Let's make showing real skin the new norm, and filters, a thing of the past. 

Here at Beautifully Nourished, it is so important to us that we do not use a filter over any of our images. We all have different skin types, tones, and textures.  So, let's embrace them!

As women, we already have so many beauty standards that society encourages us to live up to, which is why it is so important for our page to be a safe place and make all women all over the world feel confident in their own skin.   

We want you to be able to relate to us and our skin concerns instead of, comparison and feeling as though there is anything about yourselves and your skin that you need to change. You do not.  Nourish what you have and embrace all that you are. We are all beautiful in our own right, and our differences are what make us, us!

Let's make showing real skin the new norm, and filters, a thing of the past. 

What is your Skin Routine, Katherine?

"I like simplicity, especially after a long day! I use skincare as an act of self care to soothe my skin and my soul. I only use products rich in natural goodness on my skin - strictly no nasties. My skin is sensitive and prone to acne breakouts and I manage this through appropriate skincare, minimalism, plenty of hydration and cruelty free products".

 

Acne Prone Skin 

Acne is a skin condition that can occur when hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells, causing whiteheads, blackheads or pimples. Acne can also be caused through hormonal changes and simply from genetics.  Acne is most common among teenagers, though it affects people of all ages. 

Effective acne treatments are available, but acne can be persistent. The pimples and bumps heal slowly, and when one begins to go away, others may seem to crop up. 

Symptoms of Acne

• Whiteheads - Closed plugged pores 
• Blackheads - Open plugged pores
• Small red, tender bumps - Papules 
• Pimples - Which are papules with pus at their tips 
• Large, solid, painful lumps under the skin - Nodules
• Painful, pus-filled lumps under the skin - Ccystic lesions

How Does Acne Develop?

Six main factors cause acne: 

• Genetics
• Hormones
• Excess oil production 
• Hair follicles clogged by oil and dead skin cells 
• Bacteria 
• Inflammation 

 Certain things may trigger or worsen acne: 

• Hormonal changes and fluctuations throughout the month
• Certain medications
• Diet and lifestyle choices
• Stress may make your acne worse

Which Foods Cause Acne? 

Nutritionist and Founder, Katherine explains " we need to STOP telling people with acne to stop eating chocolate.  Whilst, yes it is true that consistently poor food choices can inflame on the inside leading to visible signs of inflammation on the out, sufferers of acne typically experience acne due to genetics, and or something else going on within the body - often related to hormones".

Eating foods which are rich in calories, fat and refined carbohydrates regularly can worsen break outs, especially if they are eaten in the absence of fruit, vegetables, antioxidants and whole foods. 

Nutritional choices can help to balance and manage milder breakouts, as well as getting to know you own body and keeping a journal too. 

Acne Myths 

• Chocolate and greasy foods will give you acne. Eating chocolate or greasy food has little to no effect on acne. 
• Hygiene acne isn't caused by dirty skin. In fact, scrubbing the skin too hard or cleansing with harsh soaps or chemicals irritates the skin and can make acne worse. 
• Cosmetics don't necessarily worsen acne, not if you choose wisely -keep your eyes peeled in an up coming article on what ingredient to opt for and avid when breaking down ingredient labels.

Risk Factors for Acne

• Age - people of all ages can get acne, but it's most common in teenagers
• Family history. Genetics plays a role in acne. If both of your parents had acne, you're likely to develop it too. 
• Greasy or oily substances. You may develop acne where your skin comes into contact with unsuitable oils or oily lotions and creams. 
• Friction or pressure on your skin. This can be caused by items such as telephones, cellphones, helmets, tight collars and backpacks. 

When to see a doctor: If self-care remedies don't clear your acne, see your primary care doctor. He or she can prescribe stronger medications. If acne persists or is severe, you may want to seek medical treatment from a doctor or a skin dermatologist, who specialises in dermatology. 

Homemade Face Mask for Acne 

Apple Cider Vinegar and Green Tea Face Mask 

Apple cider vinegar helps get rid of the dead skin cells and unclog your pores thanks to the AHA (alpha hydroxyl acids) fruit acid it contains. So using it in your face mask can help you lighten the acne scars while balancing the pH on your skin. To make this face mask: 

• In a bowl take one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar 
• Mix it with two teaspoons of green tea
• Take one tablet of Beautifully Nourished's Selenium ACE Anti Age supplement and crush the tablet in a pestle and mortar 
• Mix all the ingredients well and add a drop of tea tree, should you have any to hand
• Apply the mix onto your face and rinse with lukewarm water after 15 minutes.  
• Use this mask once or twice a week and never apply to open wounds.

Rosacea 

Rosacea is a chronic skin disorder that is commonly characterised by persistent facial redness and inflammation around the forehead, nose, cheeks and chin. The severity and impact of rosacea on the skin and quality of life can fluctuate over time.

Rosacea can affect anyone. But it's most common in middle-aged, caucasian women. There is no define cure for rosacea, but treatment can control and reduce the signs and symptoms. 

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Rosacea? 

• Facial blushing or flushing - Rosacea can cause a persistent blushing or flushing in the central part of your face. This sign of the condition may be difficult to see on brown and black skin
• Visible veins - Small blood vessels of your nose and cheeks break and become visible 
• Swollen bumps - Many people with rosacea also develop pimples on their face that resemble acne. These bumps sometimes contain pus
• Burning sensation - The skin of the affected area may feel hot and tender
• Eye problems - Many people with rosacea also experience dry, irritated, swollen eyes and eyelids. This is known as ocular rosacea. 
• Enlarged nose - Over time, rosacea can thicken the skin on the nose, causing the nose to appear bulbous (rhinophyma). This occurs more often in men than in women
• Small pink or red bumps. Sometimes these become filled with a yellowish liquid 

Rosacea on Black Skin ; Spotting the Signs of Rosacea on Dark Skin

• Your face feels warm all the time
• Your face appears flushed all the time
• Burning and/or stinging in the face or a warm sensation
• You have unidentified discolouration of the face
• You have dry patches of skin that appear swollen
• Acne type spots and breakouts that don’t clear up with treatment
• The skin on your forehead, nose, cheeks and chin is rough, swollen, thickened and malformed
• Yellow or brown hardened bumps around your mouth and/or eyes
• Your skin is sensitised to your skincare products -burning or stinging when you apply
• Depending on your skin complexion you may be able to see dilated blood vessels
• Feeling as if there is something in your eyes, a gritty feeling or sensitivity to sunlight
• Noticing that there are triggers for warm sensation, redness, bumps in the skin (e.g. sunlight, spicy food, stress, alcohol)

What Can Trigger Rosacea?

It's not known what causes rosacea, but some triggers can make symptoms worse. Common triggers for rosacea include: 

• Alcohol 
• Spicy foods 
• Cheese 
• Caffeine 
• Hot drinks 
• Aerobic exercise like running 

Treatment For Rosacea From A GP: Rosacea cannot be cured but treatment from a GP can help control the symptoms. It can get worse if it's not treated. 

A GP may suggest: 

• Prescriptions for creams and gels you put on your skin 
• Taking antibiotics for 6 to 16 weeks 
• IPL (intense pulsed light) treatment – this may not be available on the NHS 
• The GP may refer you to a skin specialist (dermatologist) if treatments are not working

Things You Can Do To Help Rosacea

Rosacea is not caused by poor hygiene and it's not contagious. But there are things you can try to help with symptoms. 

If you know that a trigger, for example alcohol or spicy food, makes symptoms worse, try to avoid it as much as possible. 

Do 

• Wear a high SPF sunscreen of at least SPF 30 every day 
• Try to avoid heat, sunlight or humid conditions if possible 
• Try to protect your face in cold weather 
• Use gentle sensitive skin skincare
• Clean your eyelids at least once a day
• Take steps to manage stress 
• Identify the triggers that prompt a flare up

Don’t 

• Do not drink alcohol 
• Do not have hot drinks 
• Do not have too much caffeine (found in tea, coffee and chocolate) 
• Do not eat cheese 
• Do not eat spicy food 
• Do not do too much aerobic exercise, like running 

Dry Skin

Dry skin isn't usually a serious skin condition. In most cases it's caused by factors like hot or cold weather, low moisture in the air, and soaking in hot water for long periods of time. Skin becomes dry when it loses too much water and oil.

You can do a lot on your own to improve your skin, including using moisturisers and avoiding harsh, drying soaps.  

 Symptoms Of Dry Skin 

• A feeling of skin tightness, especially after showering, bathing or swimming 
• Skin that feels and looks rough 
• Itching of the skin 
• Slight to severe flaking, scaling or peeling 
• Fine lines or cracks 
• Grey, ashy skin 
• Redness 
• Deep cracks that may bleed  

Causes Of Dry Skin

• The weather - Skin tends to be driest in winter 
• Heat - Central heating, wood-burning stoves, space heaters and fireplaces all reduce humidity and dry your skin 
• Hot baths and showers - Taking long, hot showers or baths can dry your skin 
• Harsh soaps and detergents - Many popular soaps, detergents and shampoos strip moisture from your skin as they are formulated to remove oil 
• Other skin conditions - People with skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis (eczema) or psoriasis are prone to dry skin 

How to Prevent Dry Skin

• After gently cleansing the skin, apply a nutritious serum such as Beautifully Nourished's Vitamin ACE Facial Serum. This will deliver powerful ingredients directly into the skin's cells. 
• Moisturise your skin with Vitamin ACE Moisturiser as it seals and locks moisture into the skin to keep water from escaping. 

• Limit water exposure - Do not over do it in the shower!
• Do not use soaps or products that will dry out your skin. Try cleansing creams, gentle skin cleansers and shower gels with added moisturisers 
• Cover as much skin as possible in cold or windy weather. Winter can be especially drying to skin, so be sure to wear a scarf, hat and gloves when you go out 
• Wear rubber gloves to immerse your hands in water or are using harsh cleansers, wearing gloves can help protect your skin 

Winter Skin Prep 

In the winter we need to make sure to hydrate our skin as much as we can and there are simple ways to protect our skin during this time. As well as drinking plenty of water, the  nutrients in Beautifully Nourished Vitamin ACE Moisturiser, include Vitamins A, C and E , which will boost the radiance and vitality of the skin. 

Allergies and common colds can often leave us feeling like we have big, dark bags under our eyes in the winter. Using the Beautifully Nourished Pro Age Eye Cream can help to improve and prevent this. 

Skin Care Night Time Routine : The best thing about skincare is that you can reap the benefits even whilst sleeping. A rich natural night cream that deeply nourishes and visibly revitalises the skin while we sleep is so important to keep your skin feeling fresh all year round. The Beautifully Nourished Skin Rejuvenating Night Cream is enriched with primrose oil, so that skin is left feeling silky smooth and looking re-energised in the morning. 

 Dry Skin Home Remedies 

1. Sunflower seed oil

A 2013 study found that sunflower seed oil improved hydration when used as a moisturiser on participant’s arms. The same study found that olive oil actually damaged the skin’s barrier, suggesting not all natural oils are suitable for use as moisturisers on everyone. 

2. Coconut oil

Another natural oil that works well to treat dry skin is coconut oil. 

As 2016  study explains, coconut oil contains saturated fatty acids that have emollient properties. An emollient is a fat or oil that acts as a moisturiser by filling in gaps in dry skin, making it smooth. 

3. Oatmeal bath

Oatmeal is another natural ingredient that can help treat dry skin. Adding powdered oatmeal to a bath or using creams that contain oatmeal may help to relieve dry skin. 

A 2015  study found that extracts from oatmeal had anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, suggesting it can help treat dry skin. 

4. Drinking milk

Milk could also offer relief from dry skin, but not when applied to the skin. Research suggests that a diet including milk could improve dry skin. 

Sensitive Skin 

Sensitive skin is a term rather than a medical diagnosis. It is generally used to describe skin with reduced tolerance to the application of cosmetics and personal care products.  

When you have sensitive skin, it can feel like everything is irritating. But with a few lifestyle changes, you may see significant improvement. Beautifully Nourished's sensitive skin skincare has been designed for even the most sensitive of skin. 

The Four Main Types Of Sensitive Skin

• Naturally sensitive skin: This one is genetic, and it can be linked to inflammatory skin conditions like eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis
• Environmentally sensitive skin: this type of sensitivity is triggered by your environment. Sun exposure, cigarette smoke, air pollution, anything your skin comes into contact with
• Reactive skin: This type of skin becomes red and inflamed by skin-care products, resulting in very red, warm and irritated skin
• Thin skin: As we age, our skin naturally becomes thinner, and thinner skin is easier to irritate

Here are a few tips that can help anyone with sensitive skin: 

• Take short 5 to 10 minute showers with warm water 
• Avoid harsh astringents and exfoliants 
• Use a gentle, fragrance-free soap 
• Use essential oils instead of perfumes - test skin sensitivity prior
• Use a gentle, fragrance-free laundry detergent 
• Try using organic cleaning supplies 
• Always use a shaving cream or gel 
• Gently pat yourself dry after a shower (instead of rubbing) and apply moisturiser right away 
• Always test new products on a discreet area of skin at least one day before trying a full-application 
• Skincare ingredients to avoid: those with sensitive skin should be cautious of using skincare with retinol

Review of Beautifully Nourished Skin Care From Our Marketing Executive Stacey Allpress 

"I have extremely sensitive skin, so I must be careful with the products I use and even the type of materials that touch my skin too.  

When it comes to skincare, I am always reluctant to try new products in fear that I will have a reaction.  

With our products, as they are all natural and organic, they are perfect for sensitive skin! They are so gentle but also so luxurious. I use our serum and moisturiser daily and my skin has never looked so clear and glowy and I do not need to worry about having a reaction"! 

Ageing Skin 

As we age, skin visibly changes in several ways. Some of the ways it can change are listed below: 

• It can become rough, dry and itchy 
• Slack - The loss of the elastic tissue (elastin and collagen) in the skin with age causes your skin to become slack and hang loosely 
• Transparent - This is caused by thinning of the epidermis (surface layer of the skin) and dermis (deeper layer of the skin) 
• Fragile - Increased skin fragility is caused by flattening of the area where the epidermis and dermis (layer of skin under the epidermis) come together 
• More easily bruised - This is caused by thinner blood vessel walls 
• More prone to developing skin lesions, such as non-cancerous (benign) tumours. 

What Below The Skin Changes Cause The Ageing Seen In The Face? 

Some factors include: 

• A drop in collagen production - See Hair, Nails and Skin to support.
• Loss of fat below the skin in your cheeks, temples, chin, nose and eye area. This may result in loosening skin, sunken eyes and a “skeletal” appearance. 
• Bone loss may become evident after age 50 and cause slack skin and puckering of the skin around your mouth 
• Cartilage loss in the nose causes drooping of the nasal tip and makes the bony structures in the nose easier to see 

Anti-Ageing Skincare Routine Tips!

Whether its acne early pregnancy, in your teens, or as an adult, your skin care routine may change depending on your age. For beautiful skin at any age, add these steps to your routine: 

• Cleanse. Gently cleansing gets rid of all the dirt, make-up or grime, which is why it should always be the first step in your morning and evening routine.  

• Exfoliate. Exfoliating skincare helps remove the dead skin cells on your skin surface, revealing your skin’s natural glow while also maximising the effect of all the products you’ll apply afterwards in your regimen by increasing the penetration of anti-ageing ingredients. 

• Use a serum and opt for skincare with hyaluronic acid.  When your skin is low on moisture and it needs an extra hydration kick, serums can help give your skin what it needs.  

• Moisturise. Keeping your skin hydrated is one of the most important steps you can take to keep your skin looking young. Your body produces less natural oils as you age, and that can result in fine lines and wrinkles forming. 

• Vitamin A - Vitamin A is composed of two parts: retinoids, which include retinol, and carotenoids which include beta-carotine. When it comes to anti-ageing, Vitamin A is one of the most powerful anti ageing ingredients as it helps surface skin-cell turnover.  

• Hyaluronic Acid. This ingredient acts like a sponge that sucks up an incredible amount of water and then traps it in the skin. It helps moisturise the skin and helps fill in those fine lines for younger-looking, plump skin.

• SPF. While this may be the last thought in your regimen, it’s fair to say that this is the most important one. The sun’s UV rays are responsible for up to 80% of the signs of premature skin ageing. These rays can even penetrate clouds and glass windows, and they can get deep into the surface of your skin, causing visible skin ageing, such as wrinkles and fine lines. 

• Skincare Vitamin C - Vitamin C in skincare will brighten and tighten the face leaving the skin feeling replenished and refreshed. 

• Skincare Natural - Avoid any nasties that strip the skin of its natural oils.

A Beautifully Nourished Review  

Having our own beauty product's, we know how important it is to look after our skin by investing in a good skincare routine. However, even with high quality skin care products, there are environmental factors that can affect our skin.  Our skin fluctuates, naturally though the cycles of days, months and years.  We all have different skin days.

Our Recommendations: 

Acne Prone Skin – As acne causes are varied, with most breakouts caused by blocked pores, we encourage you to not cake the skin in skincare and apply sparingly for optimal results.  The AHA fruit acids in Beautifully Nourished's vitamin ACE serum and moisturiser make these products incredibly beneficial to blemish prone skin. 

Those prone to breakouts should use our Acai and Goji Berry Microdermabrasion Scrub 1x times a week. Our scrub will help to unclog your pores, prevent the build-up and remove dead skin cells. It will help other skincare products to penetrate the skin more deeply. It will even out skin tone, boosts circulation and lymphatic drainage, increases cell turnover⁠ and Stimulates collagen synthesis⁠ 

Dry Skin – For treating dry skin we recommend a good skin care routine which would include our serum and moisturiser. Beautifully Nourished’s Vitamin rich, Vitamin ACE Moisturiser will encourage collagen production, resulting in tighter, firmer skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. With added AHA fruit acid, the vitamin ACE moisturiser will brighten and hydrate the skin, leaving it feeling soft and silky smooth. All Beautifully Nourished skincare is suitable for dry skin. 

Sensitive Skin – All our products are suitable for sensitive skin. So, if you are a suffer, these products will work wonders for your skin. All Beautifully Nourished skincare is suitable for sensitive skin. 

Ageing skin – All of our products contain anti ageing properties, which will reduce the appearance of wrinkles & dark circles . AHA fruit acid, hyaluronic acid and more, your skin will be well on its way with organic Skincare by Beautifully Nourished.