Start With The Facial

A good facial can clean out your pores more thoroughly than a normal skincare routine can. Treating yourself to a facial can be the most relaxing thing you’ve splurged on for yourself in a long time, meaning an amazing de-stressor while your pores get cleaned. Start off your detox the cleanest way possible with a natural at home skin peel or detoxing face mask.

Mud Masks

Formulas with clay or mud draw out the most impurities in the top layers of the skin. Dilute any mask with warm water and leave it on only until it soft, not totally dried. We have it programmed into our brains to leave on masks until they’re cracking and our faces can’t move, but this actually dries out our skin and strips it of essential oils that are key in keeping the skin hydrated and clean. Apply the mask every other day for the duration of your detox.

Cleanse Twice A Day

Cleansing should be a daily habit, of course, but no matter your typical skincare routine, a skin detox requires cleansing morning and night. Be mindful of your skin type when choosing which cleansers to use. It’s important to note that you do not have to, and maybe should not, use the same cleanser for both times every day. If you have drier skin, an oil cleanser in the morning and foam cleanser at night will be cleansing, gentle, and hydrating. If you have oilier, more acne-prone skin, a water-based gel in the morning and at night would be beneficial to get out all of the build-up.

Hydrate & Protect Your Skin

Serums should be used twice daily in the morning and at night, as they not only hydrate, but also allow whatever ingredients you put on top of them to sink deeper into your skin, allowing better results. Serums such as retinol and hyaluronic acid have been proven to have anti-ageing benefits

Morning routines should follow serums with moisturiser and sunscreen (SPF of 30+), and night routines should be followed by a night moisturiser and/or night time mask. Add in a facial oil to your routine at least twice that week for best results. If your skin is dry, dull, or sensitive, add in some hydrating/cooling sheet masks as well.

Drink Lots of Water

Your body is almost 70% water and nearly every function in your body requires water to do its thing. This includes how your skin functions. You lose water every day just by walking, talking, perspiring and going to the loo, so it is important to replace this lost fluid. Being chronically dehydrated can lead to headaches, constipation and cognitive impairment which could include lack of concentration and low energy. Aim to drink 2 – 3 litres of water every day. If you have had a heavy session the night before, we recommend drinking coconut water which is excellent for hydration and helps to restore your electrolytes.

Detox Through Diet

Yes, even in a skin detox you may have to be careful with what you eat. If you’re like me and love your mac n’ cheese and milkshakes, it’s a tough reality to face that these are not helping how your skin looks. For a total skin rejuvenation, it’s important to adapt your diet to your skin cleansing goals. Stay off dairy products, fried foods, and added sugar, which are all pore-clogging and skin-dulling, for the duration of your detox. Instead, opt for lots of alkaline-rich fruits and veggies like pears, broccoli, kale, watermelon, and bananas. Alkaline minerals (like calcium, magnesium, and potassium) keep skin strong (and hair, bones, and teeth, just for added bonus points). Glow from the inside out with healthy fats like avocados and walnuts.

What Else You Can Do For Better Skin

  • Vegetables that grow above the ground (spinach, kale, cabbage, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower etc)
  • Meat & Poultry, plenty of red meat and fattier cuts of meat such as ribeye steaks and chicken thighs
  • Fish, focusing on mostly oily fish as well as white fish and shellfish
  • Offal, this is the most nutrient-dense, natural food on the planet
  • Healthy fats (oily fish, animal fats, avocados, nuts and seeds, olive oil, coconut oil)
  • Drink 2.5 litres of water every day
  • Green tea, Rooibos tea, Matcha tea and other herbal teas
  • Sleep 8 – 9 hours per night
What To Reduce
  • Foods and drinks which are high in carbohydrates and sugars
  • Food and drinks containing dairy
  • Processed foods
  • Cooking oils (canola, rapeseed, sunflower oil, vegetable oils etc)
  • Fast foods and takeaways
  • Alcohol
  • Too much caffeine
Leave a reply