Hi friend, and Happy New Year!
With a new year comes new adventures, challenges, and successes and for some... new years resolutions. Mine; to start writing articles every other month to help you along your skincare journey.
So welcome to the first article of the year!
I've always loved natural skincare and makeup products. My ability to carefully select products and read labels became solidified early on in my teen years thanks to a few skin troubles over the years: eczema, dermographism and sensitive skin to name a few. So many brands claiming to be natural still use toxic or synthetic ingredients, so my only answer was to start making my own, and so I created Esther & Eden Organics.
Skin is the biggest organ of the human body, and taking care of it effectively, is often overlooked.
Here are 5 tips to assist in maintaining healthy skin this holiday season.
#1. You Are What You Eat
The skin displays our diet. When we consume large quantities of food and drink that we usually would not, it can cause problematic flare ups in the skin. A diet high in sugar can result in acne flare ups and redness.
Studies have found that high blood sugar from high sugar diets can impede important skin functions, leading to dysregulation such as excess facial oil production and risk for worsening acne breakouts. Another detrimental effect that regularly consumed high sugar foods may have on the skin, is to decrease skin elasticity and collagen, accelerating the onset of sagging skin.
The best way to combat this is to maintain a good balance between sugary food and healthy food consumption when enjoying festive food and drink (like at Christmas time). See a nutritionist if you desire to receive dietary advice on this matter.
#2. Hydration is Key
Another key to maintaining glowing skin lies in hydration. Drinking water affects all the organs in the body, and is essential for healthy bodily function—including healthy skin. Drinking water regularly is shown to reduce clinical signs of dryness and roughness in the skin and increase elasticity, which assists in a more youthful appearance.
When it comes to topical hydration, look for natural active ingredients in your skincare such as "hyaluronic acid", "panthenol" (or Vitamin B5) and "allantoin". These act as humectants, increasing the water uptake into the outer layers of the skin. These ingredients also assist in reducing transepidermal water loss, helping the skin retain its hydration from within and serving to soothe dry, irritated skin.
If your skin feels dry and your current skincare products are not working for you, I recommend using the Hydrating Face Serum and the Frangipani & Sweet Orange Moisturiser from Esther & Eden Organics, which use the abovementioned hydrating ingredients.
#3. Choose Organic and Natural
Just as eating organic produce is ideal for your body, organic skincare takes care of your skin without the use of harsh or artificial ingredients, minimising the risk of absorbing problematic chemicals that may cause side effects such as endocrine system disruptions, or allergy flare ups after prolonged use.
What we put on our skin is absorbed into our bloodstream, so it is important to stay as close to natural as possible when seeking a good skincare product to use. Our bodies were made from nature and thus our bodies thrive on things that are as close to their original source as possible.
Unfortunately it is tricky for us consumers when many "natural" brands use the term so loosely, and use many of the same artificial preservatives, and ingredients that you find in cheap chemical skincare.
#4. Simplicity and Repetition Go Hand In Hand
Turn over the products you use daily, and research the ingredients listed on the back. Find out what they are: synthetic or natural? Discover how they are made and what their side effects are. If we are seeking healthier, glowing skin, it is important for us to begin to be educated on what we use.
Many strong chemical skincare products may give fast results, but not without possible side effects, and because of that you might want to identify certain ingredients to avoid. Natural and organic skincare use great, simple ingredients that thrive with the skin when used regularly and repetitively.
A good and easy place to start is removing products that have "fragrance" or "parfum" in the list of ingredients. These nice smelling ingredients are made up of hundreds or thousands of synthetic elements that brands do not legally have to make known to the public. This is a huge red flag. Instead, choose organic products that are scent free or scented with organic pure essential oils.
If you are looking for a great organic perfume, we have Grace Organic Perfume by Esther & Eden Organics which is an oils based perfume in a beautiful roller bottle. Organic oils such as Cedarwood, Bergamot and Ylang Ylang have been infused with organic vanilla for over 4 weeks to create a luxurious light, sweet perfume, great for day or night wear.
#5. Remember Your TRUE Beauty
More important than anything else, remember that your true beauty comes from within: your uniqueness, your character, and the stature of your heart.
May 2023 be your best year yet!
Love and blessings,
Brittany