Natural beauty tips Q: How can I get beautiful skin naturally without using all of the brand name products?
JVW: Beautiful skin starts from within. It is not about what you slather onto your skin, but what you put into your body that counts.
The essence of healthy skin begins with a diet containing a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids. Flaxseed oil blends the two nicely, but you can also achieve your own balance by eating foods rich in omega-3, such as fish and fish oils, and omega-6, like nuts, seeds, and various vegetable oils. One to two tablespoons of flaxseed oil daily should help if skin is dry, and adjustments can be made accordingly in the dosage after six to eight weeks. Always accompany essential fatty-acid supplements with 400 to 800 IU daily Vitamin E in the form of mixed tocopherols and, in a very few cases, 2 to 5 mg of biotin may be needed as well.
Zinc is another nutrient that is essential for general skin health. Fifteen to 30 mg daily of zinc, offset by 1 mg of copper for each 15 mg of zinc, is usually sufficient. Likewise, 1 or 2 grams of vitamin C daily to aid collagen formation, and 120 mg daily of Centella asiatica (standardized to 40 percent asiaticoside) to enhance connective tissue development also will be of benefit.
Sometimes referred to as Gotu Kola, Centella asiatica is an important botanical taken internally to promote skin health. Its use bolsters the development and maintenance of blood vessels in connective tissue, and boosts the formation of hyaluronic acid, chondroitin, and mucin, while increasing the tensile strength of the dermal layer of the skin. It also stimulates collagen-producing skin cells called fibroblasts and enhances the development of connective tissue. |
