HOW TO BALANCE YOUR SKIN
Self care + diet are essential if you want vibrant skin!
Another important factor is to maintain a healthy pH level + they're related.
The pH (potential Hydrogen) is a scale used to rank acidity + alkalinity. The higher the pH, the more acidic. The scale ranks from 0 to 14 with 7 being neutral. Anything below 7 is considered acidic + anything above is alkaline.
Applied to your health it’s basically a measure of how much oxygen is in your blood. Too much acid in the body lessens the supply of oxygen which decreases the cells’ ability to repair, fight disease + absorb nutrients.
When it comes to skin, an excess of acidity can result in inflammation + skin conditions like acne, eczema, dermatitis + rosacea.
The ideal skin pH is just below 5. When the skin’s acid mantle is healthy it protects your skin from everything it comes into contact with… fragrance, smoking, air, water, pollution, sun, even toxic skincare! If the acid mantle becomes disrupted the skin loses its ability to defend itself against these free radicals.
To maintain the pH balance of your skin, be mindful of the skincare products you use. Too much alkaline can increase the skin’s sensitivity + make it drier, as well as inhibiting its ability to produce collagen.
Washing your face with tap water (a pH level of 7-8) or soap (9-10) unbalances the skin as does chemical-based skincare.
The other key is to skin health is to consume alkaline forming foods. These help fight inflammation + are naturally high in vitamins + minerals. They contain antioxidants such as beta-carotene + vitamins C, E + A, omega-3 fatty acids + zinc.
Eat:
- dark leafy greens + salads
- vegetables
- fruits + dried fruits
- nuts + seeds (include chia)
- wholegrains (quinoa, millet, buckwheat)
- beans + lentils
- coconut oil, avocado + olive oil.
Drink:
- water with lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
- green smoothies
- herbal teas
- coconut water
- celery or cucumber juice.
Reduce or ideally, cut out... sugar, dairy + processed foods, meat, alcohol, tea + coffee. Make changes slowly so they’re sustainable.
As you move to a more alkaline diet + switch to 100% natural skincare products, your skin will greatly improve.
Any questions? Feel free to contact us.