Your skin is connected to everything you do, ingest, feel and even think. Sounds kind of dramatic, but really, this is true.
Your skin is your body’s largest organ. To have healthy, glowing skin, you must take care of your body and make conscious decisions. Your skin is the “window” for what is happening inside your body. If you see irritations or redness, it’s a sign that something is not right.
Did you know 60% of what you put on your skin, ends up in your bloodstream? That’s why we think it’s important to read every label and understand what your triggers are. If you are allergic to common allergens by consuming them, you can also be allergic to them with skin contact.
Rosacea flare up last night? Check what you ate and put on your face. Write it down or make a mental note. If it happens again…study these things again and you’re likely to find a culprit. You might already have suspicions of the offending ingredient; or you may not. Mining for potential allergens or irritants can be an exhausting process. It can take a long time to figure out. You might employ the food elimination diet to work through your issues if they are food related.
What's interesting, is often people stop at food when suspecting an allergy or irritant. Beauty products are commonly overlooked - even though the ingredients end up in your bloodstream just like the food you eat.
There are a few things you can do to address your skincare products. This is not an exhaustive list, but a great start:
1/ Visit a dermatologist and/or allergist and ask for allergen patch testing*.
2/ Become a super-sleuth and inspect every label of every product you put in and on your body. If you suspect a certain ingredient is causing your irritation, employ the same “elimination diet” tactics for your face. Remove the ingredient from your skincare routine for at least three weeks and monitor the results.
3/ Keep a journal that monitors your skin’s appearance. In this journal (in addition to food and beverages consumed), you’ll need to mark every new product you are using in order to see trends and any ingredients that are new to your skincare routine. You will also want to mark exterior factors such as mood, hormonal influences, “didn’t sleep”, “slept with makeup on”, etc. These will be important factors in the “everything is connected” challenge. This blog by A Considered Life has a great write up on the things to track.
4/ Discontinue using products that include Starling’s Never Lists for allergens and toxins. This is an easy place to start and will make positive impact for healthful living and will help eliminate harmful ingredients.
*ALWAYS consult an allergist or dermatologist if you suspect an allergy. Self-diagnosing can lead to error or a less than comprehensive health picture. The results of an undiagnosed allergy can sometimes lead to prolonged health issues or worse. Don’t overlook this.
Have you figured out your irritants and/or allergens? We’d love to hear from you about your journey. And remember we're here to help!