
Our skin is our largest organ and since it is the only organ that we can actually see, it is so easy to forget that it is an organ at all. Skin is sensual and emotional, a major aspect of how we experience life. Our skin’s appearance is an involuntary communicator to others without us saying a word. Our skin is also extremely “talkative” about what is going on inside our body by the skin’s ailments that we sometimes encounter, yet how do we really know what our skin is actually saying?
Our skin gives us hints on the balance or imbalance inside our body, and all we truly desire is to have it look smooth, clear, soft, and vibrant. Unless we are in sync, it is really like two people screaming at each other in different languages. The key is to allow our skin to do its job fully, which is to protect us from environmental harm. Let’s stop fighting our skin and learn to support its natural innate function so that we can have the beautiful healthy skin that we desire.
Here are 6 tips to promote vibrant skin from head to toe…
1. Emotions & Our Skin
My mother gave me the book Heal Your Body–The Mental Causes For Physical Illness and the Metaphysical Way To Overcome Them by Louise Hay years ago and I am so grateful! This book explains the connection of how our emotions effect our body and how they show up. It also provides affirmations for each ailment to help you create a high vibrational shift from what caused the ailment to begin with.
I’ll give you a very recent example. A few weeks ago I experienced a lot of stress and along with it came a lot of anger. Even though I was doing my best to continue to eat well and exercise along with taking my dance classes which is always a great emotional release, I developed a sty on my eye. Seriously NOT CUTE and I’ve never had one before.
I looked up the emotional cause of a sty in Heal Your Body and it stated, “Looking at life through angry eyes. Angry at someone.” This was exactly what was going on with me!!!!! I had built up so much unexpressed anger that it showed up on my eye. This helped me realize the forgiveness work that I had to do for myself and the other person. The affirmation for a sty is “I choose to see everyone and everything with joy and love.”
Here are more examples from Heal Your Body relating to emotions and skin…
Acne–Not accepting the self. Dislike of the self.–“I am a Divine expression of life. I love and accept myself where I am right now.”
Pimples/Blackheads–Small outbursts of anger.–“I calm my thoughts and I am serene.”
Whiteheads–Hiding ugliness.–“I accept myself as beautiful and loved.”
Eczema–Breath-taking antagonism. Mental eruptions.–“Harmony and peace, love and joy surround me and indwell me. I am safe and secure.”
2. Detox, Digestion & Diet
Healthy digestion and elimination has everything to do with beautiful skin! Even if you know someone who eats poorly and still has great skin, their diet lacking rich nutrients will affect their body negatively in other ways that you may not know of. Eating a diet high in alkaline forming foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables as well as specific grains such as quinoa and amaranth (organic preferably and here is why) greatly improve your overall health and your skin. Drinking alkaline forming beverages such as herbal teas, lemon water, and of course plenty of water creates a more alkaline body. This healing alkaline environment promotes the innate ability of our body to heal itself. It just needs help providing the right conditions. Here is a detailed list of alkaline and acid forming foods.
Eating a predominately alkaline diet also naturally detoxes the body. When we have acne or other skin aliments our skin is trying to rid the body of toxins by any means necessary. Steering clear of packaged and processed foods means that you will have to make more of your meals from scratch, yet eating simple whole organic foods is truly what nature intended.
3. Health & Hormones
Our hormones play a huge role with our body and of course our skin. I believe that the rise in acne and skin ailments in adults is due to processed foods and the use of plastic in everything. Plastic is the perfect example of “bad estrogens” that we come in contact with every day. These “bad estrogens” create hormonal imbalance as well as acne. Hormonal acne usually appears along the chin and jawline.
One supplement that I’ve been using to help rid the body of bad estrogens for the past few months is EstroBlock Pro which is a highly concentrated DIM supplement that also contains vitamin E and wasabi root. Estroblock Pro aids with hormonal balance and weight management.
4. Acknowledging the Influence of Media & Makeup
Having beautiful vibrant skin naturally without layers of foundation, concealer, highlighters, bronzers, and blushes is possible. For starters we must first really take into account that our perception of what skin should look like is tweaked because of media. Between makeup and airbrushing we don’t see enough of what natural healthy skin looks like on a daily basis. Comparing our natural skin to skin layered in makeup with airbrushing everyday is emotionally taxing.
What has helped me create a new perspective with my own skin has been simplifying my skin care regimen and fussing less about it as well as taking the One Week Makeup-Free Challenge. Not wearing even natural or mineral makeup allows your skin to breath and heal. Going makeup free for a week has helped me feel more comfortable with wearing less makeup in general because I feel better about how I look without it. It’s not the easiest transition, but it is a peace filled afterwards.
5. Soap-Free, pH Balance & Simple Skin Care
While working in cosmetic retail, skin care was my absolute favorite! I was always thrilled when representatives from different lines came in to teach us about their products, the ingredients, and what make them so unique. I wanted to learn as much as I could. The organic brands of course interested me the most, but I learned from every representative as much as I could regardless.
The ritual of cleanse, tone, treat, moisturize, and protect was the norm for a daily skin care regimen before I had the realization that maybe that was an overkill. Over the years I’ve weaned myself off the long system of skin care. I personally like to keep it super simple now by oil cleansing with oils high in linoleic acid (an acne prone skin angel) as well as weekly herbal steaming. You can also read more on chemical free skin care in this series.
One of the most important aspects of healthy beautiful skin is pH balance. The use of soaps on our skin completely disrupts our skin’s pH and the protective acid mantle. Once this imbalance happens we can develop skin issues. Read about The Importance of pH Balance in Beauty Products for more information.
Using soap even on our body has this same effect. You can easily create an all natural body wash with rhassoul clay. One of my favorite all natural body washes is 100% Pure Hydrating Body Wash. There are 17 naturally scented foaming body washes to choose from and they are pH balanced and most importantly soap-free. (They discontinued this “body wash” and replaced it with a “shower gel” which contains saponified coconut oil. I’m so sad about this, but thanks to one of my readers for bringing this to my attention. If you can find the original which I reviewed here anywhere go for it!)
6. The Chinese Face Chart
The Chinese Face Chart is absolutely incredible! It is the perfect way to understand what areas of our body may be experiencing imbalance based upon where our skin ailments appear on our face. If you have puffy bags or dark circles under your eyes, your kidneys are experiencing imbalance. Supporting your kidney health through diet, nutrition, herbs and plenty of water will not only aid your beauty but your health in a big way. Seeing a holistic health practitioner who understands this chart and how to support your health is even better. Approaching skin care and our health from a multifaceted system is the key to having desirable radiant beautiful skin.
Once we stop fighting our skin with harsh cleansers, suffocating it with chemicals and heavy makeup, along with taking our emotions and overall health into great consideration, our skin and our beautiful desires for it will finally be in sync.
Update… Organic Skin Care by Minimalist Beauty ~ i am AZUHA ~ Created With Oils High in Linoleic Acid
(Images by hayhouse.com, turbocharged.us.com, estroblock.com, thestudioacademy.co.uk, moutainroseherbs.com & doctoroz.com)
Tracy says
Love Louise Hay, got to see her a couple of times and she was phenomenal. Ive never heard of Estro Block, it sounds fascinating, I think I will give it a try, Thank you!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Tracy,
I’d love to see Louise Hay speak in person! I bet that was life changing. Thanks for you comment and hope your day is going beautifully <3
Alison says
I use a tinted SPF moisturizer every morning to protect my face. How does sunscreen fit into simplifying a skin routine?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Alison,
The topic of sunscreen in my opinion is very specific to each individual and their needs/lifestyle. My foundation has an SPF30 which I make myself. Do what you feel is best for your skin.
keisha says
love the article! very simple guidelines to follow!
Dawn Michelle says
Thanks Keisha! Hope you are having a wonderful week! <3
Kasia says
This all is so true! I have learnt how to deal with the work-related stress. My husband and me we love cooking, so it is natural for us to prepare our meals from scratch, though adding more veggies would be great! I have now started using oils to clean my face and can’t wait to get rid of all of the chemical body care products that I still have around me. However, we both have acne prone skin and suffer from acne, not serious one, but still. I can say that my major issue is how I see myself and as I mostly break out on the jaw line it’s probably the hormones! Do you take some tests before you start taking some medicine for it?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Kasia,
If you feel that you have major hormonal imbalances see a holistic doctor for guidance. Our bodies hormones are very complicated. Also hormonal birth control can really cause havoc on the body yet still a holistic doctor will be able to give all the specifics and guide you on the best path for your personal needs. I also think it’s awesome that you and your hubby enjoy cooking together. That’s a beautiful beautiful thing!
ScentualSoundtracks says
Everything is truly interconnected. Thanks for this detailed reminder!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi ScentualSoundtracks,
Thanks for your comment and hope you are having a beautiful day!
Lana says
Awesome article, I love how you tie a lot of your recent and past posts in here and provide more information. Also, that’s the most detailed face-mapping chart I’ve seen!
I have been having some terrible breakouts on my cheeks and jawline for the past year at least. I’ve addressed diet, etc. with my naturopath, but still they have been constant and it’s even worse because they scar my fair skin terribly. Recently, I have been feeling very stressed with school and seeing more physical symptoms with that. I did some research online about hormonal acne and found a blog article that included a discussion about magnesium. It’s been a while since I’ve taken a magnesium supplement and considering my stress/anxiety level (fellow students in health care fields, you know what I mean) and difficulty sleeping, it seemed like a good idea to add it back in again.
Around the same time I decided, after reading your article on high linoleic oils, to give oil cleansing a try again with grape seed oil and a microfiber cloth. (I had been using a probiotic soap that wasn’t doing a damn thing for me except taking off my makeup).
Lo and behold, my skin is clearing up and knock on wood is improving! I’m not sure if it was the magnesium or the oil cleansing, but I’m guessing the oil cleansing is helping my skin heal while the magnesium supplement is addressing the physical cause of the breakouts.
Now if only I could get myself to go to bed for longer than 6 hours of sleep! Ha!
Also I bought in the bulk section of the local grocery some relaxing herbal bath (made of herbs, like tea) and used it for the facial steam and it was heavenly. I gave myself an oil cleanse and left on Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel after. SOOO nice. I also use an ACV toner 2x per day (used those pH strips you recommended and found 1:4 parts is way too much vinegar!) with some lavender essential oil in it.
One last thing: Any tips for blackheads or previous posts I should check out? I have some very stubborn ones on my nose and in between my brows. Or do you think they’ll just go away with time if I keep up the oil cleansing?
Thank you! I love your blog!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Lana,
Thanks so much for sharing the tip on magnesium and also sharing your progress. I’ve found that oil cleansing with high linoleic oils and a microfiber cloth to help with eliminating blackheads and fading scars so give your skin time to see furthur improvement. I’ve found too that the less you do to your skin the more it has a chance to heal from any treatment so definitely spread them out.
Best wishes!
Kasia says
Thanks for sharing the advice on blackheads, meant to ask for it!
Kisha says
This is awesome!! Thanks so much!
Dawn Michelle says
You’re so welcome Kisha! Hope you are having a great day!
Dawn says
Just a small FYI…100% Pure body washes are not soap free. “Saponified coconut oil” is a fancy way to say soap. It means soap made from the chemical reaction of coconut oil and a caustic agent such as sodium hydroxide/lye. This does not in any way mean it is bad, it just isn’t soap free.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Dawn,
100% Pure changed there body wash and the formula! It is no longer a body wash and instead a shower gel. I’m not sure when they did but it used to be in a foam pump bottle and didn’t have saponified coconut oil in it. I’m a bit shocked. I wrote a review on their body wash awhile back and that formulation didn’t have soap in it. I’ll be removing this product from the article. Thanks for letting me know!
Aqeelah says
this was amazing thank you!
Dawn Michelle says
You are so welcome Aqueelah! <3
Julieaqsmith says
I just bought some books by Louise Hay for my kindle. Your blog has been amazingly helpful. I have been taking estroblock and using hemp seed oil and some other high linoleic acid oils and my skin is almost completely clear after being a real nightmare these past few months, especially June.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Julieaqsmith,
This is wonderful news! Wishing you only the best!
Lexie says
Hello Dawn,
I love your blog! I was wondering if Estroblock will also help body acne. After stopping the pill my skin issues came back with a vengeance and now I get some on my neck and upper arms. Every week I feel like it creeps lower and lower down my arm. Any ideas on how to treat this naturally?
All the best,
Lexie
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Lexie,
Estroblock will be helpful with balancing your body. I would also suggest really eating as clean as possible. Acne is often a symptom of excessive toxicity in the body trying to come out when other areas are not as equipped to do so. You can read more on nutrition here. Hope this helps and thanks for the compliment!
Sharice says
After reading your blog yesterday I immediately went to my Audible app and purchased “Heal Your Body”. I waited to download it until I got home and was on the home WIFI and briefly listened to it while dozing off to sleep. On the way to work this morning I started where I left off and by the time I was 10 minutes into my drive I was in love with this book! I use to be one of those people that sighed exaggeratedly every time I read someone saying that a blog or post of any kind on social media help them make life altering changes, to know saying I have learned so much and made so many beneficial changes in my life because of your blog! So to that I thank you..
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Sharice,
“Heal Your Body” is an incredible book. I love Louise Hay’s work and am so grateful for what I’ve learned from her. Also thank you so much for sharing this. It really means a lot to know that my work is having an impact on others in a positive way. Best wishes with everything!
Francesca says
I have been battling acne since my teenage years. I am now 30. I have tried numerous methods, starting with all of the harsh chemicals that the dermatologist recommended. When those didn’t work, I moved on to ACV, coconut oil, citrus products, the “Yes to…” line of products, local honey, a charcoal scrub, bentonite clay, etc. I actually really enjoyed using the bentonite clay with ACV, but I’ve neglected it recently. I am thinking about purchasing a DIM supplement, similar to the EstroBlock that you’ve recommended, along with saffron oil. Should I start these changes individually? I would like to be able to see which product is having what effect on me.
I also read your post about eating alkaline foods and viewed the list. How long would you recommend doing that for? Sorry if I missed that. What happens after you go back to all foods after detoxing with the alkaline foods?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Francesca,
One of the goals of gentle detoxing is that you actually improve the quality of foods you eat after the detox and continue the healing process. Once you actually feel how much better your body feels and looks after eating healthy whole foods, you will hopefully be more encouraged to continue this lifestyle. Everyone’s healing journey is uniquely their own. It depends on your previous diet and lifestyle as well as the level of wellness you want to feel.
I shared this article on gentle detoxing which shares a bit of my experience with it. I do feel that acne is a symptom of toxicity in the body. It is so crazy that doctors isolate and treat individual physical symptoms versus treating the body as a whole unit. I do think that trying one skin care addition to your regimen at a time helps you know a bit more on whether your body is responding well to it or not. Please note that when you detox that it is definitely possible to break out especially if other areas of eliminating toxins in the body are congested. I hope this helps some!