Your skin is the body’s largest organ. It requires consistent care and attention – otherwise it will show or tell you! For example, it glows after a week of nutrient-dense meals and adequate hydration. Or it will look dull when you feel stress and make poor dietary choices. It can also feel itchy and dry when not treated with hydration and moisturization. The intimate connection between internal nourishment and external care forms the foundation of holistic skin health. This guide takes you through the steps you can take to keep your skin nourished and happy.

(Please note: the following information should not replace your own dietary needs or skin care requirements. Please consult your doctor or a registered health care provider for information and planning that’s right for you.)

Nourishing Skin From Within

The building blocks of vibrant skin arrive first through your digestive system. Here are some ways you can invite nourishment on the inside.

1. HYDRATION
Water is the medium in which all cellular functions occur. Here’s how hydration helps the skin:

• It facilitates nutrient transport to dermal and epidermal cells
• It maintains essential skin elasticity and structural integrity
• Water supports the body’s natural detoxification processes
• It also prevents transepidermal water loss, which can lead to fine lines

While the traditional eight glasses serve as a reasonable benchmark, your individual needs may vary based on activity level, climate, and metabolic factors. Here in Kelowna, BC, we need hydration more than other places. The dry winters deplete us almost as much as the hot summers. Supplement direct water intake with hydration-rich foods like cucumber, celery, and citrus fruits, which provide structured water alongside beneficial phytonutrients.

(Structured water – sometimes called magnetized or hexagonal water – refers to water within a structure that has supposedly been altered to form a hexagonal cluster. Some claim structured water shares similarities with water that hasn’t been polluted or contaminated by human processes.)

2. OMEGA-3 ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS
These fundamental lipids serve as integral components of cell membranes, influencing fluidity, permeability, and communication. Their anti-inflammatory properties also help modulate the skin’s immune response, potentially preventing conditions from acne to eczema to arise. Wild-caught cold water fish, plant sources like walnuts, flaxseeds, and chia seeds are high in these helpful lipids. 

3. VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID)
Beyond its antioxidant capabilities, vitamin C serves as an essential cofactor in collagen synthesis—the process that creates the structural protein accounting for 75% of your skin’s dry weight. This nutrient also helps regulate melanin production, potentially reducing hyperpigmentation. 

The following foods contain high amounts of vitamin C:

• Dark leafy greens, which provide vitamin C alongside other phytonutrients 
• Bell peppers, which offer more vitamin C than citrus fruits
• Strawberries and kiwi fruits
• Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts

Skin Nourishment From the Outside

While internal nutrition establishes your foundation, topical applications and advanced techniques provide targeted support to the skin’s natural functions and protective barriers.

1. Mindful Cleansing: Approach cleansing as restoration rather than stripping. Select pH-balanced formulations that respect your skin’s acid mantle while effectively removing environmental pollutants, excess sebum, and cellular debris. 
2. Strategic Hydration: Look beyond simple moisturization to products that support your skin’s natural moisturizing factors and lipid barrier. We have a list of products we love here. 
3. Diligent Protection: Daily broad-spectrum sun protection remains the single most evidence-supported anti-aging intervention available. Modern formulations offer elegant textures without the white cast or heaviness associated with traditional sunscreens (we love Colorescience Brush on SPF – available in clinic!).
4. Intentional Exfoliation: Rather than aggressive scrubbing, consider gentle chemical exfoliants that dissolve the intercellular bonds between dead skin cells. 
   

2. A CONSISTENT PLAN
Taking care of your skin doesn’t only involve cleansing, maintenance, and prevention. It also requires complementary services, like non-invasive professional treatments that can amplify your nutritional and topical efforts.

1. AquaFirme Therapy
   This treatment utilizes a specialized device to deliver customized serums containing hyaluronic acid, peptides, antioxidants, and other actives to deeper skin layers than topical application alone can reach. Another key benefit is its promotion of collagen synthesis among other cellular functions.
   
   
2. Medical Microneedling
   This treatment generates new collagen by introducing micro-injury to the skin. This allows the body’s natural healing response to engage stimulating collagen and elastin to improve skin texture, pigment (or tone), pore size, scarring, fine lines, and wrinkles.
   
   
3. Photobiomodulation (LED Therapy)
   Specific wavelengths of light interact with cellular chromophores, triggering beneficial biological effects:
   
   – Red light (630-700nm) stimulates fibroblasts and promotes circulation
   – Blue light (405-420nm) targets P. acnes bacteria and regulates sebum
   – Yellow light (580-620nm) addresses redness and lymphatic stagnation
   – Near-infrared (800-880nm) penetrates deepest for enhanced cellular repair
   
   
4. Chemical Peels
   Gentle chemical peels treat fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, pores, acne, scarring and more. The advanced exfoliation removes surface impediments to enhance and product penetration while stimulating cellular renewal without compromising barrier function.

The Integrated Approach: Cultivating Radiance

True skin transformation and nourishment occurs from the integration of thoughtful practices:

1. Prioritize nutrient density: Focus on whole foods rich in skin-supporting nutrients rather than isolated supplements
2. Hydrate consciously: Consider not just quantity but quality and timing of fluid intake
3. Develop rituals rather than routines: Approach skincare intentionally and holistically
4. Select treatments strategically: Work with a registered clinician specializing in medical aesthetics to choose modalities that complement your specific skin needs and goals
5. Honor the skin-mind connection: Recognize how stress management, sleep quality, and movement patterns manifest in your skin

The beauty of holistic skin nutrition lies in its comprehensive nature. When you nourish your skin completely, it requires less correction and concealment. The radiance that emerges reflects not just physical health but integrated wellbeing.

What intentional shift in your skin nutrition practice will you implement today? See one of our clinical skin specialists to get your skin feeling fresh and nourished today.