7-Step Skin Detox Guide For a Clear, Radiant Complexion
Looking for a natural way to get healthier skin and a clear complexion? A skin detox is a great way to soothe irritated skin and maintain skin health as you gently eliminate toxins that cause issues like acne, redness, overly dry skin and signs of premature skin aging. Let’s explore the benefits of detoxing your skin with Ayurvedic remedies and holistic methods. You’ll learn the most important do’s and don’ts for radiant skin, and which parts of a healthy lifestyle should be part of your daily skin care ritual.
Want to know more about holistic remedies like detox, hormone health, and nutrition? There’s a place for you inside the Superwoman Circle.
A full-body detox can help clear your skin
Detoxing your body can help improve the look and feel of your skin, supporting your natural skin barrier and helping to maintain healthy skin. A good detox can help boost collagen formation in the skin, reduce pores and redness, and help rid the skin of toxins that may be causing breakouts.
You can perform a skin detox several times per year, depending on your toxic load and your individual skin needs. Be careful not to strip your skin of its beneficial oils and barrier protection while detoxing your body, and always pay attention to signs of discomfort when making any changes to your daily routine.
Add CollaglowC to your daily skin routine to boost antioxidants and collagen production naturally.
How your body gets rid of toxins
Your skin is actually your body’s largest organ, and plays a key role in supporting natural detox, a process your body is constantly working on.
The various toxins you’re exposed to from food, water, stress, regular metabolic function—and just existing in our modern environment—need a healthy way to exit the body. One way they do this is through the skin via sweat and oils on the skin’s surface (1).
A skin detox provides a way to reduce toxicity while reducing some of the side effects that toxins leaving the body can have, like redness, irritation, acne, and oxidative damage that can cause premature signs of aging (2).
Read more: 3 Detox Methods That Actually Work
Benefits of skin detoxification
You can begin the skin detox process a few times yearly, or more if you feel necessary and it’s not too harsh on your skin. Skin detox provides multiple health benefits including:
- A more even skin tone
- A more youthful appearance
- Reduced inflammation
- Reduced appearance of blemishes
- Improved complexion and a brighter skin tone
A skin detox can also help whether you’re experiencing a flare up of psoriasis or eczema, or just want to work on improving the feel and appearance of your skin overall. A skin detox isn’t painful, and should not be practiced in such a way that harms your skin’s natural function.
Related: Simple Liver Detox (+ a Cleansing Smoothie!)
A balanced diet is essential
First and foremost, getting a healthy diet dialed in is the foundation of any good skin detox. Your diet should contain simple, whole-foods, with plenty of proteins, fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats.
Avoid sugary foods and processed carbohydrates, plus inflammatory fats in fried foods and oils, especially if you have acne prone skin. These foods cause breakouts even for those not prone to redness or acne.
Foods high in antioxidants and vitamin C also repair damaged cells in your skin and help boost collagen production. This improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and skin elasticity. Foods high in antioxidants include:
- Blueberries and raspberries
- Nuts and seeds
- Matcha and green tea
- Artichokes
- Dark chocolate (at least 70% cacao)
- Goji berries
- Cabbage
- Red beets
Related: 5 Anti-Aging & Antioxidant Foods for Glowing Skin
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
Clear, healthy skin starts from the inside out. Drinking plenty of water helps to detox your system and improve your skin’s appearance by flushing out toxins, hydrating cells, and keeping everything moving throughout your body.
A good rule of thumb for water intake is to aim for half your body weight in ounces, so if you weigh 160 pounds, you should be drinking at least 80 ounces of water each day, or 10, 8 oz glasses. You can also get your water intake from herbal teas and detox waters, which are a great way to add antioxidants and other nutrients to your diet while hydrating your skin.
Exfoliate dead skin cells
Part of regular skin detox is getting rid of old skin cells that can accumulate on the surface and clog pores. Exfoliating two to three times per week can help improve the appearance of your skin and prevent breakouts by keeping pores clear.
There are many ways to exfoliate the skin, including using a physical scrub with exfoliating particles or other ingredients, or using an enzyme peel that dissolves dead skin cells.
Detox facial
A detox facial is a type of facial that helps cleanse the skin and get rid of impurities. These facials usually involve steaming, exfoliation, and some form of massage. This can be done at home with a detoxifying mask or at a spa by a professional.
Detox facials can help improve the appearance of your skin by getting rid of dead skin cells, unclogging pores, and hydrating the skin. They can also help reduce stress and promote relaxation.
Apple cider vinegar detox bath
Who says a detox should be difficult? A warm, relaxing bath that draws impurities from the skin is an excellent way to support a whole-body skin detox. When I have time, I like to incorporate this to soothe anything from a sunburn, to any irritation, to just dry, itchy skin.
To get an apple cider vinegar bath started, run a hot (or warm) bath, and add 2-3 cups of apple cider vinegar. Soak for 20-30 minutes, and rinse off with cool water afterwards.
Apple cider vinegar also makes a great clarifying rinse for your hair, but you’ll want to make sure to rinse it out afterwards to return the pH of your hair back to normal, as ACV is quite acidic.
For more nourishing hair masks, you can check out these!
Oil massage
Ayurvedic medicine recommends oil massages for detoxing and rejuvenating the skin. This helps improve circulation, lymphatic drainage, and detoxification.
Abhyanga, or traditional Ayurvedic massage, soothes and nourishes your skin by cleansing dirt, toxins, and other irritants from your pores. Abhyanga is also a great way to reduce stress, minimizing negative effects that might appear on the skin. You can do an oil massage at home by using a warm oil like apricot or jojoba. Apply the oil to your skin in circular motions and massage for five to ten minutes. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.
Repeat 1 to 2 times per week to balance skin pH and keep yeast, eczema, and other skin issues away.
Green Tea Antioxidant Mask
Matcha is a fine powder made from ground leaves of a young green tea plant. It’s super rich in antioxidants and polyphenols that are great for the skin (3). Bentonite clay also helps lock in moisture, and should leave your skin feeling smooth and hydrated.
- 1 teaspoon matcha green tea powder
- 1 teaspoon raw honey
- 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
- 1 teaspoon bentonite clay
Mix all ingredients together until creamy, and apply to the face in an even layer. Let dry, and rinse off after about 15-20 minutes.
Want more DIY home face masks? Here are my favorites!
Facial Gua Sha
Gua sha is a traditional Chinese medicine practice that involves scraping the skin with a tool to improve circulation and promote healing.
Facial gua sha can help detox the skin by improving lymphatic drainage and circulation. It can also help reduce wrinkles, fine lines, and puffiness.
To do facial gua sha, you will need a gua sha tool and a lubricant like oil or lotion. Apply the oil or lotion to your face, and use the gua sha tool to gently scrape the skin in upward motions. Start at the neck and work your way up to the forehead. Do this for five to ten minutes, two to three times per week.
Learn more ways to combat inflammation that causes premature aging.
More tips for healthier skin
Reduce smoking and alcohol consumption
Especially as you age, your body doesn’t metabolize alcohol as efficiently and this can have a big negative impact on your skin. Excessive drinking causes your body to feel dehydrated and robs your skin of much-needed moisture. Smoking also accelerates aging as well as damages collagen and elastin.
Sweat it out
Sweating might not sound like the most glamorous thing to help you achieve healthy skin, but it’s actually a very important function to remove toxins and metabolic waste from the body. Whether it’s in a sauna or as part of your regular exercise routine, make sure to get in a good sweat sesh a few times per week!
Why you should detox your skin
Detoxing the skin is important for maintaining clear, youthful skin. There are many ways to detox the skin, including eating a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water, exfoliating dead skin cells, and getting a detox facial. You can also try an at-home oil massage or detox bath. Whatever method you choose, make sure to be gentle, and always protect your skin from the harsh daily elements like the sun and environmental toxins.
Resources