Skincare is our obsession – we love reading the labels to find out all the magical things it will do to our skin! On our quest for the happiest, glowiest, healthiest skin, we’ve tried hundreds of skincare products, and some of them really are awesome! But the thing is, if there was a quick fix, we’re still yet to find it, and if it did exist, we’re pretty sure everyone would know about it. Great skin really is all about what’s going on in your body, which is why so many A-listers have great skin – they have the best dieticians and nutritionists feeding them exactly what they need for their best skin.
So, we decided who better to speak to than an A-list nutritionist – he’s the go-to guy for celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow and Maggie Gyllenhaal – Dr. Frank Lipman, author of How to Be Well and founder of The Well. Dr. Frank Lipman’s experience in health is truly unique; he’s studied everything from nutrition, acupuncture, Chinese medicine, and herbal medicine, to Western medicine, meditation, and yoga. So, we spoke to him to find out what he believes makes the biggest impact on our skin, and how we can combat them.
Dr. Lipman told us that “Skin is a direct reflection as to what is going on internally, so the three key factors are proper hydration, a healthy diet/ lifestyle, and getting adequate sleep by minimizing stress, daily.” Fortunately, proper hydration is easy enough to address, you just need to make sure you’re consuming at least two liters of water a day (more if you exercise). Our tip for drinking more is to always keep a water bottle with you, and set yourself targets, like finishing a bottle of water by lunchtime. If you’re not a fan of water, check out these super delicious detox water recipes, which will keep you hydrated while also giving you a dose of healthy vitamins and antioxidants.
Stress, however, can feel harder to address, and while we know that stress can cause us to break out, apparently it can also “cause the skin to look dull and unwell.” Dr. Lipman explained that “our mood can actually directly impact how our skin looks… So focusing on keeping stress under control is vital to radiant skin.” We’re firm believers in five to ten minutes of meditation a day, which not only helps to relieve stress but over time, it teaches you to handle stressful situations with greater clarity so that eventually, few things will actually stress you out. Check out these five things to do in the morning to have the best day ever.
Of course, not getting a good night’s sleep can make most of us grumpy, so proper sleep is imperative. Dr. Lipman also explained, “if you lack sleep, your skin does not fully repair. So you should aim to get 7 to 8 hours every night.” He suggested a few simple steps for a better night’s sleep
1. “Practice an electronic sundown” – This means detoxing from your phone, tv, and laptop! Artificial blue lights from these devices can disrupt your body’s ability to release sleep-inducing hormones. Try putting your phone on silent and setting your alarm an hour before bed, then take this time to do your skincare routine, read a book or organize yourself for the next day, instead of watching TV or endlessly scrolling Instagram.
2. “Try some restorative yoga before bed” – Yoga can be so relaxing and helps the body unwind, as the mind focuses on poses instead of stress levels.
3. “Do a 10-minute guided meditation to relax” – Meditation can be super relaxing (we may have fallen asleep during, sometimes) as not only does it help you to de-stress, which is often a factor that keeps people awake, but the intentional focus on deep breathing also helps encourage sleep and calm the mind and body. Meditation can also promote the release of mood-boosting hormones, and according to the Journal of Neuroscience, meditation can even deliver pain-relieving chemicals to the brain
4. “Eat your last meal at least 2-3 hours before getting into bed” – This gives adequate time for your food to digest, while some foods can even cause reactions that affect your sleep cycle and the quality of your sleep.
5. “Make sure to remain hydrated always!” – It sounds weird, but dehydration can make your nasal passages and mouth dry, which leads to dryness of the throat and discomfort while you sleep. You also lose fluids while you sleep via your breathing and sweating, so drinking lots of water throughout the day will help keep hydration up and also make sure you’re more focused and alert the next day. Make sure to space out your fluid intake throughout the day, as if you drink too much before bed, you’ll need to wake up for bathroom trips.
As well as sleeping well and managing stress, it’s what you put in your body that makes a huge difference to the health of your skin. We’re not suggesting you drastically change your diet, but aiming to eat healthily for at least five days a week should be the aim, and including superfoods in your diet is crucial.
Dr. Lipman says “Collagen is my go-to recommendation for luminous skin. Additionally, foods rich in antioxidants and omega 3s are essential.” So stock up on collagen, drinking a sachet a day is super easy and SO good for your skin, and eat berries, which are rich in antioxidants and don’t contain a lot of sugar that many other fruits contain. Cod liver oil supplements or fresh salmon are also easy ways to incorporate omega 3s into your diet.
And finally, the question you’ve all been wondering, we asked Dr. Lipman what are the worst foods that negatively impact your skin: “Sugar, simple carbs, any fake or junk food, and alcohol.” These foods can not only irritate your digestion and cause inflammation in your body, but they can also drain you of energy. Instead of buying packaged foods, try to eat simple foods close to their natural state.
So, while following these five skincare rules is essential to maintain your skin on a daily basis, ensuring that you also eat healthily, live happily, and sleep deeply, is also the key to having your best skin.
For more health, wellness, and nutrition advice from Dr. Frank Lipman. Let us know if you guys want to see more posts like this in the comments below.
