One of our most asked questions is what products do we have for dry skin?

As the cooler months approach dry skin is a problem that most of us will experience. Our skin will be thirsty for moisture, during the cooler seasons it seems skin is drier. Eczema and Psoriasis currently seems to be a more common issue. When I started this business it was because my youngest son had Eczema. He had almost snakelike scaly patches on his side that nothing would get rid of. His skin seemed to devour the lighter lotions that would leave his skin dry. The heavier lotions were a bit better because they lasted a longer but, would still ultimately do the same thing. Both of those options had ingredients that I was not fond of such as chemicals, steroids and preservatives.

I began experimenting with products and ingredients to come up with a solution for his skin. The very first solution I came across a recipe for a lotion bar. The lotion bar helped tremendously! It is a heavier moisturizer that was like a protective layer to the skin, which reduces how many times he needed to use it. It seemed to lock in the moisture leaving his skin soft and supple. It was a simple remedy that was created without any chemicals or preservatives which also made me happy.  It took a few weeks for the scaly patches to go away but eventually they did.

You Are What You Eat!

Products are beneficial to helping maintain the health of our skin, but not as beneficial as taking care of it from the inside. "Food provides essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients which the skin cells need to regenerate and grow," says Jeanette Jacknin, MD, holistic dermatologist and author of Smart Medicine For Your Skin.

That would include drinking plenty of water to keep your body and cells hydrated. Although fruits and veggies contain water there is no substitute for drinking water. Water is not a miracle for our skin. It does not go directly to our skin when consumed. It plays a vital role in digestion and absorption of nutrients. “It goes through the intestines, gets absorbed into your bloodstream, and is filtered by kidneys. Then it hydrates cells.” Katie Rodan, a dermatologist and a coauthor of Write Your Skin a Prescription for Change. Water flushes impurities and toxins out of the system which helps aid in reducing the breakouts and acne. 

A diet rich with Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidant rich can also help protect the skin outer lipid layers. The lipid layer helps keep moisture in and keep germs & irritants out. 

• Green Leafy Vegetables like kale, collards, brocolli, cabbage and spinach. They contain phytochemicals which are chemical compounds produced by plants, generally to help them thrive or thwart competitors, predators, or pathogens. It acts as free radical scavengers. It protects the skin from harsh effects of the sun and other environmental damage. This is also a wonderful addition to your diet as a juice or smoothie because you can get the nutrients directly from the raw veggies as well fit more in to your diet. 
• Citrus Fruits can pep up complexion. Oranges, lemons, grapefruits are loaded with Vitamin C. Vitamin C is known to plump up collagen and add a sheen to skin. 
• Avocados are rich in healthy fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants that can improve your skin from the inside. It is also one of my favorite foods!
• Fish such as salmon, herring, tuna and trout are high in omega 3 fatty acids. It helps retain moisture and strengthens the skin barrier. 
• Nuts rich in vitamin E like almonds, sunflower seeds, and hazelnuts. Vitamin E helps protect skin from oxidative cell damage and protects skin barrier from external damage like UV rays.

There are plenty of other foods that help contribute to skin health such as orange and yellow fruit/veggies like sweet potatoes, carrots & papayas, Olive Oil a heart healthy powerhouse for the body, Cucumbers contain Vitamin A and C that helps soothe skin and fight damage. 

Try to find more ways to add these foods to your diet to have glowing, hydrated skin that is healthy from the inside out.