Hello, beautiful souls! Your skincare bestie, Morgan, checking in from the heart of Enlightened Beauty — where beauty, wellness, and a little bit of magic blend together.
If you know me, you know I’m all about connections. The mind to the body, the skin to the soul, and as you might have guessed from the title of this post – the gut to your skin.
Yes, you read that right! Clear, glowing skin starts from the belly — from that vast, intricate universe within us that is our gut. We usually don’t think about it much unless we’ve eaten something questionable, right? But oh, honey, it plays such a crucial role in our health and, yes, our skin’s vitality.
So today, we’re going to journey into this inner cosmos together. We’re going to learn about our gut-skin axis, understand the connection between our gut health and hormonal or stress-induced acne, and uncover how our gut could be the secret ally in our pursuit of beautiful skin.
Ready to embark on this exciting journey? Let’s dive right in!
Why Your Gut Matters in Your Skin Health
First things first, let’s discuss the ‘gut.’ It’s your digestive tract, the wonderful world inside your body responsible for breaking down the foods you eat, absorbing nutrients, and removing waste.
In this inner universe, trillions of microorganisms, collectively known as the gut microbiota, thrive. They’re not just squatters, these microscopic beings significantly influence our overall health. If this is a revelation, it’s okay—the power of the unseen often goes unappreciated!
But, what does this have to do with your skin?
The Gut-Skin Axis: A Biochemical Bridge
It all boils down to this thing called the gut-skin axis. This term refers to the biochemical signaling that happens between our gastrointestinal tract and our skin. When our gut is out of balance, it can manifest in several ways, one of which is our skin’s health.
If you’ve ever heard of the phrase, “you are what you eat,” you’ll understand how profound this connection can be.
Stress and Hormonal Acne: Cracking the Gut-Skin Code
Acne, oh the woes! It’s complex, just like our lives, right? Two pesky culprits we often deal with are hormonal and stress acne. Both have a surprising confidant: our gut. Let’s unravel this mystery a little.
Hormonal acne? It’s that unwelcome guest who crashes the party during hormonal shifts—think puberty, premenstrual phase, or pregnancy. But here’s the catch: hormones don’t just party on your skin; they mingle in your gut too. When female superstar hormone, estrogen, ebbs and flows, it can throw off your gut bacteria balance, causing inflammation and worsening acne.
Then, there’s stress acne. We’ve all had those “hyperventilate in front of the mirror” moments before big events, and stress plays its part. But there’s a twist: the real mischief-maker might be in your gut. Stress can shake up your gut bacteria, triggering inflammation and breakouts, all while also slowing down your digestion.
So, here’s the silver lining — by nurturing your gut health, you could manage hormonal and stress acne. How? Fill your plate with probiotics and prebiotics to balance your gut, and watch as inflammation decreases and hormone regulation improves.
Probiotics and Prebiotics: The Gut Health Superheroes
Enter probiotics and prebiotics. These aren’t just buzzwords in the health and wellness scene; they’re the key players in keeping your gut – and your skin – happy and healthy. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that contribute to a healthy gut, while prebiotics are their food source, keeping them thriving.
You can find probiotics in foods like yogurt, kimchi, and kombucha, and prebiotics in fibrous goodies like whole grains, bananas, and onions. But let’s be real—not everyone’s a kimchi fanatic or banana lover.
That’s where Glow Biome Gut & Skin Probiotic by Kuma comes to the rescue. This supplement is a game-changer, my friends. Glow Biome is not just any probiotic—it’s a clinically proven skin probiotic supplement designed with your gut-skin axis in mind.
Glow Biome Acne Probiotic
Glow Biome Probiotic
It packs a punch with 15 billion CFU of 6 probiotic strains, aiming to support better digestion and clearer, healthier skin from within. Plus, it’s also loaded with prebiotic fiber! All this goodness is wrapped up in a vegetarian delayed-release capsule to enhance potency. It’s like a care package for your gut and skin in one capsule!
Embracing probiotics and prebiotics in your lifestyle isn’t merely about enhancing gut health—it’s a step towards letting your skin reveal its true, healthy glow.
Glow Biome Probiotic
Glow Biome Probiotic
Gut Health for Clear Skin: Bringing It All Together
In the world of Enlightened Beauty, we understand that true beauty extends far beyond the skin—it blossoms from the inside out, and that’s where the gut steps into the spotlight. So, darling, when you’re savoring that crisp apple or sipping on soothing green tea, remember—you’re not just nourishing your body, you’re also feeding your skin.
It’s also important to recognize that everyone’s gut health is as unique as their skin. What works for one might not work for another. It’s always best to consult with a healthcare professional or a licensed esthetician (like yours truly) before making any drastic changes. With the right approach, we can tackle hormonal and stress acne at their roots, starting right in your gut.
So, here’s the heart of it all: beauty isn’t a regimen—it’s a way of life. And when we embrace our beauty from the inside, our outer glow can’t help but shine brightly. By harmonizing a balanced diet, probiotics, and prebiotics with your skincare routine, you’re not just striving for clear skin—you’re also fostering your gut health.
And as we’ve uncovered, the bond between the two is closer than we might think. Your next beauty secret might not be lurking in your cosmetics drawer…it might be chilling in your fridge, served on your dinner plate, or hidden inside that probiotic supplement you’ve been eyeing.
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
