Holistic Skincare: How Nutrition, Light, and Environment Impact Your Skin Health
Many people spend hundreds of dollars weekly on their skincare products, YET…
Their diet is shocking (junk inflammatory diet)
Their light environment is terrible (junk artificial light)
They use harmful and toxic skincare products that contribute to modern metabolic diseases.
It doesn't have to be that way.
There's a very conventional or mainstream approach to skincare requiring you to have extensive steps in your skincare regime, but to be honest, I think those who practice such shenanigans lack the proper holistic health understanding of:
Skin health = the quality of your health (emotionally and physically) on the inside + environment (outside)
Let's dive in. (7-minute read)
What is holistic skincare?
Holistic skincare is an alternative approach that emphasizes the interconnectedness of what you apply to your skin or hair and what you consume or inhale. This perspective recognizes that all these factors collectively influence your overall well-being and potential for thriving.
Practicing holistic skincare means taking responsibility for the health of your skin. This encompasses proper cleansing, careful management of light exposure, and ensuring that other aspects of your health, such as hormones, nutrition, gut health, sleep, and physical activity, are well-maintained.
The term "holistic" itself implies a focus on the whole. The body and health do not function in isolation; both are interconnected. A weakness in one area, such as gut health or light environment, can contribute to skin complications and issues.
Tips for a Holistic Skincare Routine
Skin health is a dynamic, bidirectional process influenced by external and internal factors. Externally, the skin functions like a solar panel, responding to environmental cues such as sunlight and darkness, essential for maintaining balance. Disruptions in the natural rhythm of light and dark can contribute to skin issues, with hormones like Vitamin D and melatonin playing pivotal roles. Internally, the skin reflects the health of our circulatory, neuroendocrine, and gut-immune systems. Optimal skin function relies on a synergy of nutrients, oxygen, and cellular energy to support repair and regeneration. Without the proper intake, absorption, and utilization of essential nutrients, the skin's ability to heal and maintain itself becomes compromised, a challenge made worse by outdated dietary guidelines that fail to prioritize nutrient-dense foods.
Holistic Health Tips From The Outside In
Healthy skin care goes beyond topical products it starts with supporting the skin from both inside and out. Externally, maintaining a natural balance of sunlight and darkness is vital for skin health, as hormones like Vitamin D and melatonin depend on this rhythm. Internally, the skin's repair and regeneration rely on optimal blood flow, hormonal balance, gut health, and a nutrient-rich diet. A genuinely effective skincare routine pairs mindful exposure to natural light with a diet that provides essential nutrients, including high-quality proteins, fats, and micronutrients, ensuring the skin has everything it needs to heal, repair, and thrive.
Methylene blue and skincare
I recently did an IG live with Shwally, a Tallow-based skincare company in the US. They source unique ingredients and combine them into serums or balms that can help with severe issues and general everyday use. Uniquely, they use methylene blue in some of their products.
Methylene Blue (MB) was compared head-to-head with standard sunscreen, which contains oxybenzone and has been shown to be cancerous and to have damaging effects on the coral ecosystem.
You may have seen me or others in the health space with blue tongues, and now you can get a blue face to match and look more smurf-like. But there's a good reason to. MB outperforms other antioxidants.
Methylene Blue (MB) is a powerhouse antioxidant that combats oxidative stress and reduces ROS-induced aging by cycling between its active forms. Studies show that MB outshines other antioxidants like NAC, MitoQ, and mitoTEMPO in neutralizing free radicals and improving skin longevity.
Not only does MB help stimulate collagen and elastin production for firmer, youthful skin, but it also enhances hydration and wound healing. Plus, it's eco-friendly, making it a sustainable choice for your skin and the environment.
Combine MB with copper peptides, which help cells and mitochondria utilise oxygen more efficiently, creating more ATP and deuterium-depleted water to catch sunlight and create quantum matter. Copper is a key nutrient that plays a role in cytochrome C oxidase, the 4th respiratory protein. You can enhance the effect even further by combining methylene blue with red light therapy devices for 10-15 minutes 2x per day. My preferred red light therapy device is below.
This is the item from Shwally that rocks. HERE and save 10% off using the code "LV"
Red Light Therapy and Skincare Routine
Numerous studies have shown the healing power of the most dominant light in our environment—red and near-infrared. Red light therapy devices are unique in concentrating this light and compensating for the lack of natural exposure due to our modern lifestyle. Additionally, they are a biohack to improve healing and recovery and stimulate fibroblast collagen synthesis.
That said, nothing can replace the full spectrum of natural sunlight. Still, red light therapies are among the most essential supplements.
Recently, with two new clients in the Northern parts of the USA, I recommended the new combined UV and red light therapy devices. These can help massively during the winter months. There is no comparison to what light can do externally versus what a vitamin D pill can do.
My favourite brand - EMR Tek which is the one that sells UV/Red light combo can be found HERE with an automatic 20% off at checkout.
Artificial Light and Skin Health Connection
Like most artificial light sources, they emit a concentrated form of blue light, which has been shown to induce oxidative stress. However, artificial blue light also continuously signals midday, even at 9-10 pm. Talk about chaos signals. Remember, the skin and eyes are an extension of the brain. They alter metabolism by picking up these light signals via blue photoreceptors (melanopsin).
Blue light is not inherently bad—it turns on your hormones and detoxification systems. The issue lies with artificial blue light, which burns the candle at both ends, chronically making you dehydrated and pseudohypoxic. Blue light liberates melanopsin, allowing free vitamin A to become catabolic and damaging, inducing lipid peroxidation to PUFA. This is the true problem—not blaming it entirely on PUFA from fish or healthy fats.
Artificial light liberates vitamin A, creating a domino effect that breaks down collagen, increases matrix metalloproteinases, and impairs fibroblasts. It also increases cytokines, damaging local tissues, causing pigmentation issues (hello, melasma), and inducing lipid peroxidation, which disrupts the cell and mitochondrial membranes.
This no doubt alters insulin receptors and much more. Nothing good comes out of artificial blue light apart from your amusement at night, which costs your health. What to do about it? It's simple:
Best Foods For Healthy Skin
These foods, minus bone broth, may be less popular but pack a punch for your skin and systemic health. (In no particular order)
Bone Broth: Collagen in the bone broth directly affects the gut lining. Collagen is everywhere in our body, including the gut and the endothelial cells of our skin and vascular system. Collagen is the cement to the house, but unlike cement, our collagen is extremely pliable and has an electrical current running throughout, allowing it to repair cells and transfer energy and information. If you want the best recipe for bone broth, find it HERE.
Beetroots: Rich in nitrates, even more so when you juice or steam them instead of baking or boiling them. The nitrates found in beetroot improve nitric oxide activity and blood flow and are rich in vitamin C, supporting collagen synthesis. They have antioxidant potential with the betalains, helping deal with inflammation, and they support detoxification with their high betaine levels. However, delivering more oxygen and improving circulation is a big deal.
Bee Pollen: One of the raw and living foods with over 250 active compounds, from vitamins, minerals, phenolic acids, and flavonoids to antioxidants. Rich in vitamin C and its unique copper cofactor enzyme tyrosinase. It contains unique antimicrobial compounds like honey that combat infections from the inside out. Finally, its lysine levels are decent for a plant-based source, so if you have a vegan friend, tell them about sprinkling it on soy yogurt with granola.
Halibut: One of the richest sources of selenium, which naturally helps recycle glutathione. I have written about glutathione before in this article HERE, how glutathione and cortisol status underpin collagen synthesis. Glutathione is a key antioxidant inside and outside the mitochondria, and while everyone tells you to take it with liposomal, how about we think about how we synthesize and recycle it? The rich amino acid content, such as lysine and proline, supports collagen building blocks. The omega-3s loaded in this cold-water fish support anti-inflammatory compounds like resolvins (unique protein mediators from DHA), helping to reduce insult to the skin and supporting the reduction in acne and better insulin sensitivity. It's a minor reliable source of vitamin D. For some, it's a low source of mercury and other heavy metals.
Stewed Apples: The pectin buried in the skin is a unique quercetin and vitamin C with bioflavonoids (why whole food vitamin C is better) that can make their way to the skin. Of course, soluble fiber supports bifidobacterium and Akkermansia muciniphila species that support other downstream species related to cross-feeding. These two bacteria also promote regular bowel movements (removing the toxins/trash) and short-chain fatty acids that support gut barrier integrity, reducing endotoxins/LPS from excessively turning up our TH1 immune system, which is led by macrophage activation. This, when chronic, can present as autoimmune diseases and allergies.
Blackberries: I use blackberries, which are less popular and talked about but contain more excellent antioxidants than blueberries and are cheaper. Blackberries also contain anthocyanins but in slightly higher concentrations than blueberries, making them excellent for fighting oxidative stress. Blackberries are high in ellagic acid, a compound that protects against UV-induced collagen breakdown, helping prevent premature aging and hyperpigmentation. There are unique fatty acids in the blackberry omega-6s which support excellent skin health. The tannin content can also help with puffiness and tightening skin. Both black and blueberries have decent vitamin C status supporting collagen.
Pili Nuts: When it comes to the top nut, I prefer pili, and it should be regarded differently with its low phytic acid content, which improves its nutrient absorption. Vitamin E and magnesium support skin and systemic health. Vitamin E is in the gamma-tocopherol form, a potent antioxidant for lipid peroxidation, handling healthy sun exposure and pollution. Vitamin E allows the cell membrane to be fluid and not collapse under oxidative stress. Vitamin E-rich diets have been shown to help calm eczema and acne. Magnesium is unique for energy production and has over 60 enzymatic cofactors. Whilst nothing compares to oysters, the zinc in pili nuts is modest, and this helps regulate oil production, preventing acne and reducing redness or irritation.
Conclusion
Try not to get clogged down (pun intended) in the skincare health space.
Your skin reflects your inside health and the outside environment (light, pollution, and skin care products you use). Going AWOL with skincare products might make things worse. That is why holistic skincare products (although there is much greenwashing) can be helpful by feeding your skin cells on the outside whilst you improve the light and the nutrition on the inside.
We must not allow ourselves to get exclusively caught up in just one when discussing improving our holistic health with our skin.
If you want to resolve skin issues while improving or optimising your health with my decentralized health optimisation medicine framework - click the image below to schedule a discovery consultation.
