Glow Notes

There are countless supplements on the market that promise improved physical beauty and “anti-aging” benefits. The question is, how can you know for sure what works, and what doesn’t for healthy skin? In order to truly know, it is helpful to know a bit about how the body works and what the skin needs to be healthy. So, before you head out to your nearest health food store, consider these few tips on selecting quality and effective supplements for the skin.

As a result of an increasingly stressful and toxic world, our bodies are aging more rapidly than what is natural. This has sparked an interest in “anti-aging” and the subsequent study and developmental research of methods for the revitalization of the skin from both extrinsic and intrinsic damage. Today, scientists are aware of the primary factor in skin damage and aging.  It is the initiation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), otherwise known as oxidative stress. 

CoQ10, also known as coenzyme Q, is a naturally occurring and abundant enzyme found in every cell of the human body. This precious nutrient plays key roles in various physiological functions including energy production, neutralizing reactive oxygen species, and cellular regeneration – just to name a few. In a healthy and youthful body, CoQ10 is produced effortlessly and plentifully. However, as the body ages biologically; whether naturally or rapidly from various stressors, the body loses its ability to manufacture adequate levels of CoQ10. This results in further aging as the cells no longer regenerate as rapidly and therefore become more vulnerable to stress. Due to the obvious correlation between CoQ10 levels and biological aging, supplementing with CoQ10 has increased in popularity. It has gained special interest in the world of natural health, anti-aging and specifically, skin health.

 When it comes to skincare, there is a lot to consider: What topical treatments to use? What is the optimal diet? Should I use supplements or not? ... and so much more. While many are aware of the damaging effects of the more obvious poor choices – there is often an overlooked, underlying factor that determines whether something is “healthy” or not. That underlying factor is the hormonal effects of any given activity. Proper hormone balance is a dominant factor in determining health, especially the health of our skin and hair. There are various hormonal conditions that set the stage for skin diseases like chronic acne, eczema, dry skin, hair loss, and wrinkles. Some hormones are anti-aging, protective against inflammation and oxidation, while others contribute to disease. 

The Fall season is approaching, which means the potential for slowed metabolic rates and therefore dry, flaky skin. However, this doesn’t have to be your destiny. Dry skin is often a result of sluggish thyroid function (more common during the winter), which is caused by many things, but severely affected by a high toxic load. Of the many sources of toxicity in our environment today, the common drugstore is one of them. This Fall many people will likely head to the drugstore and browse the aisle filled with commercial body lotions in hopes to sooth their dry, chapped skin. However, these exact “solutions” are a source of the problem. They contain harmful toxins like parabens and phythlates that are known to slow the thyroid. 

The cold, windy and dry winter season can be harsh on the skin. Also, in the winter we tend to spend more time indoors in low air quality.  We get minimal sun exposure, exercise less, and eat fewer fresh foods, all of which tax the skin. To take top-notch care of your skin this winter, follow this winter skincare routine.  It will help your skin function more optimally from the inside and out.

To me, there's nothing better than a great shave. For so long I battled with razor burn, ingrown hairs and irritation from doing it the wrong way. Over the years I developed a shaving routine that is extremely consistent and effective, here it is below:

The Alitura Clay mask contains four different types of clay which thoroughly purify the skin at it’s deepest layers.

Today, I want to deep dive into exactly where these clays come from, the unique benefits they each provide, and exactly how they work to beautify your skin. The key element of why clay has such an amazing effect on the skin is its ability to draw out impurities, toxins, and heavy metals.

Let's get fishy with the fascinating science and beauty benefits of marine collagen. Marine fish collagen peptides are an emerging functional food, which supports the homology of human collagen production. Marine collagen peptides, obtained by enzymatic digestion of fish skin, have been shown to have many positive health benefits. They are safe, biocompatible, highly bioavailable, and make for a potent dietary supplement that can give our skin a youthful glow. The science-backed beauty benefits of marine collagen mainly revolve around two areas: improved metabolic function and skin/hair/bone repair.

Horsetail, also known as Shavegrass, Bottle Brush or by its scientific name Equisetum arvense, is a perennial plant that resembles a horse’s tail. It commonly grows in North America, Asia, and Europe. Horsetail contains important nutrients that support the health of the skin, including iron, manganese, silica and various antioxidants. Additionally, horsetail is known to possess antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Often our attention is focused on facial care routines and we somewhat disregard the rest of our body. It makes sense as the face is what is most visible to us and others. However, our faces are not necessarily separate from the rest of our bodies. From head to toe, the skin is one massive organ that has important responsibilities relating to our overall health and wellbeing. This dry brushing benefits guide shifts the focus away from the face and brings it to the rest of the skin. Dry skin brushing is a simple little hack that comes with a multitude of health and beauty benefits, ranging from reduced cellulite to detoxification support. The best part is you only need to spare 10 minutes a day to reap the benefits of dry skin brushing.

Copper has two key beneficial properties for improving the well-being of the skin. One is biocidal properties. Also, copper as a mineral is involved in many physiological and metabolic processes that are essential for the appropriate functioning of all the bodily tissues including the skin.

The use of clay for topical healing and internal medicinal uses traces back throughout ancient history. Clay as medicine has been referenced as far back as ancient Rome, 60 BC to be exact. Aristotle – the Father of Medicine – also referenced the conscious effort of eating the earth, in the form of soil or clay, for its therapeutic benefits as far back as 384–322 BC. Considering that the Earth is made up largely of minerals, which is the bulk of what clay is, it wouldn’t be surprising to find out that the use of clay as medicine traces back even further. All throughout the natural world we see animals use mud intuitively to protect themselves from excessive sun exposure, to ward off insects and bugs, and to protect their skin. 

Despite appealing packaging and clever marketing tactics, most “beauty” products today are actually far more harmful than they are helpful. In this blog post, we will guide you through the most harmful ingredients to avoid for glowing skin. There is significant scientific evidence unrolling all the time about the dangers of the synthetic ingredients found in commercial facial cleansers, lotions, sunscreens, shampoo, perfumes, and more. Industry standard ingredients have been linked to everything from skin irritation to cancer. What’s more, the skin is a direct line to the liver, so everything you are putting in your skin is going to end up right in the bloodstream. If you’re spending your hard earned money on cosmetics and self-care products, the last thing you want is a product full of known carcinogens.

In an earlier post, we talked all about the damaging effects of stress hormone cortisol. In this post, we will focus on the harmful beauty effects of estrogen, another stress hormone.

One of the golden rules to holistic skin care is “if you can’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin.” So just as you would carefully select your food, you might also consider doing the same for your skincare products.

The reason for favoring natural skincare is simple: the skin is a rather direct line to the bloodstream. In essence, any substance that comes into contact with the skin is to a degree absorbed into the body. Everything in the external environment that your body is interacting with has to be managed by the skin’s microbiome.

Many skin conditions are caused by inflammation (often dubbed the root of all modern disease). If you’re dealing with eczema, psoriasis, rashes, breakouts, or other unwanted outbreaks of the skin, one of the first things you want to do is reduce inflammation. Finding the best anti-inflammatory skin care ingredients can be difficult without guidance. While some opt to go the traditional drug route, we want to offer natural solutions that tackle the root cause of your skin problems rather than just masking the symptoms. Topical solutions include masks and creams to calm and soothe the skin, while internal remedies can help reduce inflammation at the source.

Although "oil-free" is still seen as a prized label for some skin care products, it's time we stop villainizing oils on the face because the fact is, they're highly beneficial for just about any skin ailment. Plant oils have been used for a variety of purposes throughout time. Various plant oils have been successfully incorporated into diets and even used as pharmaceuticals. Today, they are recognized for their therapeutic, anti-aging, and restorative effects on the health of our skin. When it comes to natural skin care, there are two classes of oils for the face that are must-haves; those are the plant carrier oils (specifically coconut, olive oil, and jojoba, amongst others) and various essential oils. 

Winter is notoriously the “bad skin” season. We tend to spend more time indoors with poor air quality, exercise less, lack sun exposure, and eat fewer fresh foods. In addition, when we do go outside, the air is cold and dry. All of these factors are incredibly taxing on the skin.

Acne and skin blemishes are irritating enough, mentally and physically. The last thing anyone wants is those pestering acne blemishes to turn into difficult to cure scars. When it comes to skin scarring, prevention is king; however, not everyone is fortunate enough to avoid facial scars, be it from acne or other physical traumas. The good news? Scars can be treated. Best of all, the abolishment of scars can be achieved entirely naturally too. 

Natural skincare is a growing industry in America, but for many other cultures, natural health and beauty have always been the standard. This is particularly true for the people of the Orient. The practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine, in particular,...