Top 3 Natural Skincare Tips

In today's daily norm, it’s unfortunately way too easy to get caught up in the cycle of constantly being on the go. Just like our morning coffees, we often search outside of our homes to find the perfect beauty fix. We feel the need to book appointments (that we often rush to and from) in order to get that temporary beauty fix that we all need from time to time. But what if I told you that some of the best long term beauty hacks are located inside your own home? Try out these 10 at home beauty tips and tricks to truly bring out the YOU in bea(you)tiful: 1. Make time for yourself and your coffee Whether this means getting up a little earlier or skipping your morning scroll through social media, rushed mornings are stressful and will not only drain your emotions, but also your overall beauty. 2. Meditate I'm sure we’ve all heard the of it and are familiar with the typical excuses of whypeople deter from doing it. You don’t have to be spiritual, nor a professional nor carve out too much time from your day to do it. Just give yourself some time to breathe. Breathing increases the oxygen flow within your body, which in turn rejuvenates your skin, slowing down the process of aging. 3. Start your day with warm lemon water Life gave us lemons, so why not make use of all their vitamins? This combination helps to replenish and balance our skin cells, leaving them firmer and tighter. Essentially, it’s the best way to achieve the appearance of plump, rejuvenated skin and a healthy glow! 4. Invest in a silk pillow case Yes, you deserve it! Combined with a cup of Organika’s Serenity, not only will your body thank you for the 5-star sleep experience, but you’ll also find your hair to be less frizzy, and your skin to appear smoother. Thanks to the smooth texture, silk doesn’t absorb any moisture from your skin, leaving it more hydrated (& making your bedtime serum more effective). 5. Don’t underestimate the power of chamomile Not only does it make for a nice moment of calm before bed, but it also works as a great de-puffer! Place a few damp teabags in the fridge overnight and apply them to your eyes in the mornings to sooth out puffiness. 6. Practice Posture Did you know that the way you hold yourself can actually make you appear more beautiful? Good posture helps to keep our joints aligned, reducing aches andfatigue, and also lengthens our appearances. While its easier said than done, there are plenty of quick and easy posture workouts to follow at home, online! 7. Scalp massages We put our heads and minds through a lot in a day, the least we can do is show them some love in return. This can be done while stuck in traffic or while waiting foryour morning brew. A little bit will go a long way and I promise that your hair will thank you in inches for the increased circulation and blood flow you give it. 8. Smile! Call me cheesy, but your smile will forever be your prettiest asset. I am not here to tell you to hop on the influencer bandwagon and get one of those blue light whitening tools. However, I will advocate that you show off your smile more. While it is true that a whiter smile can enhance your appearance, adding a teaspoon of activated charcoal powder with water until it turns into a paste and brushing for a couple minutes prior to your normal routine will do just the trick. Now you can show off those pearly whites! :) 9. Unplug It's easy to get caught up in the cycle of always being online, but the best you can do is be mindful of your screen time before bed. Give yourself at least 30 minutes of off time before you sleep. The next best piece of advice is to invest in a pair of blue light glasses. 10. Practice Positivity Last but not least, and my favourite beauty tip of all times - the ultimate PP: Practice Positivity! As silly as it sounds, standing in front of the mirror and appreciating yourself will have a stronger impact on you than your 10 am facial appointment. I promise. Wishing you all a beautiful and healthy stay at home!

As we age, our skin wrinkles, thins out, and may lack that ‘youthful lift’. Our joints become stiff and wear and tear can occur with any activity. Although aging is inevitable, thanks to research we continue to find more ways to add ‘grace’ to the aging process. Nowadays, fillers and Botox are a pricey, and sometimes a risky route many individuals will take to sustain youthful looking skin. Creams, lotions and serums can be priced in the thousands, with promises to reverse aging. It can all add up and become not only incredibly expensive, but in some cases not as effective as promised. What if I were to tell you that beyond a balanced daily diet and lifestyle, certain supplements can have a HUGE impact on the way your skin ages and your joints feel? Collagen is an important component of our skin and other tissues, and it needs a few key ingredients to stay strong, plump and glorious. Hyaluronic acid is one of those key ingredients! Hyaluronic Acid Hyaluronic acid (HA), is a naturally occurring substance in your body. HA attracts and holds onto water molecules, and in turn, acts as a natural lubricant for the joints and an internal moisturiser for the skin.1 More than half of our natural HA is found in skin tissues,2 and the rest is abundant in our joints, blood vessels, eyes and more.1 As we age, our natural stores of HA decrease, and this is seen in features of our skin such as wrinkles, which become more noticeable due to the loss of moisture.1 Supplementing with Hyaluronic Acid Taking a HA supplement daily is a targeted way to help with the health of your skin while aging, as well as keeping our joints in tip top shape! HA, alongside collagen supplementation, is a dynamic duo that will promote growth and stability in your tissues. The collagen in your skin needs to be well hydrated to maintain good flexibility, which allows it to avoid being easily broken down. Supplementing with HA is a good daily practice as it degrades quickly in our body3, so replacing it is key. Shop Hyaluronic Acid Summing it up Adding HA alongside a collagen supplement is a great way to boost the overall health of your skin and joints. Eating a diet rich in nutrients, and low in processed foods/sugar, will only compliment this process further. Just like any other supplement regime, it is always a great idea to talk to your healthcare provider before making any major changes. Be happy, be healthy and age gracefully! Amy Wilson References Papakonstantinou E, Roth M, Karakiulakis G. Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging. Dermato-endocrinology. 2012 Jul 1;4(3):253-8. Reed RK, Lilja K, Laurent TC. Hyaluronan in the rat with special reference to the skin. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica. 1988 Nov;134(3):405-11. Fraser JR, Laurent TC, Engström‐Laurent A, Laurent UG. Elimination of hyaluronic acid from the blood stream in the human. Clinical and experimental pharmacology and physiology. 1984 Feb;11(1):17-25.

You have heard it before, and I am going to say it again: we are what we eat! That means we should think about food for clear skin, and not just creams you can buy on a shelf. When it comes to the health of our skin, there are foods we should consider eating that will contribute to healthy, beautiful, and glowing skin. Our skin is one of our largest organs, and keeping it well fed is essential in keeping it healthy. So what types of food for clear skin should you include? Building blocks: starting with the essentials Protein is essential in our diet. It is important for building tissues and organs all around our body including our skin! Protein is made up of hundreds of smaller units called amino acids. When it comes to the proper building of our skin we need to obtain certain amino acids such as glycine, glutamine, tyrosine, and proline among others. We must obtain these amino acids from the diet because we are unable to make them ourselves. These amino acids work together to build up the collagen and elastin in our skin and tissues, giving us that firm, plump look. Sources of foods you can find these amino acids in are: Complete proteins such as eggs and fish Collagen powders Combining protein sources such as whole grain rice and beans may be a good option for vegetarians and vegans. Vitamin C This powerful vitamin has loads to do with skin health! Vitamin C is an important tool that your body uses to build collagen. Collagen production in your skin would just not happen without vitamin C; it really is that important! This vitamin is also a very powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants are great at preventing oxidative damage within our cells, which can lead to skin damage. Vitamin C is a MUST in your daily eating regimen/routine! Foods that contain high levels of vitamin C include: Kiwi fruit Red bell pepper Parsley Broccoli Lemons Acerola If you are looking for an easy source of antioxidants, and to include nutrients from some of the foods listed above, check out Organika's Plant-Based Collagen Booster. Removing toxins When it comes to the health of your skin, the health of your internal organs can drastically impact what shows up on the surface. Many common skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, acne, and chronic dry skin, begin in the gut. When our body does not agree with certain foods we eat, or life stress we face, it can eventually show up on our skin. This has to do with how our body rids itself of toxins and other chemical burdens that can build up in times of stress and poor diet choices. Our intestinal track has an important job of absorbing vitamins, minerals and food as an energy source, as well as in eliminating waste. If the health of your gut is compromised, then it will not be able to perform these tasks efficiently. Eventually, this can appear in the health of your skin. Another major contributor to the detoxing process is through the actions of our liver. Think of the liver as a big filter! If that filter is not working properly, we will see issues in other body systems such as the skin. Our liver plays a major role in our skin health, as it is one of the ways our body gets rid of toxins. Gut and liver health play such a vital role when it comes to the look and health of our skin. There are many foods that can help support these two important systems, such as: Artichoke Garlic Grapefruit Oatmeal Broccoli Cabbage Sprouts (alfalfa, radish, mung bean) Turmeric Hydrate! Our skin loves some good hydration. When your skin is properly hydrated it will appear more firm and plump, as well as show a nice little glow. Dehydrated skin can show more signs of aging and may produce more oils in defense of the dryness. Besides drinking lots of filtered, clean water, there are many foods that are packed full of vitamins and minerals, as well as water. These foods are a great way to hydrate during the upcoming warmer months. Some great hydrating foods are: Watermelon Spinach Cucumbers Lettuce Tomatoes A well-balanced diet goes a long way when it comes to the health of our skin. Besides the diet alone, there are many other avenues to tackle when it comes to skin health. Stress can wreak havoc on our skin. Finding a way to mindfully meditate can help to reduce consistent stress. Exercise is an amazing way to help promote healthy glowing skin. Increasing your heart rate and getting that circulation going will do wonders for your skin. Minimizing exposure to air pollutants. This includes smoking and harmful cleaning products and is important so that your skin and pores can breathe freely. Stay away from antibacterial products. Your skin has loads of friendly bacteria that not only keep you healthy internally but keep your skin healthy too. Antibacterial products are beginning to leave the shelf and more natural alternatives are becoming more readily available to the consumer. Check out your local health food store for more natural beauty cleansing products to promote the health of your skin. Feed your body right and your skin will thank you. These are just a types of food for clear skin that you can include in your diet. You can speak with your Naturopathic Physician to help you with a more customized skin care regimen. Stay hydrated, eat your veggies, be healthy, be happy! Amy Wilson Amy is a certified nutritionist with over 7 years of experience working in the health and fitness industry. She is currently in her third year as a Naturopathic Medical Student and has a special interest in gut and brain health. Find her on Instagram: @amy_kwilson