All the products in the world can’t do for your skin what natural and holistic health can do!
A lot of times we try to treat symptoms of our health issues without actually solving the root issue! For example, you can try 10 different moisturizers because your face is so dry, when in reality the issue could be that you’re not drinking enough water.
Drinking more water is such a simple fix, and way less expensive than buying fancy moisturizers!
That’s just one example of how you can learn to recognize what your body needs based on how your skin is acting. Read on to learn more!
These natural tips for glowing skin are effective, don’t need to cost you a lot of money, and are entirely non-toxic (unlike a lot of skin products and treatments)!
Just a heads up: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. As always, all opinions are entirely my own. Thanks for supporting me!
1. Use Toxin-Free Products
Essential tip for glowing skin #1: stop putting toxic chemicals on it!
Would you put gasoline on your face, or liquid plastic? Many mainstream makeup and cosmetic products contain petroleum products, phthalates (which are used to make plastic), chemicals that release formaldehyde, and other toxins!
Many of these chemicals are endocrine and hormone disruptors, which can mess up a lot of things, including your skin.
Skin is extremely absorbent, so much of what you put on it seeps through to your bloodstream. That means chemicals in products can also affect the thyroid, contribute to issues like infertility, and can even be carcinogenic.
Read my posts to learn how to easily find out whether there are toxins in your cosmetics, and how to find amazing products that are toxin-free!
2. Use A Natural Sunscreen
Getting some sun is good for your health so that your body has adequate Vitamin D. But it is really easy to overdose on sunshine, especially if you’re not protecting yourself with the right kind of sunscreen.
Spending too much time in the sun unprotected can lead to sunburn (obviously), but in the long-term it can also mean sun spots and skin cancer. These things definitely do not contribute to a healthy glow!
Unfortunately, most mainstream sunscreens contain chemical ingredients that are toxic to the body. And, many sunscreens only protect from one type of dangerous and cancer-causing UV radiation, not both.
Read my post on 7 Toxic Sunscreen Ingredients to Avoid, and check out the Top 6 Non-Toxic and Natural Sunscreens to fully protect your skin and keep your natural glow!
3. Eat Real Food
This is definitely one of the most important tips for glowing skin, because no number of skin products and treatments will make up for a poor diet. Cutting down on processed foods and sugar, while eating more varieties of fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, and healthy fats, is one of the best things you can do for your skin!
Some of the best foods for your skin include:
- Fermented foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, and kimchi
- Bone broth, either homemade or store-bought. It contains collagen and gelatin, which help skin to be smooth and firm
- Antioxidant-rich foods like green tea, berries, and other fruits and vegetables
- Healthy fats like avocados, coconut oil, and fish
- Herbs and spices like turmeric and cinnamon, for their antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties
If you have skin issues like acne, you may want to consider cutting out dairy, gluten, and sugar. These foods commonly cause inflammation in the body and can contribute to skin issues. You can find out if they might be causing you issues by cutting them out for a couple of weeks at a time and seeing whether your skin improves.
4. Take a Quality Probiotic
Probiotic supplements support a healthy gut microbiome by supporting the healthy and beneficial bacteria that live in it. The skin microbiome also has a delicate balance of bacteria that keeps it healthy. Antibiotic medications, antimicrobial soaps, and hand sanitizers can all throw off that balance.
Taking a high quality probiotic to take care of your gut microbiome, which will in turn help to support your skin’s microbiome.
I’m seeing a naturopathic doctor who recommends switching probiotics every bottle or couple of bottles, because different kinds will provide different needed strains of bacteria to the gut. It’s also important to know that not all probiotics are great for everybody. Do your research and consider consulting a health professional before you buy one. This post about How to Choose the Best Probiotic is a helpful starting place.
5. Supplement with Gelatin and Collagen
Gelatin and collagen are excellent for healthy skin, hair, and nails. Collagen makes up 70% of the protein in our skin, and 1/3 of the protein in the rest of our bodies!
Gelatin and collagen are also extremely beneficial for joint health, and for digestion. Both gelatin and collagen supplements are made up of amino acids that come from the bones and tissues of animals.
Bone broth is one way to consume gelatin, but you can also get gelatin and collagen supplement powders that can be added to drinks and smoothies, as well as cooking and baking!
Vital Proteins makes high quality gelatin and collagen powders that come from grass-fed beef. I highly recommend them!
6. Reduce Stress
This is another of the most important tips for glowing skin, because there are so many skin conditions that are triggered by stress!
When you’re stressed out, your adrenal glands produce cortisol, which increases sebum production and can cause acne. High levels of cortisol also causes inflammation which can lead to conditions like eczema.
Reduce chronic stress as much as possible in your life, and you’ll probably see your skin improve. That might look like creating some healthy boundaries and saying “no” to commitments more often. Or, you might need to take an honest look at your relationships and make some changes.
Eating well, incorporating more movement into your day, and sleeping enough will help your body manage stress much better. You may also want to prioritize more time for self-care. For ideas, I’ve written a post with 35 Self-Care Ideas to Refresh Your Mind, Body, and Soul.
7. Stay Hydrated
Is your skin dry, tight, or flaky? It’s possible that the remedy for your skin could be really simple – drink more water!
Skin is an organ made up of cells that require adequate water to function properly and stay healthy. Drinking 8 glasses of water a day is essential for your body to get rid of toxins and keep your skin healthy.
I started drinking a lot more water when I started carrying around a reusable water bottle with me everywhere. This Healthy Human Stainless Steel Water Bottle is my favorite. It keeps cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot for up to 24 hours. From experience, it doesn’t leak or sweat at all. And your drink never touches plastic.
Start taking a water bottle with you when you run errands, to work, and even to social events. It helps so much! Just please don’t buy single-use plastic bottles. And make sure your drinking water is safe.
8. Try Dry Brushing
Dry brushing your skin has many potential health benefits including giving you smoother, softer skin, a natural energy burst, and helping your body detox!
It involves getting a firm brush with natural bristles that you brush your skin with towards your heart. The bristles exfoliate your skin, and brushing helps your blood flow and gives your lymphatic system a boost.
This quality dry brushing set is available without a big financial commitment on Amazon. It comes with a soft bristle brush, a hard bristle brush, and a brush for your face.
I recommend Wellness Mama’s post about dry brushing if you want the full lowdown on what it is and how to do it!
If you have sensitive skin or eczema, dry brushing could cause some irritation, so be aware of that.
9. Get Enough Sleep
Beauty sleep is a real thing. While you sleep, your skin cells regenerate and heal!
Plus, while you sleep your cortisol levels from stress go down, which allows inflammation in your skin to go down. That’s why when you don’t get enough sleep you might have puffy eyes and more breakouts.
Disclaimer: Please keep in mind that I am not a health care professional. Please consult a professional health care provider before making changes to your lifestyle or if you have any concerns about your health.
6 comments
I love this! It’s all about giving your body what it needs— which is not junk! ❤️
Exactly! It’s so simple yet can be so challenging 🙂
These are all things I’m constantly telling myself I need to try. I feel like I get enough sleep and drink enough water, but i need to pay more attention to the toxins in the products i use. thanks for the info!
So glad you found it helpful! If you want more help finding non-toxic products, this post will help: https://uncommonlywell.co/wellness/natural-living/make-sure-personal-care-products-arent-toxic/
This is such a great list of ways to improve your skin. I absolutely love that they are focused on improving the whole body first and foremost. Our skin is definitely affected by our other choices like food. This is a really great post! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Our skin is absolutely so affected by our lifestyle choices. Thanks for reading and saying hi! <3