Talking to your skin- interview Holistik

Holistik interviewed Silke from Indigo Cosmetics about Talking to Your Skin:

• What does "talking to your skin" mean to you? 

What people sometimes forget is that your skin is a living organ, with varying needs every day. She makes that clear to you, too. But most people sometimes habitually apply the same thing for years. With every season and every hormonal carnival your skin has to deal with. For me it means: really meeting the need that my skin indicates at that moment, taking into account its preferences and sensitivities and thus making sure that it looks its best, but also does its best job, and that is: protecting me. It's actually a very beautiful relationship, worth investing in.

• How do you learn to listen to what your skin has to tell you? 

Listening in this case is done with your eyes, fingers and brain-not with your ears!

The important thing is, to get off autopilot, and stop thoughtlessly putting things on because a friend recommends it, because it looked nice in the commercial, because of the promises on the bottle. You yourself know exactly when your skin is at its best: smooth, radiant, healthy, not dry, red, tight or break out.

What everyone should avoid is mineral oils, synthetic fragrances, dyes and parabens. No skin gets better from those. But then it just begins; then you have to start fine tuning and see what YOUR skin needs, or reacts negatively to, and that can sometimes be basically very fine, good raw materials. Or something you eat, or don't eat! In the fall and winter you see a lot of sallowness due to lack of vitamin D. Many women suffer from this, without knowing it themselves. (You can support that too with a cream, see the Earth Phytelene Cream.)

For example, if your skin feels dry and tight, it needs moisture and lipids.... I'm then a big proponent of a hydrating oil regimen; like emerginC's Hydra Repair capsules with avocado oil (which simultaneously protect and allow the skin to retain its moisture) and a restorative, regulating cream like the emerginC Hyper Vitalizer Cream. Changing your cleanser to one that is oil-based also helps tremendously. The Rawceuticals Clean has an extra Defense Shield to keep your skin beautiful. In any case, stay away from too many acids, sulfates and the wrong alcohols (like alcohol denat).

Break outs can also result from fat and moisture deficiencies, and acne skin actually needs moisture very badly, rather than the extra drying out you often see. That's when we recommend the Active Hydrating Complex, which also contains a vitamin B complex and malic acid that regulates sebum.

• What are the main signals your skin gives off that it wants to be heard?

Quite simply; anything "not pretty"! Redness, tightness, flakiness, pigmentation, pimples, dryness, contact allergies, itching, wrinkles, acne, sallowness. All of these require you to take action. Your other non-visible organs will also thank you by the way; your skin talks for them too!

Some of these just-mentioned phenomena are inevitable as we age, but many are preventable with proper care ... and especially protection. Sunlight, pollution, nutrition, aggressive products, chemical ingredients.... They all act oxidatively and attack the skin. With acne, it is important to keep a close watch. Through mainstream medicine you are often offered a solution (antibiotics, the pill, or roaccutane) that dries out the skin tremendously and causes multiple problems, such as pigmentation, dry skin, flaking or hypersensitivity. Make sure you actually hydrate, nourish and protect your skin instead of further drying it out.

• What remedies would you recommend? Maybe you know one that you can apply acutely and one that is more holistic for the longer term. 

If something doesn't work; stop. Even if it was an expensive cream; go back with it, report it to your outlet or beautician. Make a neighbor happy with it. But stop. I think your skin is SO important; if it is beautiful, you are beautiful. That's why I really recommend buying your cream on good advice. At the bigger chains, too often there's an incentive for the saleswoman to sell certain brands that month, and you don't always get what's right for you. But at the end of the day, you have to become the real expert on your skin; no one can determine how it's doing and what works better than you.

Get the balance back first, and only then deal with the problem you are facing. If the moisture-fat balance and ph is right, you will find that many problems will simply go away. The problems that don't go away (such as pigmentation and wrinkles) will be much more treatable if your skin is in optimal condition.

Essential for basically everyone (except rosacea and super-sensitive skin, which needs to strengthen first)is a good vitamin c serum: it strengthens your connective tissue, brightens, fights pigmentation, improves circulation, reduces scarring, kills acne-causing bacteria, and also promotes collagen production.

I am a huge fan of our emerginC vitamin C serum; the active ingredient encapsulation beads provide a super-fresh, high dose of magnesium ascorbyl phosphate with every use. The best and meets effective form of vitamin C, which is also well tolerated and absorbed.

For real problems like acne and eczema, I also always recommend calling in a nutritionist like sanavitanova.com or Margaret Richters; sometimes reducing sugar, or wheat for example, can have a dramatic effect. But again, I believe in customization; what works for someone else doesn't necessarily work for you. You are unique, with unique needs! Take the trouble and get a consultation, often can even be done over the phone and is covered by many insurances.

Further, I recommend:

- enough sleep! From not sleeping you become a dripping candle. That's just the way it is. Catch up where you can, take a nap. But your skin recovers when you sleep.

-Be moderate with alcohol; new research shows that the effect of a night of sagging on your skin is gone only after a month.

Looking at skincare: do you have any advice on how to determine if a cream or serum really suits your skin?

First, REALLY look. At yourself! Nice! Enjoy that head that tells you all kinds of things every morning. Often we focus on a part like pigmentation, pimples or wrinkles that is very prominent and buy products to combat that. FAR more important is to look at the basic condition of your skin and treat that first. Create peace, balance, a good foundation.

The emerginC Hyper Vitalizer cream is ideal cream to achieve this; I usually recommend it as a start-up cream. Furthermore; never choose aggressive. Quick results maybe, but you pay the price ALWAYS, sooner or later.

Then, if you have chosen; keep watching, your skin may well react for a while, especially if you suddenly start using an active product, but this should not last too long. Your skin is also talking to you here. You need to see improvement. Take pictures. A good cream often works gradually and the effect is not always obvious to yourself, because you look in the mirror several times a day. This can tempt you to use overly aggressive remedies, when in fact you were well on your way.

After your skin is in balance, you may need different creams; for example, if you cycle a lot, choose a cream with more protection during the day; but more hydration if you are in the office. Make sure you can respond to needs. It doesn't cost more; it lasts longer.

• How often is it necessary to engage with your skin?
• At least every time you put on something. But if you learn to feel what you feel and not to close yourself off to it, you will be in constant dialogue with your skin all day long. Temperature fluctuations, a lot of time outside in cold wind or sun, that time of the month, a dirty make-up that starts to itch.... Angry, happy... Your skin thinks it's all there and tells you so: listen to it! One day more fat, more moisture, a mask where necessary. Alternate in terms of diet and creams according to what your skin tells you is necessary. Do not think too much in skin type, but skin condition, so.
• What are the most important lessons you learned from your skin?

Be kind! And patient. Don't go on the attack, but rather engage with your skin. Believe your instincts and your own wisdom. Nietzsche says that there is more wisdom in our bodies, than in our deepest philosophies. And so it is!