A healthy skin starts from within

Nutrition is a hot topic. Intermitting fasting, vegan, keto, … magazines are filled with information about nutrition. It is a good thing that we evaluate what we put in our mounts, but why are we not critical about the ingredients we lubricate on our skin? After all, … A healthy skin is the foundation of a healthy bod.

Dreaming about a healthy body? Then try to be critical about the products and ingredients you use on your skin.  As heaviest and largest organ, making up about one seventh of our body weight (between 7 and 10 kilograms) and having a surface area of 1.5 to 2 square meters, the skin plays a crucial role in your overall healthy. The main function of our skin barrier is to protect us against harmful external influences. But it also ensures the production of vitamin D (that important vitamin that so many of us have a shortage of), it regulates the body temperature and removes waste. Your skin is like a protective “packaging” for your body.

But did you know that a large substance of your skincare products penetrate she skin layers and thus also plays a role in what is going on inside your body?

Oh yess … I’m not a saint … I also used products that where bad for my skin

From an early age on, my mother taught me to take good care of my skin. On a daily basis I covered my face and body with a rich amount of cream. An excellent habit which I thank my mom for! But of course, the question is: which cream did I use? In my younger years I didn’t think about the quality and ingredients used on my body. A nice packaging or gigantic sale made me buy a product, not the inside of the jar. This changed when I was pregnant with Michelle. Suddenly it felt very wrong to use creams full of chemical ingredients on my pregnant body. I had a deep urge to protect her from everything that could be harmful… this only became stronger when she suffered as baby from eczema. Nevertheless, how hard I searched, I did not find healthy products with a positive effect on both the skin and environment.  From that moment on, I knew … I had to develop healthy and nourishing skin care products, suitable for even the most sensitive skin.

Your skin is a mirror of your health

Dry spots, redness, acne and other skin issues are a reflection that there is something wrong inside your body. A lack of important vitamins and antioxidants can cause an unbalanced skin barrier, resulting is different skin problems. The secret for a radiant and glowing skin? Learn to observe your skin on a daily base and respond to its special needs.  Suffering from a dry skin? Give it an extra dose of hydration… tackle impurities with a soft scrub and a mixed skin with a facial lotion.

Knowledge is power

At SELF, we go for 100% natural and vegan. Our products are made only with the very best ingredients from Mother Nature. That means: no animal products, no artificial colors, no synthetic scents, no parabens or other chemical components.

Ps. Did you know that all of our products are dermatologically tested for sensitive skin? They have an irritation score of 0,00 – the perfect proof that our products are 100% safe and extremely soothing.

Ready for a short biology lesson? I would love to explain the benefits of our BIG 5 ingredients (cocos, macadamia, argan, shea butter & aloe vera). They form a strong team because they reinforce each other’s activities

Cocos

Antioxidants: Coconut is packed with antioxidants (vitamin E & C, polyphenol and phytosterol): powerful ingredients that fight free radicals and protects against premature aging.

The benefits on your skin:

• Helps against the inflammation of the skin
• Restores the skin barrier
• Promotes skin elasticity and protects against premature aging.

Macadamia

The biggest asset of macadamia? It’s rejuvenating effect and restoring power when suffering from skin issues. Macadamia contains a lot of substances that give your skin and body a major boost.

Essential Fatty Acids: Madacamia is rich in essential fatty acids that strengthen the skin barrier, keeping the skin moist and supple whilst fighting inflammation. A real must, because fatty acids are not naturally produced by the body.

• Palmitolieic acid: Palmitolieic acid decreases as we age, macadamia covers the deficit, slowing down the aging process
• Oliec acid (omega-9): promotes the regeneration process and keeps the skin hydrated.
• Stearic acid: minimize moisture loss, tempering dehydration. Very effective when you suffer from a dry skin.
• Linoleic & linolenic acid (omega-3&6): restore the skin and moisture balance.  

Vitamins:

• Vitamin A: cell renewal
• Vitamin B: Promotes the creation of the essential building blocks of the skin.
• Vitamin E: Stimulates skin renewal en the production of collagen.

The benefits on your skin:

• Smooths fine lines, wrinkles and fights the aging of the skin.
• Protects the moisture level of your skin.
• Healing effect for scars, sunburns, eczema and other skin irritations.
• Promotes skin metabolism and reduces stretch marks.

Argan

Amino acids, lipids, tannins and saponins:

• Amino acids: help to strengthen the immune system, maintain the skin’s hydration, resilience and an overall healthy appearance. They protect skin from free-radical damage and reduce signs of ageing.
• Lipids: They are essential components of skin and play a crucial role in maintaining the strength of the skin’s protective barrier, which holds moisture, protects the skin from damage and keeps dirt and impurities out. 

• Tannins: it acts as an antioxidant against free radicals. They also remove excess oil from pores without dying out the skin.
• Saponins: guards your body against fungi, bacteria and viruses.

The benefits for your skin

• Soothes the skin, reducing irritations
• Supports the regeneration of new skin cells, helping with skin issues such as acne, eczema and psoriasis.

Shea Butter

Shea Butter is used for ages to protect the skin and hair.

Powerboost of vitamins:

• Vitamin A: helps with cell renewal, improves the skin texture and concours pigment spots and wrinkles.
• Vitamin D: has a strong effect on scars and skin problems (like psoriasis, stretch marks, acne)
• Vitamin E: protects the skin cells and stimulates the production of collagen
• Vitamin F: rich in essential fatty acids that ensure proper hydration of the skin and restore the dry and rough skin.

Complex fatty acids: Shea butter contains a high level of complex fatty acids such as allantoin, cinnamomic, oleic acid, stearic acid, palmitoleic acid and linolenic acid. They replenish the level of lipids in the skin, which enhances the barrier function of the skin. Keeping your skin healthy and beautiful and protecting it from UV rays.

Allantoin:  promotes the healing process of the skin.

The benefits for your skin:

• Extremely hydrating
• Enhances the barrier function of the skin (stimulates the production of collagen, improves skin elasticity)
• Helps with inflammations and heals minor wounds.
• Stimulates new cell production (anti-aging)
• Combats wrinkles, fine lines and scars

Aloe Vera

Sterols and polysaccharides: have an anti-inflammatory effect, sooth the skin and help reducing irritation.

Amino acids, lipids, tannins and saponins:

• Amino acids: help to strengthen the immune system, maintain the skin’s hydration, resilience and an overall healthy appearance. They protect skin from free-radical damage and reduce signs of ageing.
• Lipids: support the skin barrier

• Tannins: it acts as an antioxidant against free radicals. They also remove excess oil from pores without dying out the skin.
• Saponins: guards your body against fungi, bacteria and viruses.

Enzymes: The enzymes, including alliasis, lipase and cellulase, break proteins into amino acids, providing energy for the cells in our body, including the skin cells.

Auxins and gibberellins: promote the healing process of the skin and have an anti-inflammatory effect. Beneficial when suffering from skin issues such as psoriasis, acne and eczema.

I hope this blog provides you the information you needed. If you have other questions, don’t hesitate to contact me!

Team SELF