Holistic care of the skin 

Holistic relates to the whole of something or to the total system instead of just to its individual parts. Holistic practices aim to treat the whole person, including mind, body and spirit, not just the singular parts. It works on the premise that the whole is made up of the sum of all its parts and that the parts cannot operate optimally if the whole isn’t operating optimally. Equally, if a problem exists with one of the parts, then the whole is affected.

Holistic care of the skin involves understanding how the skin functions and how its health is connected to, supported and affected by our lifestyle decisions. We can significantly contribute to the wellbeing of our skin by treating the body and mind holistically through good nutrition, lifestyle choices and a suitable skincare routine.

 

Nutrition

A varied diet packed with nutrient rich food can do wonders for our general wellbeing and for our skin health too. The key to a healthy diet is moderation and balance.

Foods rich in omega-3s like fatty fish, vegetable oils, nuts, flaxseeds and green leafy vegetables can help reduce inflammation in the skin and reduce your skin’s sensitivity to UV radiation damage.

The antioxidants in fruit and vegetables lower free radical damage in the skin.

Linoleic acid is a type of fat that helps increase skin hydration. It is found in seeds and nuts along with other minerals beneficial to skin health, like selenium and zinc.

Dark chocolate, green tea, red wine and berries are a good source of polyphenols which help protect against the adverse effects of UV radiation.

One of the best things you can do for your skin is to reduce your sugar and refined carbohydrate intake.

Essential Oils

Aromatherapy is a holistic therapy entailing the use of essential oils extracted from plants to enhance physical and emotional wellbeing.

Using skincare products containing essential oils is a lovely way to incorporate aromatherapy into your everyday life.

Essential oils play an important role in natural skincare and are at the heart of our products at Flower and Spice. Not only are they used to skilfully fragrance our products but to also impart their wonderful therapeutic properties.

Our Midnight Beauty Rich Revitalising Serum contains precious rose absolute, a soothing, nurturing essential oil to balance the skin and quiet the mind. Take a moment to soften the senses, inhale deeply and breathe in the therapeutic aroma before applying your serum.

Relaxation

Take some time away from your normal daily routine to relax, refocus and refresh your mind. It needn’t be big or take lots of time, in fact the quicker and easier it is, the more chance it’ll become routine.

Explore practices like controlled breathing exercises, visualisation, meditation or yoga. Read a book, build a puzzle, have a bath or simply do nothing.

Daily relaxation may help reduce stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, boost energy levels and bring a sense of peace and calm to everyday life.

Exercise

Walking, swimming, cycling, skipping, pilates, tennis, high-intensity interval training, rebounding – the list is endless.

Regular exercise not only benefits the body and mind but the skin too. Exercise increases blood flow to skin cells. Blood delivers oxygen and nutrients to the skin and removes harmful waste products.

Exercise has also shown to reduce stress, which may be helpful when treating inflammatory skin conditions like eczema, rosacea and acne, which are aggravated by stress.

For me, skincare is not just about beauty, it's about being well. Skincare is just a part of the whole wellness experience and general wellbeing. Skincare is invaluable for healthy skin, but when combined with nutritious food and a relaxed wholesome lifestyle, your skin will be at its very best.

 

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