3 Winter Supplements to Soften Dry Skin

Aside from drinking plenty of water and great moisturizing habits, what else can you do to help keep your skin soft and supple in the dry winter months? What about nutritional supplements to soften and plump dry skin? What can you take?

I do cater my skin nutrients to the seasons, just like we naturally eat more of certain foods in the spring and summer (more salads, smoothies, fresh, ripe stone fruit) vs. the fall and winter (hearty soups, root vegetables, warm whole grain cereals). In the summer I like to focus on adding nutrients to my diet that will help to detox my body and those that help to protect from sun damage and encourage repair. But when the weather outside is frightful...well not particularly, but it is cold, I stick with nourishing oils and good old vitamin C.

First, I add flax seed oil to my diet. It's a great vegetarian source of omega-3 fatty acids, great for skin health and for your nervous system. I did my own personal test with flax oil, and didn't find that it alone makes your skin softer, but I have noticed that it helps when I notice the first redness of an eczema break out. This makes sense for a couple of reasons. The omega fatty acids in flax oil have anti-inflammatory properties. Another benefit is that these fatty acids support a healthy nervous system. Maybe there is a link between an increased ability to cope with stress and better skin health? I am only throwing out ideas. I have been eczema free so far this winter - maybe it is from adding flax seed oil supplements to my diet? 

I also take evening primrose oil supplements, for the same reason as the flax oil, but they provide a different array of essential fatty acids that your body and skin can really benefit from. 

And third, vitamin C. Supplementing with vitamin C in the winter may not only help to keep your immune system strong, but it also can help out with your skin! Why? Because this vitamin is important for collagen production. Also, a few of the primary fall fruits, apples and pears, are not as loaded with vitamin C as other spring and summer fruits are like berries and stone fruit. If you just stick with an apple a day and cooked veggies instead of fresh salads you may be getting less vitamin C in the winter, just when your body may need more to get through cold and flu season and to help keep your skin soft and supple in the more arid weather! 

These are my three winter supplements to help soften and prevent dry skin. Do you rotate your skin healthy nutrients to suit the changes in your skin through the seasons.?

7 Simple Home Remedies for Smooth Skin

Large pores, dryness, blemishes, redness, the list of skin imperfections is daunting. There are a few perfectly pure and simple home remedies for smooth skin that you can use to combat all these issues from a holistic standpoint. I do not recommend giving them a try. I suggest making them a part of your regular beauty regimen. Infuse them into your daily life. Make them your beauty mantra. They are natural, well within any skin care budget, and they work.

1. Coconut oil. A jar of virgin coconut oil is a must have for any natural beauty recipe cupboard. I love this stuff. It is rich, smells like soft, creamy clouds (what I would imagine them to smell like), and it melts into your skin creating a perfect, moisturized surface. Coconut oil is high in vitamin E and antioxidants that your skin will love. Use it in coconut face mask recipes, rub it into dry, chapped hands in the winter, massage your feet with it after a foot bath, or give your neck and decolletage an easy smooth skin treatment. 
2. Milk baths. You will love making this home remedy for smooth skin a regular beauty ritual. Milk baths are great for keeping your skin soft and glowing. The idea behind this home beauty treatment? Milk helps to exfoliate your skin, while also nourishing and moisturizing with minerals and fatty acids. A creamy bath with three or four drops of lavender essential oil is also great for stress relief at the end of the day!
3. Your loofah. Use your loofah sponge. If you don't have one, get one for your body and try the facial loofah pads for your face. Why should you loofah, aka exfoliate your skin, to keep it smooth? Exfoliating will get rid of dead skin while also boosting circulation to the surface of skin, bringing nutrients to help replenish cells. Don't loofah daily, too much will dry out dry skin and can rev up your oil glands leading to more breakouts if you have an oily complexion. I suggest a weekly, very gentle scrub down as a general rule of thumb. 
4. Wonderful water. If you read beauty blogs and books then I am sure you've already heard this one. Drink water for clearer, smoother skin. Water will help flush out impurities so your skin never has to deal with them. I always thought of myself as a good little water drinker. Then a friend of mine, yes she has gorgeous skin and is a couple years older than me, told me I needed to drink even more (she was recommending a 3 liter minimum, which is a tough goal). Three days of her water drinking habits and it was amazing how much better my skin looked. Clearer, less redness, softer. I don't think there is any reason to stress out over your fluid intake, but when you think of it, drink a glass of water or herbal tea. Try to have a glass when you wake up, whenever you come home, that sort of thing. If you build up the habit, improving your skin with good old H2O will seem effortless. 
5. Nuts and seeds. Eat them for the minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Thank them for their healthy fats. For plump, smooth skin you need good fats, the kind you find in nuts, seeds, and coconut. 
6. Clay masks. No secrets here, I think clay masks are one of the most powerful home face masks that you can use. They are also incredibly inexpensive if you buy clay powder in bulk. Try out different kinds, mix your clay powder with water, milk, flower waters, essential oils, you name it. They really suck debris out of those pores, refining your skin at least temporarily, while also boosting circulation. Mountain Rose Herbs has a great selection. I am an affiliate, if you want to support me, then check them out at the bottom of my blog. You can also get clay powders at Whole Foods or any health food store.  
7. Green and white teas. Drink more tea. Green and white tea are loaded with antioxidants that will help to keep your skin healthy and young-looking. Antioxidants also means anti-inflammatory, which is a huge plus for sensitive and dry skin. 

What are your favorite home remedies for smooth skin? What works for you? 

Are Flaxseeds the Secret to Perfect Skin?

I'm not one to believe that there is any one solution for perfect skin, but eating the right foods can and will make a tremendous difference in the appearance and health of your skin, especially over the long term. If you were to ask me, 'what are some of the best foods to eat for healthy skin?', then flaxseeds would be one of my top picks. Why are these little, brown seeds such a powerful tool for transforming your complexion? Because they have the characteristics of a beautiful skin super food and then some - fiber, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals, and flaxseeds' special claim to fame, lignans.

Flaxseeds are, like other nuts, seeds, and whole grains, high in fiber. These seeds pack a nice little body cleansing punch with a combination of soluble and insoluble fiber as well as mucilage, which is going to help your body get rid of waste faster, a tidbit of knowledge from the University of Maryland Medical Center. A cleansing diet with plenty of high-fiber foods and lots of fluids is essential for keeping your skin clean and and free of congestion (aka blemishes). According to my home supply of ground flaxseed meal, 2 tablespoons supplies 4 grams of dietary fiber, which comes out to about 1/6 of your daily recommended requirement of fiber.

The essential fatty acids are another reason that flaxseeds are one of the best foods to eat to get perfect skin. They contain both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Those anti-inflammatory omega-3's are really valuable for healthy skin and a healthy heart. I am presently taking flaxseed oil supplements to see if there is a noticeable difference in my skin. No marked improvement yet, but it has only been about two weeks.

The magic, miraculous, shout from the mountain tops nutrient that makes flaxseeds the cream of the crop when it comes to foods for perfect skin is the lignans. Flaxseeds (not the oil but the actual seeds) are the highest plant source of lignans. What are they? Lignans are natural compounds that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, but more importantly they act as phytoestrogens. This means they mimic estrogen in the body. What does this have to do with your skin? Well, estrogen is the hormone that makes skin plumper and more elastic. The spike in estrogen during pregnancy is known for the 'pregnancy glow.' Likewise, diminishing estrogen production as a woman ages, especially around menopause, has a lot to do with skin becoming drier, thinner, and less firm.

Eating flaxseeds regularly may not alone create perfect skin, but making this beauty food a regular part of your diet, exercising, drinking plenty of water and maybe a few cups of herbal tea here and there, (and of course using all my amazing homemade face mask recipes!), may not be a bad idea when it comes to trying to improve your complexion and hold onto that radiant glow over the years.

I wouldn't suggest sitting with a spoon and a bag of ground flaxseeds and going to town. I do suggest throwing a couple spoonfuls on your yogurt with some fresh fruit or over your oatmeal. You can also add ground flaxseeds to your smoothies, baked goods, and your favorite pancake recipe. If anyone has any tasty flaxseed recipes or suggestions, please share!