Detox. It’s a word that’s thrown around a lot lately, especially online. We are told we need to detox our body, our home, our friend group and pretty much everything else in our lives. It has even made its way into the beauty industry with skin detoxing becoming a new beauty trend. But what does that really mean? Is it actually possible to detox our skin?
Simply put, detoxing means to remove toxins from the body. Toxins can come from the environment, the food we eat and the lifestyle choices we make, like smoking. The body has built-in systems and organs like the lungs, kidneys, liver and immune system that get rid of toxins without any assistance. A healthy lifestyle helps to maintain these systems, making sure that they continue to process toxins out of the body effectively. And while there are lots of “detox” diets around, there’s little proof that they actually work.
But the skin’s job is to protect the body, not letting things in or out. From a medical perspective, it is not possible to “detox” the skin because it is not possible for toxins to exit the body through the skin. Beauty products and treatments don’t “detox” your skin, no matter what they say, because they are not getting toxins out of the skin or other areas of the body through the skin.
When talking about a skin detox – it is often more about getting rid of the harmful substances on the skin’s surface. As the body’s largest organ, the skin is constantly picking up dirt and being attacked by environmental aggressors. Some believe that it’s possible to purge the skin and remove the stuff clogging the pores through “deep” cleaning and exfoliation. But that’s not really true – this type of detoxing of the skin doesn’t remove any toxins and as we’ve learned, excessive cleaning and exfoliation can actually damage the skin’s microbiome leading to even more skin issues.
We can protect the skin from environmental aggressors like pollution, UV rays and blue light. These things as well as a poor diet and excessive cleansing and exfoliation actually deplete the skin’s outermost layer which leads to premature aging along with other skin issues. While a skin detox is not going to remove harmful toxins from the body, a daily skin care routine with the right products can protect the skin, and even help skin look healthier and younger.
A basic skin care routine should include cleansing and moisturizing twice a day – in the morning and before going to bed. A broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 should also be worn daily, no matter the weather to protect against sun damage and skin cancer. Exfoliation is also key but it’s important that it is a gentle exfoliant that doesn’t damage or wipe out the microbiome.
An innovative brand, Shielded Beauty recognized how important a healthy skin microbiome is and created a clean beauty breakthrough that defends your skin from today’s harmful environmental aggressors. The best way to help prepare your skin for combat with these attackers is to ensure that your skin’s microbiome is as healthy as it can be. Adding good bacteria back into your skin’s microbiome, as well as using gentle products to help maintain its balance, is essential in achieving optimal skin health. Shielded Beauty’s product collection is formulated to repair and restore your skin’s microbiome. The powerful, patent-pending Guardian Complex™ skincare formulations include super-charged natural actives known to yield purifying properties with potent antioxidants and nourishing hydrators to shield you from harmful environmental invaders. Protecting the skin with a clean skin care routine – no detox needed.