Beauty Inside Out: Effects of your Diet on your Hair and Skin

Your hair and skin deserve the best. To many, that implies using only high-quality care products—and while that is certainly key, you're doing yourself no favours if you don't back those products up with high-quality nutrition and healthy habits. The fact of the matter is that your skin and hair are intricately connected to the rest of your physical health: how you treat your body inevitably impacts how they look and feel.

High-end products work best when applied to strong, nourished hair or healthy skin. That means that if you're fully invested in cultivating healthy hair and radiant skin, you'll need to start with three key areas of your well-being: diet, mental health, and hydration. 

Nutrition Counts

To achieve magnificent skin and hair results, you must give your body the proper nutrients to form and repair healthy cells. Vitamins A, for instance, is crucial for skin health and is often included in beauty products in the form of retinol. Vitamin C, Biotin, and Zinc are other examples of nutrients that can directly benefit your skin and hair. If your diet includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, and nuts, you're likely getting all of these already. If not, diversify your plate to make sure you're hitting all the major food groups.

Equally important as consuming the right substances is avoiding the wrong ones. Foods that are overly processed or greasy can contain trans fats which encourage excess oil production. Packaged foods are also more likely to be high in acidity or contain high glycaemic loads, both of which can tax the body and cause unsightly inflammation.

As with anything, moderation is key. One bag of crisps won't ruin your complexion, but it's preferable to get most of your energy from whole, natural foods cooked using healthy techniques.

Knocking Out Stress

There are few aspects of your health that aren't affected by stress levels, and your skin and hair are not exempt. When you experience high levels of stress, your body produces excess amounts of cortisol, which has the side effect of increasing oil production and therefore acne. Stress also interferes with the ability of your skin to serve as a barrier, meaning that daily wear is repaired more slowly when you're under a lot of pressure. And while the mechanisms aren't as well understood, stress is also a commonly documented cause for hair loss. 

All of this constitutes yet another reason to take good care of your mental health. If you feel that your stress levels are becoming unmanageable, focus on self-care in whatever form best suits you. Meditation and exercise are good options for many people, along with cutting down on excess responsibilities. And if other measures aren't working and haven't been for some time, don't be afraid to seek help from a professional.

Healthy Hydration

You've surely heard again and again about the importance of drinking lots of water with the rule often being cited as eight cups a day. While the eight glasses benchmark isn't strictly supported by the science, what is well-established is that dehydration is awful for your skin. Drink when you're thirsty, and add a little extra when you're exercising or out in the sun. Listening to your body's signals is the most effective way to ensure that your skin is hydrated and healthy.

Give Your Skin and Hair the Royal Treatment

Luxurious hair starts with healthy habits, but it certainly doesn't end there. At Christian Iles, we pride ourselves on producing the world's finest hair care products designed to nourish and enrich your beautiful natural texture. Our products do far more than cleanse—they also bathe your hair in moisture, enrich the cuticle, and protect you from chemical or environmental damage. And like a healthy diet, these benefits come about from all-natural sources. Don't settle for lacklustre health or hair. Instead, try Christian Iles.

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