Skin Goals: More Than Skin Deep

I get so often, “girl I need your skin care routine!” or “ oh my gosh how is your skin so clear?” Well, skin care is less of what I do TO my face but more importantly how I treat my body, mind, and spirit altogether. To be honest I didn’t do anything to my face for the longest while. I would just use the same soap I used on my body and face in the shower, dry with the same towel and use the same lotion on my face and body (don't judge me, I didn't know any better growing up. And if you didn't know this was a no-no, now ya know!). I didn't realize how big of a deal it was and didn't think there was really a difference. The biggest difference between now and then is the level of dirt that gets stuck in my nose pores (that sounds funny, nose pores… hehe) and the dryness I used to experience. But before I get into products and all that, it's important to know how to take care of your skin from the inside, then it'll reflect on the outside. So, without further ado:

First things first: drink plenty of water, DAILY.

The benefits of water are unmatched. The RIGHT water is key though.

Water flushes out toxins out of the body. So if you're not living in a sterile bubble 24/7 (guarantee none of you reading this), you're exposed toxins: from the food you eat, drinks you drink, and literally just living, you're exposed to toxins and they're in ya. Water also assists your body to digest minerals and nutrients and aids the organs to function properly, amongst a plethora of other benefits.

The type of water you drink is important as well. Spring water is best. Try to stay away from mineral water, big soda companies like Dasani, Aquafina and other waters that have added chemicals. Not only are the chemicals harmful to your body, but some actually dehydrate cha. Watch those labels!

Key: So you remember that contaminated water issue in Flint, Michigan causes health problems and for the residents? Well not only in Flint but a lot of our drinking water, particularly in the States contain Fluoride, Chlorine, Lead, Mercury, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), Arsenic, Perchlorate.... okay I could go on and on. This stuff is sickening; again... watch those labels! These chemicals can cause more health problems than benefit.

Feeding your body crap all day is like expecting your car to run smoothly (if at all) on empty.

Meat, dairy and excess sugar (particularly artificial) affect the skin extremely! I'm not here to tell you to be vegan and post #vegan on all of your IG posts, however, if you are a meat eater, eat the best meat. My absolute no-nos is pork and beef. Pork is a completely unclean animal, and the side effects are ridiculous. Beef is hard on the body, and it's just not something I feel is necessary to eat. I haven't had either in years.

Make sure the meat you are consuming is coming from a butcher that only sells clean, naturally grown meat. The meat you can buy at your local supermarket or the meat they give you in most restaurants is pumped with chemicals, and hormones before being slaughtered. I personally don't want to consume anything that has chemicals in it that I myself wouldn't want to consume personally. Also, catfish and other shellfish (shrimp, crab, etc) may be delicious in the cook up, but they're bottom feeders that eat other dead things in the ocean, yuck! All of these animals definitely promote blemishes. Kick McDeath and all of those other fast food places to the curb too!

I bet you love cheese, who doesn't? It's flipping delicious. But honestly, it doesn't love you back when it comes to your skin. Particularly skim milk; the whey protein found in it causes inflammation. And of course, the hormones found in store-bought milk in general, I'm sure you can guess, are promoting those breakouts. Try to buy conscious cheese brands like Tillamook and Organic Valley and try raw milk. Depending on where you live it might be more difficult to find a farm to get it, but if you do, it's well worth it. Raw milk is DELICIOUS!

Sugar: your worst nightmare. It's not just those extra inches on the waist that make sugar horrible for your body, but literally, the actual chemical makes up. "You know they say sugar is one molecule away from cocaine"(*in my granny voice... followed with a 'back in my day' story*). Aside from the heightened risk for diabetes, cancer and heart disease; weight gain, depression, and acne are also huge risk factors when consuming too much sugar. Since sugar spikes the blood and insulin levels, this causes secretion of a hormone called androgen, also known as the "male hormone", which stimulates growth in muscles, but also promote the production of oil and inflammation (the perfect home for acne). You can't completely avoid sugar. Eating natural sugar found in fruits and veggies in moderation is fine, but stay away from the high fructose corn syrup and all of the other artificial sugars.

So whatever you decide is best for you, whether that's vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan, watch the labels (because most vegans eat a lot of soy which can lead to cancer). Eat wholesome food. Naturally Grown. Period.

Alright now that we've got the physical body aspects of clear skin covered, let's get to my regimen. It's important to know your skin type to use products that accommodate your needs. I have combination skin which consists of oily and dry areas around my mouth and nose area. Here are a few of the products I use for my daily skin care routine for the spring and summer. You can find these products and more on my Amazon storefront and get them delivered straight to your house! #plug https://www.amazon.com/shop/ayblack

First things first cleansing:

Add a little oil to your face when removing make up with a nice warm face towel (SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUR FACE and not the rest of your body... lol) Wash your face DAILY!!! I use the Kale + Green Tea Spinach Vitamins Age Prevention Cleanser. It's lightweight and I love it (yes you read that right).

I've found that using a spin brush for daily cleansing and weekly exfoliation helps get extra dirt and dry skin off of the fact that your hands only can't reach. Shout out to Neelam for the pro tip on Vanity Planet Facial Cleansing Brush Set; they're super affordable and I can definitely tell the difference. It comes with 3 spin brush heads: one for daily use, exfoliation and another one (I forgot what it's for but I use it interchangeably for the daily wash lol).

Secondly: Tone the skin.

I use Thayer's Witch Hazel with Rose Pedal Toner. This helps with pore shrinkage and skin tightening. Also prevents breakouts and evens out the skin tone (hence the name toner, duh). Pair this with tea tree oil on those acne prone spots (for me, its the nose area) and you're good to go!

Twice a week I use my exfoliating spin brush head with dr. brandt Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Scrub and follow up with the steps above.

Then last but not least, add moisture.

Seal it off with Kiehl's Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil and badabing badaboom. I actually got this as a sample I Sephora and fell in love so this is a new addition to my routine. If you try these products, comment below and let me know how they work out for you.

Last but not least least, HAPPINESS!!

Happiness is key to any and everything health related. Your level of happiness and positivity dictate how your body will operate. If you dwell on the things you can be grateful for, while striving to live an honest life, your body will follow. On the contrary, if you dwell instead on the negative and everything you don't have or, spend time entertaining jealousy or envy of others, your body too will follow. Your health is genuinely in your hands and how you treat your body will reflect how it will treat you. More importantly, it shows how much you truly love yourself.

How's that for a skin routine? Hope these tips help!

Happy Glow up! ☺️