Clean beauty is becoming a more popular topic, and thankfully so. It is important that we are aware of the things that affect how well our bodies endure this life, and how we can optimize it’s function, so that we are able to enjoy as much of it as we can, for as long as our bodies’ allow.
With more awareness about health and wellness circulating, it can feel daunting to have ANOTHER thing to think of to keep ourselves well. But for better or worse, what we do daily has powerful effects over time, and awareness is our best tool.
Unfortunately, the skin care and makeup we use every day not only irritate the skin but often contain a host of known carcinogens and endocrine disruptors that negatively affect our hormone and immune systems.
Some of us will experience the effects of these exposures more acutely than others, but without question, we are all affected in some way over time.
Our bodies are incredibly resilient and are constantly working to maintain the fine balance of homeostasis. Producing and metabolizing sex hormones, balancing the effects of stressors on our nervous system, digesting our ‘comfort foods’, detoxifying pesticides, air pollution, alcohol, etc…. it’s not an easy job for the one body we live in.
The body eventually gets overloaded, and can no longer sustain the increasingly demanding workload we are asking it to take care of. The more we ask of our bodies, the less effectively it can maintain its happy balance.
Over time, the main organs of elimination that process toxins (the skin, liver, kidneys, and digestive tract), start to show the burden. Eventually, our bodies are weighed down by a chronic inflammatory state, affecting our entire immune and hormone systems. As our ability to detoxify weakens, we become more susceptible to a range of illnesses including auto-immune diseases, allergies, and even cancer.
Despite my education in holistic health, I have to admit I was late to the party on switching to natural products.
I was conscious of what I was putting IN my body and discarded the seemingly minor external toxins I was putting ON my body. I was comfortable with my routine and wasn’t interested in moving away from my preferred skincare and makeup brands. What changed for me, was that I started to see more and more patients with hormonal imbalances, immune disorders, and skin concerns (acne, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis).
I started to question why we wouldn’t make the effort to minimize the burden on the body.
A common concern is that natural products just don’t work as well, or smell as nice. Luckily clean beauty has come a long way and there are now several great options to choose from (especially here in Vancouver). There are also some great apps, such as Healthy Living or Think Dirty, that make it easier to decide which products to stay away from, as they will measure the severity of toxic ingredients contained in certain products.
Remember, 26 seconds is all it takes for the chemicals in your personal care products to enter your bloodstream.
It’s time to start paying attention to your skin from the outside in.
– Dr. Brett Simpson, ND
For more information regarding clean beauty, skin health, and optimizing hormone and immune function, book a consultation with Dr. Brett Simpson, ND by visiting our website at theiv.ca or call us a 604-974-8999
