Integrative Beauty: The Skin, Mind & Body Connection
Embracing a holistic vision of whole wellness and beauty
Is effortless beauty possible? We're all beautiful in our own way, but what if we looked at beauty as intentional? Beauty that begins with whole wellness that radiates from inside out and is reflected from the outside in.
The key to whole wellness? Well, that’s the thing. There is no one key. Instead, it’s a metaphorical ring of keys that work together to unlock aspects of beauty that nature both gives and takes. It’s the beauty that lies at the intersection of validated skincare science and long-standing proven wellness practices. It’s integrative beauty that thrives on the adoption of daily practices that help protect your whole being from inflammaging, the inflammatory effects of stress that cause skin to lose its healthy glow and potentially age at an accelerated rate.
“Beauty in Our Presence”
Integrative beauty respects the connection between skin, body and emotional wellbeing. This holistic approach incorporates advances in cosmeceutical science, Ayurvedic adaptogens, mindfulness and lifestyle practices for whole beauty. So if you think the practice of meditation is for people who have nothing better to do with their time, think again. There is a growing body of science that proves mindfulness practices support your body’s resilience to stress…and that includes your skin.
Reduced Stress = Better Skin
According to Kristen Race, PhD. and bestselling author, simple mindfulness practices can address underlying stress-related issues that create skin problems in the first place. Emerging research in the field of psychodermatology examines the interaction between mind, emotions and skin.
When we are stressed our brain signals our body to direct oxygen and nutrients away from the skin and towards organs like the heart, lungs and brain that are more essential to our survival. Stress also signals our brain to release all sorts of stress hormones that can exacerbate pre-existing issues, like acne and eczema. Our skin also loses that rosy glow, and fine lines and wrinkles begin to form.
In addition, when we are under stress, the things we need to do to keep our skin healthy tend to fall to the bottom of our list. We sleep less, drink less water, exercise less and forego parts of our skin care routine.
While we can’t eliminate stress from our lives, integrating mindfulness into our daily beauty routine can combat the negative effects. The benefits of mindfulness grow when coupled with products and practices designed specifically for whole beauty and balance.
When we see beauty as a whole and the connection between skin, body and mind, we see integrative beauty.
Learn more about ways to start a mindfulness practice here.
