Skin Fasting…Really?
Clear skin and an easy life are two things every woman wishes for. Very few of us wake up without a single blemish on our faces, nearly without a care in the world for skin products. But, for many of us hoping to join the clear-skin club, skin-care products unintentionally stand on every shelf.
And I know, I know, you have heard it all before. Every single trick in the book, from Dudu Osun(Black Soap) to Fenty Skincare and none of them seem to work. But what if I told you the new wave has zero skin-care products to add to your supply list.
Skin Fasting, — is simply staying away from all skincare products to “detox” your face. Yes, it’s that simple.
According to Man Repeller, it was popularized by Mirai Clinical, a skincare company committed to sharing “unique beauty secrets from Japan,” the methodology draws inspiration from Hippocrates’ belief that traditional fasting can be used as a healing mechanism.
The Japanese skin and body care brand describe it as a way “to strengthen the skin’s natural protective barrier that is weakened by excessive nourishing, to normalize the secretion of natural oils and support the natural rejuvenation process.”
The Science
However, the science behind it all is not that complex. The skin performs sensory and protective duties, but the hidden truth is just like us—the skin breathes. The gaseous exchange is necessary for its sustainability. According to Dr. Mervyn Patterson, one of the UK’s leading aesthetic doctors, “The top layer of the skin derives its oxygen supply from the atmosphere and not from the blood.”
While this only contributes to around 2{54d2fcdcd494adb6982253be6fe8d5492e5f586157f419110131714f9092ec60} of a human’s total respiration, there’s still a small gas exchange going down. The skin also produces an oily substance called sebum, which is vital for preventing the skin from losing moisture and acting as a barrier against microorganisms. The idea behind skin fasting, then, is that taking a break from products helps the skin’s ability to both breathe and secrete healthy natural oils.
Although, it’s bold to ask for teenagers and women today, to abandon cosmetics and pray their skin reacts favorably. It possible this could be the hidden piece of the skincare puzzle like they say sometimes “less is more”
Advice?
Moreover, surprisingly the practice helped me discover a few things about myself and my skin. I wouldn’t tell you I “detoxed” my face, at least I wasn’t sure what to call it. But it helped me realize how much product I was really putting in my face. This technique could eventually be a money saver by cutting down on the products you use.
Lastly, beauty and skincare go hand in hand, especially for boosting one’s self-confidence. Therefore, techniques vary as do skin types, so this is not to debunk other practices or products. But to expand one’s horizons on multiple ways to achieve the ultimate goal—Clear Skin.
