Think about the massive amounts of lotions, shampoos, and make-up you put on your body. In fact, American women put an average of 168 chemicals on their bodies each day, according the non-profit watchdog Environmental Working Group.

We’ve all heard the expression “you are what you eat”, and your skin is no exception. In fact, federal regulations on personal care products have barely changed since the 1930s.

“From shampoo to lotion, the use of personal care products is widespread, however, there are very few protections in place to ensure their safety,” said US Senator Dianne Feinstein.

Simple Fact: Your skin is your largest organ. It is our protective covering and our first line of defense to fight illness and disease. It is also a passageway to our bloodstream. That being said, what you apply topically on your skin, as well as what you eat, will affect the overall health & appearance of your skin.

Let’s get started from the inside out.

A quote from one of my favorite skin docs:

“Certain foods have powerhouse ingredients that keep skin supple and smooth and help fight age-related damage”, says Nicholas Perricone, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and author of “Ageless Face, Ageless Mind”.

First off, we need to HYDRATE the skin. That means drinking plenty of water.

You need at least the recommended 6-8 glasses/day. If you are physically active, live in a warm climate, or feel thirsty, you may need to up your daily intake.

Also, as we age, skin tends to become dehydrated a lot more quickly, causing it to wrinkle, so ample hydration is key.

 Eat your superfoods!

If it’s good for your health, it’s good for your skin too!

Some examples:

• 
  Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fatty fish, such as sardines, and salmon. Other sources of omega-3s include flaxseeds & walnuts. Omega-3s are known to decrease inflammation and may reduce the risk of acne and other skin problems.
• Vitamin C helps produce collagen & prevents cells from damage caused by free radicals. Great sources are oranges, pineapples, tomato, strawberries, & bell peppers.
• Vitamin E helps limit sun damage & signs of aging. Almonds are a terrific source of Vitamin E.
• Vitamin A revitalizes skin by increasing cell production and rebuilds tissue. Eggs and dark leafy greens are good choices.
• Beta-Carotene is needed for growth & repair of tissue. It is found in abundance in orange foods like carrots, sweet potato, pumpkin, and cantaloupe.
• Other fabulous foods to include to boost your skin health: dark leafy vegetables, avocados, mushrooms, berries, and, surprise, dark chocolate.

Check out my previous blog post on 5 Surprising Beauty Foods by clicking here.

Did you know that your skin is a “breathable” organ?

Up to 60% of what you apply topically on your skin will be absorbed into your bloodstream, and children absorb even more than that!!!!

Imagine that products you’ve been using for years actually contain harmful ingredients and could damage your health. If so, your first instinct would be to find a healthier alternative, pronto!

Heightened awareness and potential dangers have caused consumers to take a closer look at what they put on their skin and demand safer alternatives.

Many cosmetic companies do NOT list their ingredients, aka toxic chemicals, because they are not required to do so.

Several of these toxic chemicals are linked to a host of problems including: allergies, skin rashes, cancer, headaches, fertility & reproductive issues, birth defects, hormone inhibitors, and more.

Some toxic chemicals that should be avoided:

• Parabens – often found in deodorants & moisturizers, parabens are hormone inhibitors & believed to accelerate tumor growth
• Artificial fragrance & color – may trigger allergies, asthma, and some colors contain lead & harmful dyes
• Toulene – found in nail polish, hair color products, and some fragrances, this chemical is linked to kidney & liver damage, which may affect fetal growth
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate/Sodium Laureth Sulfate – a foaming agent found in shampoos and body/facial washes, it dries out the skin & is linked to eczema, hair- loss, rashes, and dry and scaly skin.
• Formaldehyde – used as a preservative, formaldehyde is known by several different names & should be avoided at all costs, as the side effects are numerous
• PEG’s – found in numerous skin & personal care products, this is anti-freeze and should be used in for your car, not your skin!
• Paraffin/Mineral Oil/Petrolatum – clogs pores, causing toxic build-up
• Phthalates – found in plastics, it is a known hormone disruptor
• Triclosan – used in anti-bacterial products, it is a pesticide, harmful to the environment, and a suspected carcinogenic
• Sunscreens –Google some of those ingredients and you will see that they cause possible damage to DNA and many are known carcinogens

Of course, there are more, but you get the point. You can look up what’s in your skin care by visiting one of my favorite sites: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

Don’t forget if you want to learn more about how to be healthy and look great with ease then sign up to get free goodies I only share through e-mail by clicking here.