin is as clean and uncongested as possible.
Get sweaty
There are few things better for your skin than working up a good sweat. Indeed, sweating means that the impurities and toxins in the skin are being flushed out.
Of course, once you have worked up a sweat it's important to clean your skin thoroughly and wash away these toxins. Also, where possible try and avoid heavy exercise with a full face of makeup, as it can work against the sweating process and cause clogged pores.
Get a good night’s rest
It's well known that the body needs the right amount of sleep each night to detoxify and repair its organs. However, what many of us forget is that the skin is also an organ, and that means the amount and the quality of sleep we get affects how healthy it is.
To that end, 7 ½ to 8 hours sleep a night is recommended to aid the skins’ detoxification process. Oh, and as a bonus, you can expect your skin to look brighter, fresher, and have fewer dark circles when you get a good night's sleep too.
Cut out smoking and drinking alcohol
If you truly want to do a favor for your skin, then cutting out alcohol and smoking is the best course of action. The reason for this is that alcohol is known to dehydrate the skin, while smoking has been proven to damage elastin and collagen in the skin, thereby causing an acceleration of aging.
Feed your body to feed your skin
No one’s diet is perfect and we will all eat a cupcake or donut from time to time. However, too much-refined sugar and fat can play havoc with the health of our skin. Instead, we should be focusing on fiber, water, and nutrition-packed fruit and vegetables wherever possible.
Get a treatment
You can also help to detoxify your skin by getting skin treatments. One of the most popular of these are facials which are designed to clean out pores and encourage the detoxification process.
It's not only facials that can do wonders for your skin either, after all, but your skin also covers your entire body! That is why opting for a whole-body treatment like a therapeutic massage can be hugely beneficial too. Especially if it's one like a Herbal Poultice Body Treatment which is designed to detoxify and relieve stress, both things that will help you maximize the health of your skin.
Exfoliation
Last of all, for maximum skin health, consider exfoliating regularly. Although regularly does not mean every day. Indeed, many people exfoliate way too much, and their skin suffers from it. Indeed, because exfoliation essentially strips the top layer of dead skin and dirt, over-exfoliating means the skin doesn't have enough opportunity to repair, something that can leave it looking damaged and dry and more susceptible to infection.
Final thoughts
If you want to look healthy and glowing, you need to care for your skin on the inside as well as the outside. Happily, by including detoxification practices into your skincare regime you will be able to maximize your skin’s potential for health and beauty.
Until Next Time~
Marie Papachatzis
