We've all been there. You've got an important date coming up, and the moment you wake up and glance in the mirror, a big, ugly pimple stares back at you. How can that be? Why today of all days?!
Blemished skin often makes us feel less confident and pushes us to hide away from the outside world. But it doesn't have to be that way! We'll tell you what can trigger blemished skin and what a juice cleanse and clear skin have to do with each other.
What your skin does for you
Let's start with the basics. How is your skin built, and what functions does it take care of?
At 2 m², your skin is by far your largest organ. With its three layers, the epidermis, the dermis and the subdermis, it is your first protective barrier against outside influences such as viruses, bacteria, UV rays and free radicals (pollutants such as smoke, exhaust fumes or radiation). Your skin also regulates your fluid balance and your body temperature.
It is very sensitive and picks up the slightest touch and pain. Because it is so visible, a damaged complexion often affects our mental wellbeing. A healthy complexion, on the other hand, adds to our wellbeing and can have a positive effect on our self-esteem.
The three layers of the skin
To understand what triggers blemished skin, we need to take a closer look at the three layers.
The epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin, is responsible for keeping out harmful substances and bacteria, and it also regulates fluid loss.
The dermis is the thick, firm yet elastic middle layer. It is made up of collagen and elastin and is responsible for a healthy, youthful-looking complexion. It also gives the skin its elasticity. Collagen and elastin are simply proteins your body makes itself! So make sure you get enough protein in your meals. It's especially easy with our frank protein powder.
The innermost layer, the subdermis, stores energy, insulates the body and protects against cold and heat thanks to its layer of fat. It stores important nutrients, which are released into the blood vessels when needed and so reach the right spot.
How do blackheads and pimples form?
Now that you know what the skin does, let's look at how unsightly blackheads and pimples come about.
To get to the bottom of it, let's take another look at the second layer of skin, the dermis.
Besides keeping skin looking youthful, this layer also makes sure the epidermis is supplied with nutrients and waste products are carried away. Plus, the middle layer is home to numerous sebaceous glands. They carry sebum, or lipids, to the outer layer and keep the skin hydrated.
Sebum production is hugely important for the outer layer of the skin and therefore for the whole body. Normally, sebum travels outwards and drains away naturally.
If too much sebum is produced, though, the sebaceous glands can get blocked, and blackheads or pimples appear.
Cleansing routines can help with blackheads and pimples. However, measures applied from the outside only deal with the problem, not the trigger, so it's hard to break the cycle and get to the cause.
What boosts sebum production?
To get clear skin in the long run, it's important to know what triggers excess sebum production so you can work against blockages.
Basically, the skin's natural sebum production can be influenced by several factors. These include genetics, age, hormones, food, the season (cold and warm months differ), a damaged skin barrier and dehydrated skin.
We can influence sebum production proactively, especially through the food and drinks we consume. The following foods can lead to higher sebum production and therefore blemished skin:
- Dairy products such as milk, cheese and yoghurt - the higher hormone levels in these products lead to higher oil production
- White flour and rice - the rise in blood sugar also raises androgen levels, which in turn leads to increased sebum production
- Saturated fats such as butter and trans fats such as fried foods - they can lead to skin inflammation and therefore also to excess oil
- Salt - causes water retention in the body and dries out the outer layer of the skin. To compensate, the skin produces more sebum to provide more moisture
- Sugar, especially refined sugar - sugar also makes your blood sugar level rise, and with it your insulin level. Insulin raises the androgen level, which in turn raises sebum production
- Alcohol - any form of alcohol draws fluid out of the body and leads to dehydration. The more dehydrated the skin gets, the more oil, i.e. sebum, is produced to look after the dehydrated skin
How can a juice cleanse help with blemished skin?
Now that you know the triggers for blackheads, pimples and co., doing something about them should be a piece of cake. But that's often easier said than done. Have you ever tried giving up every treat overnight?
We know, it's pretty much impossible. Treats like sugar activate the reward system in our brain, which releases the messenger substance dopamine. Your brain stores the sweet taste as a positive memory and triggers a craving for more.
To prepare you for a change in diet that can lead to clear skin in the long run, we recommend starting with a juice cleanse. Instead of tackling your diet with only vaguely defined goals, a juice cleanse supports you at every step of the change. From the first days before the fasting days, when you slowly get your body used to the change, to well beyond the juice cleanse, we're with you with our guide and help you reach your goals in the long term.
A juice cleanse can support your body's natural cleansing processes and help cellular waste be cleared away faster. By the way, a juice cleanse can also cause skin blemishes at first. That's because the loosened-up substances often can't be excreted straight away through the gut and urine, so they are also cleared away through the skin. Skin irritation and pimples are therefore not a sign that something is going wrong, but part of the body's natural processes.
Support your skin during a juice cleanse
During and after your juice cleanse, you can boost the processes in your skin with a few simple measures. That's why we like to reach for the dry brush, take contrast showers or treat our skin to a homemade face mask.
Dry brushing and contrast showers get your blood circulation and your lymphatic system going. The lymphatic system is responsible for carrying away pollutants and excess fluid.
Rich natural masks treat your skin to extra nutrients. For particularly oily skin, healing clay is a great choice. As it dries on the skin, it absorbs excess sebum as well as bacteria and pollutants, and can therefore support a clear complexion.
Carrot mask with healing clay
Our favourite mask during a juice cleanse is definitely the carrot mask with healing clay. It's rich in vitamin A and gives you the feeling of clean pores and silky-soft skin.
Ingredients for the mask:
- 1 carrot
- 1 tsp natural oil
- 2 tbsp healing clay
Here's how:
Grate the carrot as finely as you can and mix 3 tbsp of grated carrot with 1 tsp of oil and 2 tbsp of healing clay. If needed, remove any make-up from your face, then apply the freshly mixed mask to your cleansed face. Leave the thick layer on for about 15 minutes, then rinse it off with lukewarm water. Now pat your face dry with a soft towel.
Conclusion: How can I get clear skin?
As you now know, outside and inside factors can both play a big role in blemished skin.
We often assume that genes mainly decide whether we have clear skin or have to hide behind a thick layer of make-up for life. But don't worry: even if a poor complexion runs in your family, you don't have to give up. It will probably take a bit more effort and attention, but for a clear complexion it will definitely be worth it.
A juice cleanse can help you take the first step towards clearer skin and build new routines that have a lasting positive effect.
