Just Ask David

Transforming dull, broken-out skin into a radiant glow through nutrition is the name of the game for Jolene Hart, author of Eat Pretty.

As a beauty editor, Jolene knows all the best skincare and cosmetics. She rubbed elbows with skincare giants and was surrounded by experts at all times. But somehow, none of that changed her reality of over a decade of skin issues.

“My approach was outside-in,” Jolene admits. “I was always looking for the products that were going to fix my skin problems. It took me a while to realize I was looking in the wrong place.”

Of course, using effective skincare products works wonders for our skin. But without a balanced diet full of clean, whole foods, some of that hard work on crafting the perfect skincare routine is going to waste.

On this segment of Just Ask David, Jolene shares some of the nutrition tips that helped clear up her skin when no product could.

The Best Nutrients for Clear Skin

“Zinc is a wonderful mineral for clear skin. I always recommend getting them from whole food sources,” Jolene says. “So getting pumpkin seeds or cashews or mushrooms in your diet everyday, those are all zinc-rich foods”

Beta carotene is another important nutrient.

“It creates Vitamin A in your skin to help balance your sebum production and increases the rate at which your cells turnover so you don’t have as many clogged pores,” she explains.

Healthy fats are also essential to incorporate into your diet if your goal is flawless skin. They help to absorb all of the fat-soluble vitamins that are in the foods you’re eating.

“If you’re not eating those fats, your body’s missing out on a lot of nutrition,” Jolene says.

A Fresh, Scientific, Holistic Approach on Skincare

David Pollock is the beauty guru who is willing to take us behind-the-scenes to show us what works, what doesn’t, and what beauty trends are more about clicks than results.

Get news on Safe Beauty, beauty science developments, wellness, and more by following @JustAskDavid on Instagram and Twitter!

Probiotics are king in the health and wellness industry, reigning for the last few years now.

They’re best known for improving the amount of healthy bacteria in the gut, as well as gut health overall.

And since diet is tied so closely to skin health, it would make sense that eating probiotics would make your skin clearer, right?

But what would happen if we were to use probiotics topically?

Dr. Rajini Raj, world-class dermatologist and founder of the probiotic skincare brand TULA, joins Just Ask David to give us the real facts on what probiotics can do for our skin.

Beauty Breakthrough: Topical Probiotics Skincare

Topical probiotics skincare has been shown to improve all sorts of skin conditions, from rosacea to acne. Probiotics also contribute to overall skin health and beauty.

“Just to be clear, probiotics usually mean live bacteria. The products that we’re talking about… don’t have actually live bacteria being put on the face,” Dr. Raj clarifies.

“What they do have is those bacteria being centrifuge, which means they’ve been stirred up, released all of their good elements, and mixed with other peptides and other things that are good for your skin.”

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Have you ever heard of the philosophy: “If you can’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin”?

Consumers are realizing that what we put on our bodies matters just as much as what we put in them.

So it’s not surprising that more and more of us are reaching in our pantries for our skin care routines rather than than emptying our wallets for the latest luxury skin care.

The industry shift toward Safe Beauty inspires the crafty, creative side in many of us (or just made us paranoid about the transparency of the beauty brands we support).

I’m talking about D.I.Y. beauty - it’s more popular than ever!

Carol Alt joins Just Ask David for a few of her favorite D.I.Y. skin care tips!

The Best Beauty Mask is One You Can Eat

So it makes sense that there are some foods out there that can make a positive impact not just on our diets, but on our skin and hair, too.

“Yogurt is a great mask or even kefir, which is what I prefer because kefir has more probiotic,” Carol shares. “But if you eat it, it’s great because it repopulates the probiotics in your intestine… it’s great on your face and the lactic acid helps keep your skin really smooth and soft.”

A popular skincare ingredient that can surprisingly be eaten for its benefits is bentonite clay.

We know that bentonite is great at drawing out toxins in our skin, but did you know it can do the same thing in your gut?

“I always keep [bentonite clay] in the refrigerator because if you get any kind of bacterial infection in your stomach… a little bit of bentonite three times a day, a tablespoon, will soothe that.”

Want more D.I.Y. beauty tips? Keep listening!

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There’s one thing you can always be certain of when it comes to skincare trends: here today, balm tomorrow.

But it makes sense.

As technology and our understanding of the human body evolves, so does our skincare.

Just a few decades ago, we didn’t know how catastrophic the effects of smoking cigarettes on our skin. We had no idea.

Even the most beautiful, fresh-faced actresses in Hollywood went through cartons of cigarettes like they were potato chips - completely unsuspecting of the havoc they were wreaking on their skin and overall health.

Can you imagine that now?

So what does the skincare industry look like in 2018? What trends are shaping skincare at the moment?

Life Imitates Skincare? Or the Other Way Around...

Many skincare brands are now using ingredients that already exist in our bodies naturally, like collagen and hyaluronic acid.

We naturally have an abundance of these youth-preserving substances, but their production decreases dramatically when we get older.

So not only are these skincare ingredients surprisingly effective, but they’re completely non-toxic!

The Best Oil for Your Skin You’ve Never Heard Of

But red palm fruit oil is different. There are a ton of reasons why this oil is a couple of steps above the industry’s most beloved fats, like coconut oil and shea butter.

Red palm fruit oil is packed with omegas, antioxidants, micro-nutrients, trace minerals, and tons of other goodies!

And that’s not even it! Red palm fruit oil can be effective whether you ingest it or apply it topically, making it versatile for skincare or beauty supplements.

Probiotic and Fermented Skin Care

Skincare researchers are finding that when skincare ingredients undergo the fermentation process, the body absorbs the nutrients remarkably faster.

So you’d better believe that skincare formulators like David are already testing the effectiveness of fermented red palm fruit oil and others.

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We’re smarter consumers than we used to be.

In 2018, we check the ingredients in the things we eat and put on our bodies. We avoid certain chemicals that we know can hurt us. We have a better understanding of how what we put in and on our bodies has a direct impact on our health.

For this reason, a lot of us have decided to stick with “natural” products.

Because natural ingredients should be a lot safer than a chemical made in a laboratory, right?

Well… no. And here’s why.

Is Natural Really Better?

When it comes to the regulation of using the word “natural” on personal care products… there is none.

The FDA allows brands to describe their products as natural, even if it isn’t true. Your “all-natural” toiletries may actually only contain a minimal amount of natural ingredients.

How to See if Your Products are Safe - the RIGHT Way

But what us consumers should be actually concerned about is if our products are safe. Natural doesn’t necessarily mean safe. (You wouldn’t be thrilled if your new moisturizer had poison ivy in it, would you?)

If you’re serious about a toxin- and carcinogen-free lifestyle, the best thing you can do is to learn how to read an ingredient label.

Certain chemicals build up toxins in our bodies over time. It’s much more important to know what these chemicals are than to be lured into a false state of security with “natural” products.

To get you started, here are some hints that a chemical in the ingredient label is harmful. If you have any of these chemicals in your beauty products, throw them away!

Is Your Beauty Empowered?

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We all love splurging on skincare. Some of us live for the latest luxury celebrity-approved skincare trends. Others spend their coins on ethically sourced, cruelty-free, the cleanest, greenest skincare you can find.

But all of that’s for nothing if you’re not using your skincare in the right order. You’re practically throwing that money away.

Step 1: Cleanse TWICE Every Day!

A lot of people seem to think that washing your face in the morning when you already washed it the night before is a bit overkill.

Some skincare experts even say that it’s best not to wash your face when you wake up in the morning to preserve the healthy, natural oils our skin produced overnight.

Even though your skin’s natural oils may be good for it, washing your face in the morning is essential to unclogging pores and sloughing off dead skin cells. Avoid cleansing with hot water, which will be sure to strip away those healthy oils.

Using an ultra-gentle exfoliator, like the Rice Face Wash from my PUR attitude line is an effective way to really get rid of dead skin without irritating your skin.

Keep Listening for the Next 3 Steps!

Follow @JustAskDavid on Instagram and share his tips with your fellow skincare addicts!

All breakouts aren’t created equal.

In fact, the location of a cluster of acne can tell you a lot about your body. Forehead breakouts mean something different than chin breakouts, for example.

Nutrition expert Susan Ciminelli returns to map out the causes behind our acne breakouts.

Forehead Acne:

To understand forehead breakouts, Susan says to look to the small intestine.

“Your digestive system is not on autopilot,” she says. “Just because there’s food in your stomach does not mean that you’re going to digest your food.”

Anxiety, eating too quickly, and eating right before bed can all cause stress to the digestive enzymes in your system.

Since your digestive and nervous systems are not running optimally, neither is your skin. Remember that the next time you eat a snack before bed.

The Rub on Rosacea

But there are other reasons to avoid a highly acidic diet. An acidic environment facilitates bacterial growth and depresses the immune system.

“Brown rice is a neutralizer for your gut. And fermented foods can really help with rosacea,” Susan suggests.

More dietary suggestions in the podcast!

Wellness and Beauty Secrets 24/7!

As the seasons change, our skincare needs change, too.

Cool, dry air isn’t the only thing autumn brings. After a lazy summer of vacationing and spending time with the kids, back-to-school chaos may wreak more havoc on your skin than you realize.

Plenty of us are so busy running around and adjusting to our new schedules that we neglect our skin.

Stick to Your Skincare Routine

A lot of us skip parts of our skincare regimen to save time while we adjust to our new schedules. While this may shave off a few minutes while getting ready in the morning, you’re not going to be happy with your skin.

Keep Eating Clean & Using Clean Skincare

Don’t stop making your own meals at home. Keep researching the ingredients in your beauty products. Don’t let a change in your routine be the reason why your skin is missing its usual glow.

Don’t Wash Your Face With a Bar of Soap

But if you’re washing your face with a bar of soap, you might as well be skipping your moisturizer.

Bars of soap tend to disrupt our skin’s natural pH balance, not to mention strip your skin of all of its natural oils. That’s a recipe for skin as dry as autumn leaves.

You need to use a moisturizing cleanser, like micellar water or diluted essential oils. They’re also great for removing makeup!

Can’t Get Enough of David’s Beauty Tips?

Breast Cancer Awareness Month just ended, but cancer is a topic that never stops affecting our lives.

On this episode of Just Ask David, actress Cobie Smulders of “How I Met Your Mother” and “The Avengers” shares her struggles with ovarian cancer struggles and how it led to her partnership with TESARO to create Not On My Watch.

Not On My Watch is an ovarian cancer education organization dedicated to empowering women to take their health into their own hands.

“I believe that having knowledge about your disease is empowering,” Cobie shares. “It’s nice to build a community to start more of a discussion about this and to be more proactive.”

Listen to the podcast for the full interview - you won’t want to miss this one!

Just Ask David Cares About Safe Beauty

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While a good skincare regimen helps with keeping your skin clear and glowing, your diet plays a bigger role than you may realize.

Lisa Davis chats with nutrition expert Susan Ciminelli to get the low-down on how to clear up your skin through your diet.

You Are What You Eat!

Along with organs like the liver and intestines, the skin is responsible for filtering some of the things we ingest.

“If you want to have healthy skin from within, you have to have a nutrient-dense diet,” Susan explains.

“So that means foods that are deep with color like carrots and deep green vegetables and deep red berries... full of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, [and] trace elements.”

The perfect plate of food in front of you should have every color on it - like beets for the red, or

The Best Herbs to Cleanse Your System

Eating fresh, uncooked herbs is kind of like ingesting essential oils, but in a way that’s healthy and easy for our bodies to digest.

“I like to use basil - it’s a blood purifier,” Susan suggests. “Cilantro gets rid of metal poisoning in the body… [and] oregano is so important for you, especially when the weather is changing because it’ll boost your immune levels.”

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