The Beauty of Dirty Skin

As someone who has struggled with acne in the past, I take skincare very seriously. I believe in starting early to prevent issues such as sun damage, premature aging, and loss of elasticity down the line.

Recently, I read "The Beauty of Dirty Skin" written by renowned scientist and dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe. "The Beauty of Dirty Skin" focuses on the science and research behind fixing skin problems from the inside out and protecting the human microbiome.

I rounded up the key lessons about skincare and skin health that I learned from Dr. Bowe's book:

OVEREXFOLIATION:

I always thought that to prevent breakouts you had to cleanse, scrub, and scrape your skin clean of all of its bacteria. So, I was using gentle exfoliants about 4 times a week. Dr. Bowe talked about the dangers of over-exfoliation and the important ways good bacteria help our skin to actually build resilience against breakouts. Think of it like your immune system: if you never get sick, you won't have the antibodies needed to prevent future illnesses.

Dr. Bowe wrote, "The more frequently you exfoliate, the higher your risk for a reaction in the form of irritated, inflamed skin."

I switched up my exfoliation routine and now I only exfoliate twice a week, as recommended by Dr. Bowe, using a gentle exfoliant. I either use my Foreo tool or Summer Friday's Overtime Mask. I also mark it down in my planner after exfoliating so I don't forget !

SUNSCREEN:

I'm pretty well aware of the importance of sunscreen and I use some type of SPF protection daily, whether it's in the form of a tinted moisturizer or facial mist containing SPF, or actual sunscreen. Dr. Bowe reiterated the importance of wearing sunscreen on a daily basis especially in your 20's and included important tips.

- Make sure you're using enough ! Dr. Bowe recommends using a shot glass amount for your body

- Sunscreen isn't effective right away ! Apply it 15 minutes before actually going in the sun for the best results

-Reapply every two hours during a poolside day of tanning

-Reapply after swimming

-Don't use sunscreen that is expired or that has been left out in the heat for a long time. It won't be effective anymore. That sunscreen that's been outside on your patio table since last summer? Toss it !

- Use the supplement Heliocare to aid in sun protection

During my recent trip to Florida, I made sure to follow all of these sunscreen tips and ticks. I used Elta MD SPF 46 for my face (you can shop it on my Amazon page) , Rodan and Fields broad spectrum sunscreen for my body, and I took one Heliocare supplement every morning (also linked on my Amazon page).

DAIRY:

Many people believe dairy is terrible for our skin, but Dr. Bowe believes that not all dairy is bad and a lot of dairy products are infused with probiotics which are amazing for our skin as well as our immune system. Avoid unfermented dairy products such as cow's milk which is often associated with acne, but enjoy yogurt, mozzarella, brie, blue cheese, swiss cheese, goat cheese, parmesan, and more. If you use skim milk or whole milk, try swapping it out for almond milk.

ACNE:

Most of my breakouts happen on the sides of my face and cheeks. I know cellphones are huge hosts for bad bacteria so I always clean my phone with sanitizing wipes, but the breakouts still appear from time to time. According to Dr. Bowe, the reason for this is the friction of cellphones rubbing against our faces cause acne, not just the dirty screens. If you're struggling with acne, specifically on your cheeks, go hands-free. Use headphones when talking on the phone and avoid touching your face !

PROBIOTICS:

If you aren't taking a probiotic everyday, you need to start asap! Probiotics are great for your skin, immune system, gut health, and more. I take one Culturelle probiotic every morning.

These are just a few of my favorite points from "The Beauty of Dirty Skin" that I immediately added to my daily life. However, there's a ton of other amazing information like at home recipes for face masks and lip scrubs, in depth looks into the science behind breakouts, and eating plans inside the book. If you love learning about skin care like I do, check out "The Beauty of Dirty Skin."

Thanks for reading !

XO,

Caroline