What Your Esthetician Doesn’t Want You To Know
A well-known, well-respected mentor in my field once told a room full of skin therapists, ”80% of what your client’s skin looks like depends on their diet. But don’t tell them that or they’ll never buy products from you.”
When I heard this, my jaw hit the floor. That’s right – your esthetician may be afraid to tell you the important role that diet plays in the health of your skin simply because it could affect their bottom line. As an esthetician and a nutritionist, I understand that the composition of your skin is made up from what you eat. The oil you produce is created from the fats you consume (especially EFAs), your cell turnover is affected by vitamin A levels, your healing time from an infection or laceration is dependent in large on vitamins C and E intake. And ultimately all of this functioning properly depends on your immune system and overall state of health.
Other estheticians understand some of the same – they sell products with antioxidants which they know fight free radicals and therefore aging. Or they use products with omegas to increase moisture and reduce inflammation. But the truth is no matter how many products you use, the situation cannot truly be made better unless you also make changes that promote skin health from within.
I’m not afraid to tell you this, because I know all to well myself the journey of trying to fix things from the outside only and it didn’t work for me either. Don’t get me wrong, products can definitely help – and they certainly make up for those less-than-perfect diet + lifestyle moments. But they are not the cure. I wish someone had been there to explain to the 15 year old me who struggled with self-esteem issues from bad skin that if I traded the frappuccinos and croissants in the morning for a juice and banana that my acne would clear up and look better. Not only would I have trusted that person more, but they would have changed my life for the better.
It is important to recognize if your skin therapist or dermatologist is someone who is willing to be honest with you about what it takes to be healthy from within. More and more people are talking about diet as we realize that rounds of antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide, and harsh Rx topicals/meds just aren’t getting rid of the problem permanently. Remember, true skin health comes from the inside out. If you’ve tried everything else, perhaps it’s time to give some diet changes a try!
Elise May, CN + LE, is the owner and practitioner behind SKINutritious. She has helped over 1,000 clients clear acne with detoxing treatments, clear skin coaching, and holistic skincare.
Work with Elise. Book online here.
