Beauty Is More Than Skin Deep: Natural Skin Beauty & Health

Beauty Is More Than Skin Deep: Natural Skin Beauty & Health

By Dr. Rachel Eva Dew, DNM

In this blog I am taking a deeper look (and comparing) skincare products. I know that many of us can easily get swept up into all of the promises of youth and perfect skin that many products out there offer. But guess what?!? Most of those products are completely counterproductive because they have harsh and toxic chemicals which have negative long-term effects on the skin and on your health. The toxins we encounter (and absorb) on our face and skin can disrupt hormones, decrease our immune system, inflame allergies and even cause the skin to age!! Guess what else… there are actually natural options that work much better.

STOP AND PAUSE.

Think about this… many people are spending hundreds, if not thousands of dollars trying to have healthier looking skin while actually making their skin sicker, more worn and weathered AND throwing off their health such as their gut health and skin microbiome.

To be perfectly honest, drinking at least ½ your body weight in ounces of water per day would have a more positive impact on wrinkles than most $250 anti-aging creams, and water is FREE!

Your Skin Is Your Largest Microbiome. What’s Happening on The Outside Is A Reflection of The Inside

Skin problems are feedback and when we suppress feedback without healing the root problem, we can make the root problem even worse! When we have dry skin, increased appearance of aging, sun spots, melasma flair ups, eczema, breakouts or rashes we need to first look inward. Here is the real question we should each ask ourselves, ‘What is out of balance in my body? Then, we need to take steps to resolve and rebalance those.

The first places I look when it comes to skin issues are:

  • Hydration
  • Nutritional choices
  • Toxins (exposure through foods, skincare, beauty, home products and environment)
  • Hormones
  • Stress
  • Gut health
  • Sleep pattern

Healthy Skin from The Inside-Out & The Outside-In

When we address outer skin issues through taking steps towards increasing inside health at the same time as taking steps to support our skin health natural from the outs-side in we create a win-win situation. We get healthier, more youthful and vibrant looking skin while also getting healthier skin. Our skin is our largest organ as well as the body’s largest microbiome. Our skin serves many functions as an organ beyond being the attractive wrapping paper we come packaged in. Here are a few of the things your skin does (when it is healthy):

  • ‘Protection: against pathogens. Langerhans cells in the skin are part of the immune system.
  • Storage: stores lipids (fats) and water.
  • Sensation: nerve endings detect temperature, pressure, vibration, touch, and injury.
  • Control water loss: the skin prevents water from escaping by evaporation.
  • Water resistance: it prevents nutrients from being washed from the skin
  • Thermoregulation: by producing sweat and dilating blood vessels, the skin helps keep the body cool. “Goosebumps” and blood vessel constriction, help us retain heat’.

*Source Link 

5 Tips for Inner Care That Produces Healthier Skin

  • Drink more clean water (filtered & not stored in plastic), it’s the best antiaging and skincare thing you can do!
  • Dry brushing to remove trapped toxins
  • Going organic, clean & green with your skincare, beauty & home products
  • Focusing on creating more gut health (pre & probiotics are a great start) – check out my 3-part blog series on gut health for more tips, you can read the first blog HERE 
  • Try Abhyanga Ayurvedic self-massage for lymphatic drainage & increasing circulation (you can find some great how to videos on Youtube)
  • Remember that food is food for your skin as well! Making healthier nutritional choices will show on the outside as well as the inside.

My Top Natural Skincare Products Ranked

These are not products I am paid to endorse; they are actually what I use on my own skin every single day!

#1 Argan & Emu Oil:

Why this is my favorite: Pure organic Argan Oil mixed with organic pure Emu Oil (at a 50/50 ratio – buy each and then mix together) is all natural, no chemicals, cost effective, doesn’t clog pours and can usually be found in eco-friendly glass containers (this is also better for your health since there are no carcinogens leaching out of the plastic and into your skin care/beauty product). I have not found a better every day moisturizer than this!

#2 Countersun Mineral Sunscreen Mist:

Why I love it – Sun protection is CRITICAL and should be part of everyone’s daily skincare routine!! I always had a hard time getting my daughter to use sticky gooey sun protection. This one is the first non-toxic spray that I have found! Find it HERE

#3 Primal Derma –

Why I love it – A completely pure, natural and toxin free deep moisture support for eczema and extremely dry or chapped skin. Another reason I love it is that this small company is eco-friendly, low waste, animal conscious and packaged in glass. For a really good read on skin health, tallow (aka the magic ingredient) and how they are reducing animal product waste to be more sustainable and reduce their footprint check out their website. Find it HERE

#4 – Yarrow Palm Oil by Doterra –

Why I love it – Yarrow has powerful bioactive compounds and skin-protecting proteins that promote the appearance of firmer, smoother, younger-looking skin. Again, this oil does not clog pours and has a base of Jojoba and Argan oil. I use this on my whole body. Find it HERE

#5 – Araza Coconut Charcoal & Seagreens Treatment Mask –

Why I love it – This is a powerful treatment! My skin always looks completely revived after using it and the best thing is it is a woman owned company and feature not only toxin and chemical free ingredients but is also a paleo certified ingredient-based company. Find it HERE

#6 – Tambra Age Defying Stem Cell Line (Stem Cell Night Cream & Stem Cell Serum) –

Why I love it – Plant stem cells are so incredibly regenerative to the skin and I have not come across another non-toxic and chemical free line that has them within their ingredients along with other powerful anti-aging ingredients. I also love this line because it is woman owned, they are fully transparent about every single ingredient on their website, made in small batch and comes in glass containers! These two products also contain Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) which only the top end beauty and skin care products use. However, if you have a flushing reaction or allergy to Niacinamide be sure to patch test on your arm before applying to your face. Find it HERE

#7 Cellfood Oxygenating Skin Care –

Why I love it – This product is really a face supplement and restores the ph and skin microbiome. It hydrates and also renews. Another reason why I love it is that it is one of the more inexpensive non-toxic skin care products out there. Find it HERE 

#8 Haters Say It’s Photoshopped by Apothekary

Why I love it: Chocked full of antioxidants, adaptogens and collagen, this is a new approach to beauty from the inside out. This powder beauty supplement gets sprinkled into your morning juice or smoothie to help you optimize your butter beauty from the inside-out. Find it HERE

I am a big believer that wellness, natural beauty and optimal health should be more accessible to all! We are getting down a rabbit hole of privilege-only access with $150 yoga mats, spending thousands of dollars on a billion costly supplements and $200 anti-aging wrinkle creams. So, my commitment to you is to always try to offer a wide range of resources and information that is within your reach. This is why I will be including DIY home recipes for those of you who are cost conscious and/or trying to live more sustainable eco-friendly lives.

DIY Home Recipe for Healthy Skin: 

Here are two of the DIY skincare products I use at home –

Avo-Love Moisture Mask

1 whole avocado mashed up, 1 teaspoon of colloidal oatmeal mixed into 1 teaspoon of warm water, 1 teaspoon of raw unrefined coconut oil and 1 egg yolk. Mix well and then apply thick paste onto face. Allow to soak in and dry for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

DIY Age Defying Face & Body Moisture Serum

What you will need:

  • Argan oil (100% pure, unscented organic and if you can find it, in a glass bottle versus plastic) – Argan oil is beneficial to the skin by providing deep moisture without clogging pours. It is literally food for your face with vitamin A, vitamin E, antioxidants, omega-6 fatty acids and linoleic acid.
  • Emu oil (100% pure, unscented organic and if you can find it, in a glass bottle versus plastic) – Emu oil prevents the skin from prematurely aging. It Decrease inflammation, helps with scars, and sun damage. Emu oil is rich in DHEA.
  • Frankincense essential oil (100% pure, organic and if you can find it, in a glass bottle versus plastic) – this powerful essential oil has been known to combat certain types of cancers, including skin cancer. It is used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and skin discoloration. It stimulates the growth of new cells and therefore is beneficial in anti-aging.
  • Myrrh essential oil (100% pure, organic and if you can find it, in a glass bottle versus plastic) – Myrrh has been used for thousands of years for its healing and beautifying properties. It helps fade blemishes on the skin and can reduces symptoms of eczema.

Instructions:

 In a glass bottle mix 3 ounces of Argan oil, 3 ounces of Emu oil, 15 drops of Frankincense and 15 drops of Myrrh oil. Cap the bottle and shake well to thoroughly mix. Then apply a quarter size amount to your face and neck in upwards circular motions. You may also apply liberally to your entire body. Make sure to avoid your eyes and genitals.

Here’s to your skin health!

In Wellness,

Dr. Rachel

 

Hormone Health

Why Are Balanced Hormones So Important?

Unfortunately, the subject of hormones can be a subject that people shy away from which can lead to needless suffering and a lack of optimal health and wellbeing. Both women and men live with hormone imbalances without ever getting properly supported. So, let’s open up conversations and openly discuss this important topic.

First and foremost, we need to be having more candid conversations about hormone health, and remove the stigma attached to hormone issues. Our hormones have an impact not just on our sexual health but also on mental, emotional and physical health in huge ways for both men and women. We need to have balanced hormones in order to function properly. Our hormones signal many functions within the body from breathing, how to expend energy, the need to eat and even signal our body to grow. Hormones also regulate, metabolism, heart rate, appetite, circadian sleep rhythms, body temperature, reproductive and sexual function and even regulates stress!

Understanding Where Hormones Are Produced & What They Do…

Again, hormones are not just associated with male and female reproductive organs. We have many glands in the body that make hormones for different purposes. Get to know your hormone producing centers –

  • Ovaries: Sex hormones for use in reproduction
  • Testes: Testosterone and sperm
  • Pituitary: Control center for numerous other glands
  • Parathyroid: Calcium regulation
  • Pancreas: Makes your insulin
  • Hypothalamus: Regulates numerous functions such as body temperature, appetite, mood, sleep rhythms, thirst and libido
  • Thyroid: Regulates heartbeat, effects metabolism and how calories are used by the body.
  • Adrenal Glands: Stress hormones such as cortisol
  • PinealGland: Produces melatonin and regulates the body’s internal clock

What Are Some of the Things That Can Disrupt Our Hormones?

Lack of proper sleep, chemical filled beauty and skin products, stress, toxins we encounter in food and even within the cleaning products in our homes. Stress also has a huge disruptive impact on hormones. A poor diet and lack of exercise are also triggers for hormone imbalance.

Other disruptors include some workout supplements, caffeine, illegal steroid use and some energy drinks.

Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance

First, let’s dive into understanding how imbalances can occur. Hormonal imbalances occur when there is too much or too little of a hormone in the bloodstream. Hormones have a critically important role in the body which is why even a slight imbalance can lead to significant symptoms.

Signs your hormones may be out of balance; Infertility, PMS, postpartum depression, inconsistent or irregular menstrual cycles, brain fog, skin problems, mood swings, increased aggression and anger, decreased tolerance to stress, depression or anxiety, lack of energy, decreased sex drive, headaches, you have diabetes, PCOS or thyroid imbalances or thyroid disease and more. The specific symptoms of hormonal imbalance will depend on which glands and hormones are affected since they each control different functions within the body.

Some of the more common symptoms of hormonal imbalances include:

  • Weight gain or loss that is not a result in changes in diet, exercise or medication
  • Sleep disruptions or difficulty falling asleep
  • Low energy or extreme fatigue
  • Sudden onset of temperature sensitivity (intolerance to hot or cold)
  • Excessive sweating (when not exercising)
  • Skin problems such as acne, dry skin, eczema or rashes
  • Changes in blood pressure or heart rate
  • Changes in your cholesterol levels or blood sugar
  • Mood swings, anxiety, depression or irritability
  • Migraines or headaches
  • Increased thirst
  • Gut issues, leaky gut and bloating
  • Changes in appetite
  • Significant decrease or increase in sex drive or sexual function
  • Hair loss, thinning or brittle hair, including of the eyebrows
  • Infertility in both men and women

Natural Ways to Rebalance Hormones

Since balancing hormones is about supporting the optimal functioning of all of your different hormone producing centers, here are the top natural ways to support them all:

  1. Getting enough sleep – yup, the good old 8 hours a night rule applies here!
  2. Sleep in total darkness – light disrupts hormone production during sleep. Get black out curtains, an organic eye mask and ditch the electronics in your bedroom.
  3. Stress management, stress reduction and increasing your capacity to deal with life’s stressors – this includes learning new tools to deal with stress, better ways to react to stress and also taking action to limit stress.
  4. Exercise – getting enough cardiovascular exercise, strength building exercise as well as stretching or restorative fitness is critical to supporting hormones.
  5. Balanced Diet – Eating a balanced toxic free diet that includes all of the macro and micro nutrients your body needs, for example getting enough protein, healthy fats and also low glycemic carbohydrates.
  6. Reduce alcohol intake and eating processed foods
  7. Swap coffee for green tea
  8. Cut out dairy
  9. Natural supplements (see more below)

*Warning, taking estrogen, testosterone or progesterone supplements without super vison of a health care professional is extremely dangerous. If you feel that you have a hormone imbalance that does not seem to be able to be corrected through diet, exercise, stress reduction and natural supplements that support hormone balance (not ones that include natural bio-identical hormones) then see a professional health care practitioner in order to get tested and treated appropriately for your body’s exact hormone needs.

Specific Foods & Herbs That Help

For Men –

  1. Malaysian ginseng – helps with increasing libido, sports performance, weight loss, helps with production of testosterone and can even help with high blood pressure.

Ashwagandha – Adaptogen herbs such ashwagandha help with numerous hormone producing glands which has also been effective in sexual disfunction and even infertility. Ashwagandha has been used in ancient cultures for centuries to enhance communication in the endocrine system.  It is wonderful at easing stress, thyroid conditions, and strengthening the adrenal system, which is important in balancing sex hormones like estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Ashwagandha has a positive effect on menstrual health and libido.

  1. DHEA – DHEA has been known to help balance hormones and has even been used by some men for ED. It can help in the production of both testosterone and estrogen. *be sure to first check with your doctor before taking DHEA because if your body is not deficient it can sometimes cause the opposite effects on hormones.
  2. L-Arginine – This amino acid helps increase blood flow and may be helpful with ED.
  3. Astragalus – Known for its benefits to the immune system and also its ability to balance all hormones by helping the body to adapt to physical and emotional stress.
  4. Vitamins that also help – Vitamin D, Zinc aid in hormone regulation as well.

For Women –

  1. Evening primrose oil – It has omega-6 fatty acids which can helpyour body regulate hormone
  2. Ashwagandha – Adaptogen herbs such ashwagandha help with numerous hormone producing glands which has also been effective in sexual disfunction and even infertility.
  3. DHEA – DHEA has been known to help balance hormones and has even been used by some men for ED. It can help in the production of both testosterone and estrogen. *be sure to first check with your doctor before taking DHEA because if your body is not deficient it can sometimes cause the opposite effects on hormones.
  4. Maca is an adaptogen herb that can balance hormones depending on what you need. Maca contains flavonoids that can improve mood, reduce anxiety, balance levels of estrogen, reduce hot flashes and night sweats. It can also increase energy, support stamina and help to increase libido.
  5. Astragalus – is known for its immune stimulating action and its anti-aging effect. The latter is attributed to the compound cycloastragenol in the herb which activates the enzyme telomerase that protects DNA from degradation during replication. Beyond that, astragalus was chosen because of its ability to balance all hormones by helping the body to adapt to physical and emotional stress.
  6. Yellow Curcumin – has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries, especially in gynecologic and female disorders. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory that improves estrogen metabolism and estrogen dominance.
  7. Musta – is an emmenagogue, helping stimulate menstrual flow in women. This helps to promote healthy menstruation and regulates menstrual cycle. Combined with other herbs to treat menstrual problems it can help in treating anemia and general weakness during your cycle.

That may seem like way too many different supplements to take, which is one of the reasons Nupeutics created the Hormone Master supplement where you can find many of the needed herbs to support hormone balance within one high quality supplement. To find out more about Hormone Master click HERE

Additional Hormone Information

If you love research and clinical data as much as I do, here are some great articles from trusted sources –

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3079864/

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-study-shows-caffeine-consumption-linked-estrogen-changes

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4377487/

 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/what-causes-depression

 

And these are good reads as well…

https://nypost.com/2019/02/22/nearly-half-of-women-have-been-affected-by-a-hormonal-imbalance/

 

http://www.aikenbellamagazine.com/2019/05/05/could-hormonal-imbalance-be-the-cause-of-your-anxiety/

 

Copyright Dr. Rachel Dew 2019-2021. All Rights Reserved
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