From Within

From Vogue Japan February 2013

Does this sound familiar? You see an ad for cosmetic company A's new miracle moisturizer that promises to even your complexion and brighten your skin in six weeks. Convinced it will work, you buy a bottle. Less than a month later, you're not seeing any results but your fave beauty guru is raving about the BB cream by cosmetic company B. So you go out and grab it. But then Hollywood's new it-girl swears by this other moisturizer you've heard of, and you figure "Hey, don't knock it 'til you try it."  By the spring you've got a medicine cabinet filled with half-empty creams and lotions yet your face isn't any bit clearer than the day you started this ridiculousness.

This, my friends, is what we call a product junkie. You've got so much stuff that you might as well have your own beauty counter at Macy's. I realized this about myself when I was packing for a trip last year. I was dead set on not checking any bags, so that meant stuffing my beauty and hair products into a tiny zip-lock. Daily face wash, gentle microbeads scrub, deep cleaning toner, soothing eye gel, balancing moisturizer, rejuvenating night cream, and makeup removal wipes. Sheesh, what a laundry list! To make a long story short, the bag ripped. I was so annoyed. But that got me to thinking... Maybe I'm going about this beauty routine all wrong.

When trying to fix things on the outside, we should probably start on the inside first. Whatever you're putting into your body is taking it's toll on your outward appearance. It makes perfect sense. If you eat a lot of greasy food, your face will look like a slice of pepperoni pizza. But other things that you think are good for you, may actually be causing breakouts too. Dr. Jessica Wu, dermatologist and author of Feed Your Face, says to cut the milk out of your diet. "Dairy products often aggravate acne in women of all ages" she explains. Milk and a lot of meats pack a great deal of protein and hormones that can have adverse reactions for your skin. It takes your body longer to break down protein which can lead toxins building up in your body and coming out through your skin. Also, there's a possibility you're drinking too much water. Say what?! According to Dr. Howard Murad and founder of skincare company Murad Inc, we should be eating more foods like zucchini and watermelon that have a high H2O content. Apparently, your body absorbs nutrients better when you're eating the water as opposed to drinking it.

I know what you're thinking, but don't rush to throw away your facial products just yet. Before you do,try incorporating a few new eating habits into your daily routine and see if your complexion takes a turn for the better. Oh, and cut back on the stress in your life. Those sleepness nights and comforting yourself with gallons of ice cream are resulting in dark circles and bags under your eyes. Not a good look, babe. Never underestimate the power of a good diet, exercise, and peace of mind. Clearer, healthier skin can be achieved as long as you're nourishing your body from the inside out. Let your beauty radiate.