Holistic Skin Health Takes Time

The Quick-Fix Generation

We live in an era of quick fixes and over-night success stories, bombarded with social media "experts" of the 7-day skin detox, miracle cures for acne, creams and serums that banish wrinkles to every gadget you can think of under the sun that promises to fix your skin health woes.

Every day, existing brands and new brands are appearing on the market with the hottest and newest "innovative" product you NEED to include in your regime right now with a clever campaign and enticing sparkling packaging that looks great photographed on Instagram. 

In addition, it’s not just brands that are making promises, consumer created content shows us how to “clear acne overnight” and “cure eczema fast with home remedies” in convincing YouTube videos.

With all these promises and images portraying instant success and perfection, it is no wonder that’s what we have come to expect.

The famous adage “good things take time” goes against our generational promise of the “quick fix”, so which should we believe is true when it comes to skin care?

At AMPERNA^®, we believe the best way for your skin to look and feel it's best is to take a holistic approach.
' For optimal skin health you need to treat your skin from the inside-out.'
(Kiri Yanchenko, AMPERNA founder.)

The Holistic Skincare Meaning

The term holistic is the philosophy and practice of consistently keeping the whole body (the physical body, mind and spirit) at the highest level of total wellness.

Our skin is our largest organ, it keeps our body temperature regulated, helps to prevent dehydration and infections and protects us from the elements. The health of our skin is crucial to our overall wellbeing and yet we can neglect to treat it with the respect it deserves.

The saying 'it's only skin deep' is also misleading as our skin is deeply connected to the rest of our body. What's happening internally will ultimately show on the surface of our skin. Our skin is a visual sign of an internal imbalance happening beneath the surface. Being aware of how your skin is trying to communicate with you is imperative to start investigating the root cause of any skin concerns forming or how best to tackle existing skin conditions.

The foundations of a holistic skincare approach includes focusing on these 5 key areas:

• Exercise
• A healthy balanced diet
• Hydration
• Mindfulness 
• A simple, gentle and effective skincare routine

These are the main areas Kiri practices not only for herself but has created these focuses as the ethos for the AMPERNA brand and AMPERNA community. You can take a quick peak at a day-in-the-life of Kiri as a holistic skin coach here:

Holistic skin health takes time and isn’t about a quick fix. Especially if you have skin concerns like acne, rosacea, dermatitis, or eczema. Masking these conditions with fast but incorrect products will never get the root cause of your concern and will more than likely prolong your recovery to healthier skin.

We don't go to the gym once or twice and expect optimal results from a fitness or cardiovascular point of view.

And the same thing goes for your skin health. Think of a holistic approach to skincare as training for your skin. It's about digging deeper and becoming your own investigator, recognising patterns and working on improving your overall health from the inside out.

This is what will create lasting results and healthier looking skin for the future.

So, how do I practice holistic skin health? 

If you are suffering from a sensitive skin concern such as acne, rosacea, dermatitis or eczema and you're not getting the help need, you can book one on one holistic skin coaching with Kiri here: Telehealth Holistic Skin Coaching | AMPERNA® Kiri will work with you on an individual plan to help you on your skin journey as each skin concern will have different reasons and different action plans necessary from person to person.

However, as a general holistic approach to skincare the 5 key areas are explained a bit more in detail below:

Exercise

Exercise increases blood flow which nourishes skin cells and helps flush away cellular debris out of the system. 

As well as the obvious benefits to our heart, joint and mental health outlook, exercise helps lower stress levels which is imperative for your skins overall health. Some skin conditions can be exacerbated by stress, as studies have shown the sebaceous glands (which produce oil in the skin) are influenced by stress hormones. So using exercise as a great form of stress relief will do wonders for helping your skin.

Diet

What you eat plays a major part of how your complexion looks and feels. Eating a diverse and balanced healthy diet full of fresh antioxidant-rich fruit, vegetables and good fats will nourish your skin from within.

Kiri prefers an anti-inflammatory diet to fight inflammation from the inside-out. She loves incorporating the following ingredients in her diet:

• olive oil
• tomatoes
• green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and collards
• nuts like almonds and walnuts
• fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines
• fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges

If you need help with your dietary habits contact Kiri for one on one coaching.

Hydration

Hydrating yourself both internally and topically is essential for healthy glowing skin.

Drinking adequate water and consuming water-dense foods such as cucumber, watermelon and berries will hydrate your skin from within. 

Applying products that draw water to the surface of your skin and lock it in (like hyaluronic acid) will give your skin that glowing hydrated look. 

Mindfulness

Focusing your attention is a way you train for mindfulness. Mindfulness helps with your day-to-day life and overall wellbeing and your skin will thrive when you practice this. We live in a fast-paced stressful world so being able to acknowledge stressors and find calm and peace in ourselves rather than reacting will ultimately impact the way we feel internally.

Ways you can practice mindfulness:

• Meditation
• Checking in with yourself
• Eat mindfully
• Reading
• Listen to your body
• Rest and relaxation

Be patient and gentle with your skincare
As part of your holistic approach to skin care, the AMPERNA^® range is suitable for all skin types and has been tested on eczema, perioral dermatitis, rosacea, acne prone skin and more. AMPERNA^® is an Australian owned, ethical skincare brand, dedicated to creating revolutionary and unique formulas to help rebalance and transform the appearance of skin. Go to https://amperna.com/ for more information.

Is There a Quick Fix for Skin Conditions?

The short answer is No!

Whilst social media would have us believe so, the reality is there are no instant fixes for many skin conditions. There are no magic potions or gadgets and if you’re looking for one you will be left feeling frustrated. 

If you suffer from skin conditions such as acne, rosacea and dermatitis, the majority of literature available from dermatologists, pharmacists, naturopaths and doctors, points toward taking a long-term holistic approach.

If you have acne for example, your skin issues can surface through the layers of your skin when you are using active skincare in a process called purging.

The Holistic Approach

When it comes to acne, Dermatologist Dr Phillip Artemi recommends on www.acne.org.au, three main steps for good skin care:

1. A good cleansing routine
2. Treating with suitable medicine (if required)
3. Protecting skin from the sun

To help with eczema, nutritionist and author Kimberly Snyder of The Beauty Detox Solution (Harlequin) suggests, “Irritants or triggers are different for different people. The key to managing eczema is to identify your triggers”.  Once you can identify your triggers you can develop a holistic treatment plan.

Diet can also play an important part in helping to get your skin concerns such as acne under control. It is worthwhile to review the food you're eating on a daily basis and see if there are areas that could be improved.

We believe in a holistic approach to skincare.

My Journey

Having suffered from acne as a teenager, I tried just about every potion, lotion and gadget I could get my hands on. I wanted my acne gone immediately. When nothing worked, I was disappointed and desperate for answers. After 3 years of trying different methods, I sought advice from a dermatologist and found results in adopting a long-term holistic approach. As Dr Phillip Artemi suggests, I followed a process that incorporated cleansing, the right medication and keeping out of the sun.

My journey to clear skin took almost 4 years and a lot of perseverance.

So for the many of us that suffer from skin conditions, do not be seduced by gimmicks, magic potions and quick fixes. The best results take time.

Reference sources:

https://www.acne.org.au/

https://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/health/how-to-treat-eczema/news

https://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/health/how-to-treat-eczema