What every city transplant needs for their skin care

Due to the universal pull of abundance I’ve been manifesting I recently had a considerable amount of new clients. One thing that most of them had in common was that they were recent transplants to LA. Without even seeing them I already knew what they would be dealing with. Each individual had a completely different background and circumstance yet they all were experiencing a common Skin Food Talk category of skin imbalance. Since I’m co-founder and lead the skincare side of Skin Food Talk I already knew what would be common symptoms because they were experiencing compromised detoxification organs that led to inflammation and irritations. So why is it that this happens to nearly every city transplant? As someone who has lived in 3 states, 2 countries and countless homes, I can confidently say I’m the expert of this topic. Here are my top 3 skin care tips for new city transplants:

Investigate your new atmosphere -

Some of you may know that I’m originally from the North East Canadian province New Brunswick. Growing up the weather was very typical to that region, cold winters, blooming and wet springs, hot and humid summers and perfectly crisp falls. My body learned this cycle very well so when I was 10 and we moved to Wisconsin no one could have expected my skin to change as quickly and as drastically as it did. With such a similar climate it didn't become apparent as to why my eczema, acne and reactive histamine rich skin didn’t cope with the some of the environmental aspects of Wisconsin. It’s clear to me now that water quality may have been different as well as types of trees/flowers/grasses were all factors that my immune system responded by manifesting inflammation in my skin. When you move to a different environment your body works really hard for you to balance out the inevitable stressors. Recognizing this will help you support your detox organs so that their overworking won't show up as sensitivity on your skin. Adding a little dandelion root tea, schizandra or milk thistle (or silymarin which is the active ingredient in milk thistle) can help you cleanse out those stagnant toxins that irritate the skin. Once you cleanse out you then can support your system with selenium and zinc to help rebuild your skin cells health.

Recreate your most familiar environment -

Recognizing the shifts in allergens, pollutants and even in water quality will help you understand why your skin is having a hard time adjusting. Knowing this as I would go on to move to Texas at 21 and California at 25, I chose to move at very strategic times so my body wouldn’t be shocked by all the change. That way I was able to transition with the seasons and the different allergens accordingly. I recommend implementing air purifying plants, a humidifier (if you are from a humid climate) and water filters to your new home. All of these simple investments can save your skin from having to fight so hard to adjust to a new environment. It will slowly start to recognize the different components and finally ease up a little. 

Find support -

Skincare can definitely support you in these times but if you’re unaware of the root cause of an inflammatory issue you may unintentionally be mistreating it. For example, if you are having an environmental reaction but it doesn’t look much different than a regular breakout, you may be doing more harm than good. Simplify and work on supporting your barrier with calming and single sourced ingredients. It’s also important to recognize that you are eating new types of foods from different sources. Go to your local farmers market's and ask for a little education on what is in season as well as where each food is sourced from. This will help your body slowly regulate to your next environment. 

I hope this short list helps you make the connection for why your skin may be feeling a little off if you've recently relocated. For more information, join Skin Food Talk on Friday July 21st for our Signature Talk where we dive into other imbalances and how to navigate them from within. Sign up at Conscious City Guide and I hope to see you there! 

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