It’s Halloween season, that festive time of year when it’s ok to stash copious amounts of candy and spend the following days – nay, weeks – consuming them. Whether you’re trick or treating with your kids or attending a costume party, chances are you’ll end up indulging in a treat or two. Although we love the sweet stuff as much as the next girl, there is no denying the adverse effects of consuming refined sugar.
Sugar causes inflammation and has been implicated on everything from skin problems, weak immune systems, diabetes and heart disease. It’s also extremely addictive: when you eat sugar, your blood glucose level spikes, giving you a burst of energy – quickly followed by an inevitable crash that gets you craving more sugar to stave off fatigue. It’s a never-ending cycle!
We are not here to tell you to skip on the Halloween fun altogether! If you are going to treat yourself this weekend, abide by these two rules: 1. Skip the chemical-laden, processed junk. Look for treats made with real food – think honey, nuts and cacao. 2. Practice moderation. Even the healthiest treat will cause a spike on blood sugar levels when you overdo it.
How To Deal With Excess Sugar
Okay, so a candy or two will made it’s way to your mouth and you woke up the next day experiencing some not so sweet side effects. Here’s what you can do for sugar detox:
Clean Up Your Diet
- Amp up your Omega 3 intake: a new study found that the omega 3 fatty acid known as docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA reverses the genetic damage caused by sugar. Although your body isn’t able to produce DHA, you can get it by eating wild salmon (not farmed salmon), other fish and fish oil, as well as walnuts, flaxseed, and fruits and vegetables.
- Replace sugar with healthy fats: Eating more avocados and nuts tastes really filling and decadent, while also helping to curb any sneaky sugar cravings. On that note, avoid low-fat processed foods, which typically replace fat with sugar.
- Pair sweet foods with protein: consuming sugar with protein helps to slow down its absorption and prevents blood sugar spikes.
- Stick to 15 grams of sugar per serving – or less: this means cutting out fruit juices, alcohol, and “health-food” bars.
Ward Off The Dreaded Sugar Face (It’s A Thing!)
Sugar wreaks absolute havoc on your skin. It weakens the immune system, making your body less able to fight acne-causing bacteria. It triggers insulin production, which can “gunk” up your pores and lead to breakouts. It increases testosterone, making your pores look larger and skin oilier. It also breaks down collagen, the stuff that keeps your skin looking plump and youthful. But fear not, you can get your skin back into balance with a powerful detoxifying and anti-aging routine. This is also a great step-by-step routine to get your skin to bounce back after wearing heavy Halloween makeup!
1
Exfoliate
Choose your favorite gentle exfoliant or make your own by mixing rice powder with water. Gently rub the mixture on your face and neck to slough off built up of dead skin and impurities.
2
Time To Mask
Immediately after exfoliating, slather on the Deeply Clarifying Face Mask. This ancient Ayurvedic formula packs a spicy punch, and will undo all the damage from excess sugar! It draws out impurities from deep within the pores, soothes inflammation and minimizes visible signs of irritation. Ayurvedic herbs like turmeric, clove and neem destroy acne-causing bacteria on the surface of the skin, while astringent botanicals dramatically tighten pores.
3
Plump In The Pm
Your skin is purified, fresh and ready to receive a boost of healing botanicals. This is the time to stop sugar’s wrinkle-inducing side effects on their track. Take 3-4 drops of the Absolute Anti Aging Face Oil and massage all over your face and neck in circular motions. Frankincense essential oil works as a ‘natural retinol’ catalyzing production of healthy new skin cells, while sandalwood essential oil neutralizes inflammation for softer, brighter and glowing skin.
4
Balance In The Am
In the morning, you will want to regulate oil production and keep breakouts at bay. After cleansing your face, massage 3-4 drops of the Deeply Clarifying Face Oil between your palms, and gently pat your face in firm circular motions. Clove and tea tree essential oils fight infection and bacteria. Lavender and clary sage essential oils regulate the skin’s natural sebum production, creating a protective barrier from bacteria and external toxins and are one of the best face oils. This blend comes in a grapeseed oil base that is rich in linoleic acid and Omega-3 fatty acids for reducing inflammation.
5
Treat Any Breakouts
Sometimes no matter what you do, a breakout still makes its way to the surface. It’s not as bad as you think, this simply means your body is ridding itself of toxins the best way it knows how. But that doesn’t mean you have to suffer through a long and painful zit, which is why we are super excited to introduce our latest pimple-fighting hero:
The Deeply Clarifying Spot Treatment
This concentrated essential oil blend harnesses an age-old formula of tea tree, juniper berry, clove, lavender and clary sage to target blemishes by penetrating the skin’s surface and killing bacteria at its source. Its anti-inflammatory properties diminish swelling and redness, and accelerate healing. Unlike most acne spot treatments, this Ayurvedic formula is as nourishing as it is potent – soothing grape seed oil and lavender essential oil ensure it will not leave blemishes dry or cracked as they heal.
Use the Deeply Clarifying Spot Treatment at the first sign of a blemish. It is effective at every stage – even on blemishes that have not fully surfaced. Apply to the affected area both morning and evening after cleansing, or as often as required in the day, until the inflammation and redness subside. You can also use this treatment as an acne-fighting booster; just add a few drops to your regular lotions, oils and masks to both prevent and treat breakouts.
