We often think of our skin from the standpoint of external beauty, but our skin is so much more than that. Its importance goes way beyond the way we look. The skin is our largest organ and is a good barometer of our overall health. Beautiful skin reflects a clean and clear body within. The skin is a protective barrier, helps us maintain normal body temperature, eliminates toxins, and synthesizes the ever-important Vitamin D. Because the skin can take things in as well as eliminate them, it is often used as a medium to deliver drugs and other substances. Unfortunately, we can also take toxins in through the skin. The latter is the main reason that we want to make sure that any products we use on the skin contain substances that are nourishing to the skin and can be handled internally by the body.

The skin is made up of two layers, the outer layer, or epidermis and the inner layer, or dermis. Substances can be transported between the two layers through tight junctions. The outer layer determines pigment, protects against UV damage, aids in hydration, produces Vitamin D3, and produces lipids (fats) and keratin, a protein that is the key structural element in this layer. The inner layer, or dermis, is made up of connective tissue, mainly collagen and elastin. This layer keeps the skin supported from the inside out, keeps it looking elastic, young and vibrant. It also contains sweat glands, hair follicles, sebaceous glands and a rich blood supply that carries substances to and from the bloodstream. Sweat glands help regulate body temperature and sebaceous glands secrete sebum, which has antibacterial and antifungal qualities and helps to remove toxins from the body.

Skin problems can be caused by poor diet, lack of protein digestion (undigested proteins get through the gut wall and cause irritation in the body), depleted gut bacteria, stress, inflammation, prescription drug use, and external toxins. What you put on your skin is very important, but will not necessarily do the whole job. The best thing we can do for our skin is to feed it from the inside out and here are our All-Star Nutrients for Feeding the Skin. All can be found in supplement form and some may be found in topical form. Ask our staff about products that combine one or more of these nutrients for beautiful skin, hair and nails:

Vitamins A, C, & E-Three vitamins that are great antioxidants, especially in combination. Vitamin A is important to skin healing and regeneration, and protects against photo aging. Vitamin C is a crucial component of collagen, one of the primary proteins that give the skin its support. Vitamin E improves blood flow to the skin and preserves other antioxidants that benefit the skin.

Omega 7-A fatty acid that is an essential component of healthy skin, both internal and external. Because it supports the mucous membranes, it can nourish the skin inside and out. It is used to support the skin in the digestive and urinary tracts as well as our external skin. Our customers have found it helpful for acne, dry skin, ulcers, burns, eczema, vaginal dryness and many other skin conditions.

B Vitamins-The B family of vitamins is very important to skin metabolism, protein digestion (undigested proteins can be the source of some skin problems), and hair growth and repair. The B vitamins are also very important to stress reduction, a factor in many inflammatory skin issues.

Sea Buckthorn Oil-A berry that packs all of the above nutrients into one convenient package. It is high in beta carotene (converts to Vitamin A in the body), Vitamins C & E, some of the B vitamins and omega-7 too! It is incredibly supportive of a variety of skin issues including acne, dryness, eczema, ulcers, and wounds. It promotes skin hydration and elasticity.

Resveratrol--A phenolic compound found in plants that is one of the premier anti-inflammatory agents and can be found in grapes, red wine, chocolate, berries, and Japanese knotweed.  It can extend life at the cellular level by triggering SIRTI, the "longevity gene" and is also a strong antioxidant. It helps the skin by preventing metabolic and photo aging. The trans-resveratrol form is necessary for proper absorption. Read More