written by: Elysia Arseneau, staff writer
The New Year is almost here! The stress of the holidays combined with winter weather can often leave our hair and skin looking and feeling dry and drab. Here are 4 tips to start your New Year with your freshest face and best hair!
1. Remember the golden rule
Taking care of your skin and hair needs to be a two-pronged approach: use the right products on the outside while supporting from the inside. This means:
- eating plenty of fresh vegetables, lean proteins, healthy fats, fruits and whole grains;
- drinking plenty of fresh water;
- getting adequate sleep; and
- practising proper stress management, including getting enough exercise.
2. Use the right products
Most skin types will benefit from using gentle, fragrance-free cleansers and moisturizers, especially ones with no added dyes, perfumes, or parabens. When choosing shampoos, steer clear of anything that contains sulfates: they can strip your hair of its natural oils, they’re irritating for your eyes and skin, and they can contribute to frizz and split ends.
Here are some brands we recommend, and sell in-stores and online:
- NutriChem's Radiance (face cream)
- Le bar à savon (hemp milk soaps)
- Carina Organics (body lotions, hair care, baby products)
- Attitude (lotions, pregnancy skin products)
- Goddess Garden (sun protection)
- Andalou Naturals (facial cleansers, toners, and creams; body lotion; hair care)
- Green Beaver (face and body cleansers and creams, deodorant)
And here is an amazing recipe for a face mask by Registered Holistic Nutritionist Laura Mierzwa:
3. Supplement your diet
Every vitamin can be obtained by food, but often not in therapeutic doses. What’s more, some people have problems absorbing vitamins and minerals. (This is why supplements exist, to literally “supplement” the diet!) Here are some for skin and hair health:
Collagen peptides: Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body. It is a vital component of our skin, hair, nails, tendons, bones, ligaments, and connective tissues. Supplementing with collagen peptides has been shown to enhance skin moisture and firmness, improve signs of aging, and even decrease cellulite. Collagen peptides have also been shown to promote significant hair growth in women.
Look at the bottom of this post for a Pure Collagen coupon! Valid all of January 2016
Vitamin C: Vitamin C’s antioxidant properties and its role in collagen synthesis make it a vital molecule for skin and hair health. In short, vitamin C is anti-aging for brighter, healthier skin, and for promoting hair growth!
BioSil: Choline-stabilized Orthosilicic Acid has been shown to help in the formation of collagen and significantly increase hair strength and decrease hair brittleness. It supports hair, skin and nail health.
4. Find out what your skin and hair problems are telling you
Skin and hair are often overlooked as health indicators, but problems in these areas can show underlying issues that should be addressed. For example, acne can be an indicator of imbalanced hormone levels, rashes and dry skin can point to food intolerances and environmental allergies, and having multiple skin tags can indicate insulin resistance. There are also many factors that may be contributing to your hair loss, including iron levels, thyroid health, diets rich in sugar and carbohydrates, hormone levels, and vitamin D.
Contact NutriChem to set up your Body Chemistry Balancing Test or Re-test, or a Nutrition Consultation to discover what your skin might be saying about your overall health!
For more information on how our skin is affected by nutrition, register for our free, live, online webinar: "The Digestion-Complexion Connection."
