When I was younger, I had zero appreciation for good skincare and used products from the drug store. I had acne and an inflammatory diet.
While in China, studying Chinese Medicine, I had a French classmate who turned me on to facials. The facials were super cheap with our American dollars, and we went often! My skin really improved.
Since then I take much better care of my skin through:
Nutrition
Lifestyle
Supplementation
Staying hydrated, wearing sunscreen, and avoiding alcohol and sugar really help. I am diligent about washing my face and using toner and different moisturizers. I love hyaluronic acid and vitamin C, and different nighttime peels.
The older I get, the better care I take of my skin!
The “Berry” Best for Your Skin
When you think of skincare, your first thought is probably not about what’s on your plate, but it’s a great place to start!
There is a strong correlation between nutrition and aging skin. (1) Eating foods that are rich in nutrients and antioxidants can slow the aging process and also help repair damaged skin.
It is best to avoid processed foods, sugar, alcohol and high-fat foods which promote oxidative stress and inflammation. (2)
Eat nutrient-dense whole foods that offer anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and low glycemic benefits like wild caught fish, pasture-raised eggs, dark leafy green vegetables and brightly colored fruits like apples, berries and pomegranates.
And, as always, make sure you are staying hydrated and drinking plenty of filtered water.
Check out two of my favorite recipes that help support healthy skin:
Fresh Berry Parfait is packed full of Vitamin C and antioxidants. The anti-aging benefits of Vitamin C can include: improving skin elasticity, evening out skin tone and brightening dull skin for that radiant summer glow!
Easy Salmon Salad is just like it sounds-delicious and simple! Salmon contains Omega 3’s and antioxidants which help support healthy, younger looking skin.
2. “Light” the Way to Better Skin
Light therapy is an excellent habit to incorporate into your health journey.
Unlike the light used in tanning booths or the rays from the sun itself, red light therapy does not expose you to damaging UV rays. Instead, it directs very low levels of heat to your skin by way of a lamp, device, or laser with a visible red light. While red light is visible, infrared light is invisible.
Far-infrared is best for detoxification. I also like to use my solo system sauna by Sunlighten. These saunas offer deep infrared penetration that can help increase blood flow and sweat.
Near-infrared is the least penetrating. This means it’s best for skin care, scars and muscle pain.
My favorite light detox therapy for healthy skin is the Luminir Wand. This incredible hand-held 4-in-1 light system allows you to target specific areas of your body with healing near-infrared light and red light, while reducing the appearance of wrinkles, stimulating collagen production, improving skin tone and firmness and increasing circulation.
3. Show Your Skin Some Love
I love Beautycounter products especially for my skin. There are over 1,800 harmful ingredients that are never used in their formulations, and each ingredient is scanned to ensure a high standard of clean beauty.
Some of my Beautycounter favorites include:
Counter+ All Bright C Serum: It helps to brighten my skin and even my tone with its antioxidant-rich serum, and helps defend my skin from environmental stressors.
Countersun Daily Sheer Defense for Face: It’s a lightweight, fast-absorbing, and easy-to-blend formula designed for all skin tones with no white cast. It provides protection from UVA, UVB, and HEV blue light rays
Counter+ Overnight Resurfacing Peel: It improves skin texture and boosts clarity without irritation or over-drying (click on the link to read about the proprietary muti-acid complex).
Countermatch Refresh Foaming Cleanser: Great for acne-prone skin, this gentle, daily cleanser is perfect to remove makeup, wash away impurities and helps keep the skin’s moisture barrier intact.
Countertime Collection: This group is designed to reduce the effects of aging and visibly firm, brighten, and plump the skin.
I feel good about buying and using their products. Not only does my skin look and feel amazing, but I feel confident that Beautycounter protects my skin and allows me to “glam up” without applying damaging, harsh products to my skin.
4. Super Supplements for Skin Health
Omega Concentrate: Get your dose of Omega 3’s for healthier, younger looking skin.
Chelated Magnesium: Magnesium helps promote sleep and hormone balance--all of which support healthy skin!
Vitamin C: Vitamin C is a super antioxidant that helps clear your body of free radicals (which directly supports your skin health).
Agless AF by Myer’s Detox: This advanced silica detox support enhances hair, skin, and nail beauty.
Mi CoQ10: This is truly a favorite when it comes to anti-aging supplements and here’s why...
Mi CoQ10 is great for anyone over the age of 40 or with aging skin.
Did you know that as our bodies age, we stop producing as much CoQ10? In addition to improving skin health, CoQ10 is used to produce cellular energy.… This is necessary for not just skin cells, but every cell in our body (that’s over 30,000,000,000,000 of them)!
Think of it as a shot of fine espresso for your skin cells. Using daily Mi CoQ10 as part of your healthy skin routine will help you achieve skin that looks younger, feels healthier and radiates natural glow.
Additionally, another benefit of using Mi CoQ10 is reduced inflammation and oxidative stress (3) which can negatively affect skin health. I love CoQ10 so much that I developed our own brand of it!
Achieving healthy, young, beautiful skin doesn’t have to be difficult! If you eat a nutritious, antioxidant-rich diet, explore safe, natural therapies like near infrared light, implement a clean beauty routine and take quality supplements, ageless skin should be a bright part of your future!
Bridgit Danner, LAc, FDNP, is trained in functional health coaching and has worked with thousands of women over her career since 2004. She is the founder of Women’s Wellness Collaborative llc and HormoneDetoxShop.com.
I was introduced to CoQ10 as an supplement about 4 years ago. At the time, I was in the middle of detoxing from mold, and I had already spent a lot of money on trying to heal. I was skeptical to try yet another thing, but the truth was that I was only about 50% better, which is not enough at all. So I tried it…