Skinspiration...The Big 6

*Disclaimer; All work produced in this skinspiration blog is owned by Nicole Webb, with copyrights to La Beauté Ltd.  

The skin is made up of many different layers, all of which play an important part in keeping the skin healthy and resilient. When we work topically with the skin we can achieve amazing results. However, this is really only half the picture, we must work internally also!

If we think about how many layers there are to the skin you begin to see that it is very difficult for the topical products to reach those deeper layers. It is imperative to keep these deeper layers happy and healthy, as they are feeding the surface of the skin and will eventually work their way to the top.

So when we think of “feeding” or treating the skin it is important to work from both the inside and the outside. A little bit of what you do topically will work its way down and a little bit of what you do internally will work its way up – so you can see by doing both you have things covered from all angles.
A lot of skin conditions stem from the inside, and I believe that the skin is a mirror of what is happening on the inside. If there is an imbalance internally this will show through to your skin!.
There are six vital nutrients that we need to address when working with internal skin health:

1. Water
2. Essential Fatty Acids
3. B Complex Vitamins
4. Vitamin A
5. Vitamin C
6. Zinc

Water  
Water is essential for the healthy function of your body as well as your skin. It promotes enzyme activity.
 Enzymes are like pac-men that sit under the surface of the skin and eat away at old skin cells, enabling us to naturally shed these old (near dead) skin cells. In order for enzymes to function normally however, they need water. Water also encourages the penetration of actives from skincare products, as well as being the key component in creating a radiant glow in the skin.
1-2 litres of water a day is recommended, any more can be damaging as it can flush out water-soluble vitamins and minerals. This can lead to becoming deficient in vital vitamins and minerals. It is also important to try and reduce or counter your intake of diuretics such as caffeine and alcohol. 
 

EFA’s  - Essential Fatty Acids
EFA’s are essential for cellular health and this includes our skin cells. EFA’s are responsible for; providing a lipid (oil) layer in the skin, that in turn provides a vital barrier that protects the skin by stopping the passing of ‘substances’ in/out of the skin. It is also a great anti-inflammatory and hydrator along with ensuring that sebum that comes from our follicles/ pores flows freely without blockages (congestion) 

B Complex
B complex is the overall title given to the Vitamin B ‘family'. Vitamin B work in synergy with your EFA’s – if you are low in B vitamins your body will not be able to utilise the EFAs effectively. Vitamin B is essential for many skin conditions including; rosacea, acne, eczema, dermatitis, hyper-pigmentation, sun damaged, ageing and dry skin – it is also a must-have vitamin for healthy, glowing skin! Although Vitamin B can be found in foods such as; nuts, whole grains, leafy greens and dairy products, it is often not enough and therefore a supplement maybe required. 
 

Vitamin A
Vitamin A is essential for healthy skin, it’s a proven wrinkle fighter and best of all, it is very readily available in our diets. Vitamin A; protects against UV damage; slows down signs of ageing, evens out skin tone; helps with acne; encourages healthy cell reproduction; protects against infection; and stimulates fibroblast (the mother cell responsible for making collagen and elastin). Vitamin A is found in foods such as orange vegetables – kumara, carrots, and pumpkin, (FYI: Mash is best as it helps to fully release the vitamins properties) eggs, dairy products, dark green vegetables, and orange fruit. It is not recommended to take a Vitamin A supplement without first talking with a health professional as too much can create risks. 
 

Zinc
Zinc is an anti-inflammatory and is crucial for any healing that needs to take place in the skin. It is especially beneficial in the treatment of acne as it not only helps calm and heal it also regulates sebum and the sebaceous gland and reduces scarring. Zinc is also vital for the formation of collagen, even a slight deficiency results in incorrect creation which in turn could create wrinkles and stretch marks. Zinc is commonly found in tuna, salmon, and oysters, along with hummus, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils and brown rice. Those that suffer acne or have slow wound healing should also be taking a supplement. 
 

Vitamin C
Vitamin C is vital as it plays a major part in production of collagen and elastin which in turn makes it a great anti-ager, along with being the holy grail when it comes to anti-oxidants. Vitamin C stabilises free radicals and helps to repair damaged cells, whilst accelerating wound healing and the strengthening of capillary walls.  Again we get plenty of Vitamin C from the foods that we consume as it is commonly found in fresh fruit and vegetables like red peppers, currants, parsley, kiwifruit, watercress, citrus fruits and broccoli.