Has your skin lost its healthy, radiant glow? Detoxifying your body from the inside will help restore your beauty on the outside. Ridding your body of toxins not only feels good and provides you with more energy, it is vital for improving the skin, which is the largest organ of our body.
Whether it's due to circulation problems, dirt, pollutants, or diet, a seasonal or daily detoxification program will improve your complexion while reducing breakouts. Not only that, it feels good too!
Why You Should Detoxify Your Skin
The skin is a reflection of our inner health, yet we often fail to give it that tender loving care it needs to work at its best. Our skin is responsible for maintaining our body temperature and moisture levels, yet we constantly expose it to environmental factors that can hinder its efficiency.
When we aren't mindful in taking care of our skin, it will not perform as designed. You might have dry skin, itchy skin, rashes, blemishes, you name it, all because of what's going on inside of your body. If you're serious about improving your skin's firmness, appearance, and tone, you need to flush out the poisons lurking below the surface.
How to Detox Your Skin
You can detox your skin many ways. Dietary changes, exercise, brushing, and skin care products can all work together to rid your body of toxins while pulling out the impurities that can make your complexion look dull and tired. Detoxification also boosts energy levels.
Just think of how many things we put into our bodies that never really leave. Unprocessed food, alcohol, medications, and more continue to work themselves through our bloodstream. Detoxing is important because it removes these poisons that can make you feel and look sluggish. Who wants that?
The following skin detoxification methods will work wonders on your body from the inside out. They don't require fancy equipment, spa visits, expensive products, or much time. In fact, you can incorporate any or all of these skin detoxifying rituals as often as you'd like.
Dry Brushing
Dry brushing is an excellent and affordable method for improving circulation and stimulating the lymphatic system, which will rid your body of the toxins and exfoliate by removing the dead skin cells. Invest in a long-handled natural bristle body brush. Start at the heels of your feet and brush in an upward and circular motion towards your heart. Dry brush every morning before your daily shower and follow with a moisturizer for soft and supple skin.
Scrubs
Apply a detoxifying scrub or mud mask weekly to reap the reward of smoother and clearer skin. Mud masks work by drawing out impurities and deeply embedded dirt within the pores. Some of the many benefits of using a skin care mud mask include reduced redness and decreased blemishes, increased softness and moisture, and restored facial tone. Mud masks are a natural exfoliant, as they remove those dead skin cells that make your skin look tired. An ancient method for detoxification, mud masks are about as natural as you can get.
Sauna
Get your sweat on to remove impurities. Saunas are an excellent method for skin detoxification. Bear in mind saunas should never be used when you are pregnant or have a heart problem. Follow the posted instructions for how long you should stay in the sauna, and gradually increase your time in the steam once you are comfortable.
Exercise
Clearly the most accessible of all skin detoxification methods, exercise is a natural way to push toxins out of the body through sweat. Cardiovascular exercise that raises your heart rate is necessary to break a sweat. If you exercise regularly and combine your workout sessions with a mud mask, dry brushing, and a sauna, you'll be well on your way to removing impurities from the inside out.
Water
Are your drinking enough water? Skin is our largest organ and requires hydration. Eight eight-ounce glasses of water are the bare minimum that you should be consuming daily, especially if you're exercising or sweating it out in a sauna. Skin detoxification is one of the best benefits of staying hydrated.
Apple Cider Bath
If you suffer from skin problems such as psoriasis or eczema, apple cider vinegar can work as your skin detoxification cure. Add one cup of raw and unfiltered apple cider vinegar, along with two cups of epsom salts, and soak for at least 20 minutes. You can do this every day if necessary.
Hydrogen Peroxide Bath
Hydrogen peroxide acts as oxygen for your skin. To help your skin breathe, add 1-2 quarts of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide to your bath water and soak away the toxins as you rejuvenate your skin while stimulating cell renewal. You can add essential oils or epsom salts to your bath also.
Yoga
Bikram yoga, also known as hot yoga, is an ideal skin detoxification activity thanks to all the sweating those poses produce. Hold your yoga positions for as long as possible, and drink plenty of water before and after your session to see an improvement in your skin.
Dietary Changes for Skin Detoxification
For more results and visibly younger skin, the following dietary changes are recommended as part of your skin detoxification program. Remove the following foods from your diet and you'll have a brighter and younger-looking complexion.
Remove Sugar
Removing sugar from your diet can aid in weight loss and improve the skin. Sugar is responsible for a process called glycation. Glycation damages the elastin and collagen in your skin. Instead of refined sugars, opt for fresh fruits or salty foods to curb your sweet tooth. A low-carb diet might help to eliminate sugar cravings.
Ditch Hormone-Fed Meats and Dairy
By now you're probably already familiar with the dangers associated with hormone-fed meats and dairy products. But did you know increasing your hormones can cause breakouts? If you've ever taken birth control pills, you may have experienced the same effect. Select organic proteins as often as your budget allows.
Limit Alcohol
Limiting your alcohol intake will greatly improve your skin's appearance. Alcohol is a poison, and the body works twice as hard to remove it from its system. Once you replace alcohol with water, your body will begin to detoxify itself and improve its functions.
Eat for Alkalinity
Alkaline-rich foods naturally cleanse the body. Kale, lemons, almonds, pears, and apples are excellent choices that will support strong bones and healthy skin and hair.
Limit Processed Foods
Sure, they're convenient, but that doesn't mean they're good for you. Processed and fast foods are packed with preservatives and ingredients that our bodies are not adapted to breaking down. Limit your intake of fake foods, and opt for a natural or raw lifestyle.
Eat Your Veggies
Mama knew best! Eating vegetables and fruits daily will help your skin detoxify. Dried seaweed, cabbage, watercress, and beets are excellent food choices that will make your skin more beautiful.
Why Am I Breaking Out After My Detox?
Many people are surprised at the aftermath of a skin detoxification. You might even think it's having the opposite effect, especially if you begin to break out or see redness. Rest assured, once you start detoxing and the body begins to push out all those toxins, they will come out of your pores. This means breakouts might be inevitable. Continue on with your detoxification regime, as this too shall pass.
How Often Should You Detoxify Your Skin?
How long and how often you need to detox varies. Everyone has different personal reasons to detoxify the skin. If you're detoxifying because you want to restore your skin's vitality, you might want to begin a monthly detoxifying plan. If you suffer from skin conditions that you're hoping detoxifying will treat, you'll need to experiment and see what works for your condition. At a minimum, you should aim to detox four times per year. An easy way to remember this is to detox at the change of every season. Slough away your dry winter skin and renew it for spring, and each season afterwards.
Feel Beautiful From the Inside Out
The benefits of looking younger associated with skin detoxification makes it an ideal program to merge into your skin care routine. Clean and clear skin will look and feel tighter, and chances are you won't be wearing as much makeup once you've visually improved the surface.
When you think of all the great things you can do for your health and body, removing the toxins from your insides is one of the things that should be at the top of your list. Your skin will look tauter, smoother, more moisturized, and supple. On top of that, the more you detoxify, the greater results you'll continue to experience.
Cleansing your body from the inside out is an excellent way to feel good, detoxify your skin, and look your best. Boost your radiance and get your glow back by making these simple, yet vital, dietary and lifestyle changes. Your body (and skin) will thank you!
