Nutrient Boosters For Dull, Stressed Out Skin

Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror and wondered,

'where has my glow gone?'

When your skin just 'ain't feeling it', it could be due to higher levels of stress which deplete its ability to function normally. This can cause our natural cell shedding process to slow down, in turn making the skin look dull, grey and brittle. You might even experience an increase in acne breakouts and general sensitivity.

But don't let dull skin get the best of you; give your skin a nutrient boost and get back your glow!

1. Cleanse

Start out by gently cleansing the skin, with a mild cleanser and warm water (not hot). A great option is the Sweet Leilani Hawaiian Cleanse, which specifically addresses inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, sensitive and allergy-prone skin. Make small circular motions, ensuring you are cleansing near hairline, ears and under the jawline.

Have dry or dehydrated skin? Try opting for a cleansing balm such as Eminence Organics Wildflower Cleansing balm, which removes makeup, is nourishing and reduces inflammation in the skin.

2. Renew

When the skin is stressed, it does things in slow motion. Cell turnover slows down as well as cell renewal, which is why it needs all the regenerative help it can get to bring that youthful glow to the surface!

Think of dry skin cells as a blockade. They stack on top of each other like a brick wall with your skin's oils acting as the cement to hold it all together. This "wall" creates a barrier against your skincare products, making them less effective as they have a harder time penetrating the skin. Skincare is an investment, so making sure your products are being absorbed is well worth your while (and money)!

Ensuring you have a fresh, smooth palette to work with (cleansed & exfoliated skin), will help your skin be more receptive to other products.

My favorite for dull skin is Acure's Radically Rejuvenating Facial Scrub, which is loaded with antioxidants to help repair, moroccan red clay to purify and rose oil to help nourish and hydrate the skin, leaving it feeling so soft and smooth.

Once the cleanser is rinsed off (and the skin is still damp), apply a pea-sized amount of scrub to the skin and work in circular motions for 30 seconds, then rinse off and pat dry.

Another option for more sensitive skin types (if manual scrubs are too harsh) are fruit enzyme treatments like Andalou's Bioactive Berry Fruit Enzyme Mask, that gently works to soften and dissolve dry skin on the surface while boosting its resilience with apple & grape stem cells and CoQ10. Just apply, let it sit for 10-20 minutes and watch it work its magic!

3. Purify

Removing makeup, debris and dry skin cells are half the battle. The other half is purging toxins from the skin. Clays are magical when it comes to drawing out impurities and help revitalize the skin with much needed minerals.

There are many different types of clay, some being more effective for oily skin, others gentler for more sensitive types. French green clay is one of my favorites, as it is very effective in tightening pores, toning and exfoliating the skin leaving it soft and refreshed with a balanced complexion. One example of this type of clay product is Lavigne's "Le Masque" which also contains sea kelp to detoxify and re-mineralize the skin, along with a variety of skin-nourishing ingredients such as shea butter, jojoba & argan oil, vitamin A and vitamin E for a truly pampering experience!

4. Nourish & Repair

Once the skin has been rinsed and pat dry, spray on your favorite mist or toner. I like Mad Hippie's Hydrating Nutrient Mist because it's packed with thirst-quenching ingredients and powerful antioxidants, including gingko biloba which helps improve blood flow and speeds healing while reducing redness and inflammation.

And don't forget your 'daily multi's'! What is that, you say? Treatments like oils, serums and concentrates are what I like to call "multivitamins for the skin" as they are typically the most nutrient-dense products in a skincare regimen (aside from masks). If you know me, you know that I am all about treatments & masks.

Multi's are my favorite part of my daily skincare regime because I LOVE to layer. By that I mean I will layer a serum with a concentrate and/or oil. Why? Because the skin needs water hydration (humectants) and oils (emollients and/or occlusives) just like our bodies need electrolytes, essential fatty acids & omegas. And also because I'm a skincare nerd and I just can't help myself!

For serums, I recommend something that contains a humectant such as hyaluronic acid. Annemarie Borlind just came out with an amazing serum called 2-Phase Hyaluronan Shake which works in two ways (thus where '2-phase' comes from) by first stimulating your own skin's supply of hyaluronic acid through red algae, which is a natural source of astaxanthin, a powerful protectant against free radical damage. The second part to the hyaluronan shake is the white jelly fungus, also known as snow fungus or its latin name Tremella fuciformis, which helps the skin to retain moisture and improves texture and elasticity. Combine red algae and white jelly fungus and you've got yourself a very effective moisture-boosting treatment on your hands (or in this case, your face).

When it comes to oils for stressed out/dull or compromised skin, there is one product that has really risen to the top of my list. It caught my eye with its impressive line-up of key ingredients made up of 15 Botanicals, including the all-powerful antioxidant -astaxanthin. It is packed with rich essential fatty acids such as evening primrose oil, saw palmetto and hemp oil and features natural anti-inflammatory ingredients like turmeric, calendula, blue chamomile as well as immune-boosting heroes, astragalus and echinacea.

This is a fantastic product for those who suffer from inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and acne. This Botanical Beauty Elixir from LOA Skin, is a marvel in the world of natural skincare and is a sign of the exciting direction botanical skincare is headed in.

4. Hydrate, Strengthen & Protect

Once you've applied your 'multis', it's time to seal all the goodness in with a great moisturizer!

If you've got dry, dull skin, you'll want to look for something strengthening and brightening. You'll find the perfect combination in Viva's new Collagen and Kojic Acid Radiant Cream, which has a healthy dose of kojic acid to help revive and brighten dull skin and vegan collagen protein derived from peach fruit, which offers essential amino acids that give the skin building blocks to help repair and rebuild compromised skin.

If your skin is compromised, your eyes are most likely in need of some TLC. Pure Creations has the perfect remedy, with their Elasticity Boost Eye Cream with Ceramides containing hyaluronic acid and shea butter to help boost hydration and diminish inflammation, and ceramides essential for repairing the skin's moisture barrier, which is perfect for dry, itchy skin around the eyes.

Finally, protect your skin with an all-mineral sunscreen that reflects the sun's harmful rays. I really love the Lilikoi Light Defense Face Primer from Eminence Organics, which is reef-safe, super lightweight and provides a beautiful, radiant glow. The best part? It doubles as blue-light protection which has been shown to cause damage to collagen and elastin, making it an ideal solution for those spending more time around screens or fluorescent lighting. Reducing your exposure to environmental damage will do wonders for helping you maintain a glowing complexion, while reducing inflammation and pigmentation.

Being consistent with your skincare regime is the most important part. Give your products about a month to see results, keeping in mind that your skin renews itself every 28 days. If your skin flares up, consider doing a calming treatment. Don't forget your multi's!

Above all else, be good to yourself. To your body, mind and soul. The rest will fall into place.

As always, sending you endless bundles of glowing vibes,

LXC