Smooth skin! Is it just a dream, or will I ever have it? Some girls are just born with beautiful skin. I was not one of them.  I struggled, cried, stared in the mirror, and then cried some more. None of that helped my #bellaskin.

It didn’t help that every day I woke up to a new zit either. Was I destined to have scars, zits, and red marks the rest of my life? Around the early ’30s, I finally found the keys to smooth skin. It was a process of elimination. It also took trial and error. No one answer is right for every person. But one thing I learned along the way, you have to find your beautiful inner queen. It will make looking in the mirror a new experience. Read on to see what I mean.

What I learned is not written in a textbook, nor do they teach it in school. What I learned: Every skin cell is created “brand new” every 28 – 40 days. These skin cells need nutrients. These are nutrients that the skin cell needs to be healthy: Omega 3, Omega 6, Beta Carotene, Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Alpha Lipoic Acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Phosphatidylcholine (A must for every cell in the body).

I knew that between what I was using on my skin and what I was eating, there was not a chance for my skin cells to ever be healthy. I needed to change my nutrition and my skincare if I wanted smooth skin. The old light bulb came on, and then the cold hard facts.

Could what I am eating, drinking or not drinking affect my skin? YES

Could what I am eating, drinking or not drinking affect the acne on my face? YES

Could what I am using on my face fix my skin without changing what I eat? NO

Could what I do with my skin (pick, spread bacteria) affect the smoothness of the skin? YES

What I discovered is that all of the best skincare products in the world will not fix bad skin if you don’t change what you eat. You have to nourish your skin cells. Smooth surface doesn’t come from a daily spread of cheeseburgers, fries, and sodas.

Smooth Skin – You Can Have It Too!

So here are some tips. Some were gleaned from years of my own bad skin. Others were discovered after working on thousands of clients.

1. Drink water. Yes, I know you will whine about it, but water is the lifeblood of your body. Your body is 70% water, and you need half your body weight in ounces of water every day. The cells need hydration to stay plump and healthy.  The nutrition is also passed along to the cells via the hydration. Sodas, juices, and coffees are not water. Want to deprive the skin cells of getting nutrients?
2. Eliminate Sugar and Dairy. Yes, you will whine about this one. But there is a method to my madness here. You can always add it back in when your skin is smooth. Too much sugar interferes with the toxins in the body. Dairy seems to cause plenty of problems with the skin. Just try to eliminate both and see what happens.
3. Quit the Picking. By picking with dirty hands and fingernails, you spread bacteria. Sometimes the acne is caused by oil plugs, but more often than not, it is spread by picking. Once the bacteria spreads, you must extract one by one to achieve smooth skin again. Do you know how much bacteria is under a nail?  Also, forget the tissues either. You are drying out your skin. All of the blackheads, pimples, and zits will have to be extracted. If you don’t have a professional, attempt it gently. Don’t squeeze to bruise. It will not magically pop out. Use gauze, not your fingers.
4. Change Your Daily Nutrition. Wow, this is a novel idea. If I feed my cells, the nutrients that they need, my cells will be healthy? Not only will they be healthy, but you are going to feel better too. Sounds cliche, but forget the fast food, frozen food, white food, and nutrient-free snacks (i.e., potato chips, pretzels, etc.). Eat real food for smooth skin.
5. Take Vitamins & Supplements. Don’t know about you, but I know I am supposed to eat 5-7 veggie servings a day. That just doesn’t happen. I try, but when all else fails, take great supplements. Your skin cells need it. Also, don’t forget the Omega 3 and Omega 6.
6. Stop Drying Your Skin Out. Stripping your skin of all of the oil in hopes that the acne will go away will not solve the problem. It only causes the skin to hold on tighter to the toxins. Last week, I worked on a client whose acne breakouts were massive and cystic. She had used high levels of salicylic acid, glycolic, and lactic acid – not to mention the benzoyl peroxide. To even coax the skin to let go of some of the pimples, I first had to hydrate and hydrate the skin. The belief that if you dry it, it will go away is a MYTH.
7. Remove Artificial Chemicals & Fragrances. Try to get the chemicals and fragrances away from your body and especially your face. Your laundry detergent, soap, and even your clothing.
8. Use a Simple Skin Care Routine. Keep it simple until you discover what works.
   1. You need a good cleanser, one with small amounts of either glycolic, lactic or salicylic acid. Use morning and night.
   2. Need a scrub or a 2 in 1 scrub/mask. Not too harsh, you are not scrubbing pots and pans. The beads should be small, and I’m not a big fan of polyethylene beads. Apply the scrub/mask 3-5 times a week. Let stay on at least 5 minutes, but I know you are in a hurry. The longer, the better. Then gently rub in circles to get the circulation going. The more oxygen to the skin cells, the happier they grow!
   3. Introduce your skin to Vitamin A, C & E. Find it in a gel or a serum. It will change your skin forever. Not only will it help you heal the acne, but it will help with the scars.

Smooth skin is not easy, but you can have it. While you are on this journey for skin that is smoother, try to find your inner beauty queen. It helps you look in the mirror and feel better about you. Knowing that the inner self is loved goes a long way to happiness.

Have a question for getting smooth skin? Then you need to visit us at Bella Reina Spa.