Skin Deep Journey

Gelatin and gelatin-rich foods are great for eczema.  It helps soothe our gut and contains collagen, which is great for our hair, nails, and skin.  In the winter, I love making bone broths and drink the gelatin and collagen rich goodness it provides.  I recently started looking into gelatin powders, giving me faster access to gelatin than bone broths.  I’ve already incorporated collagen powder in my smoothies, so adding gelatin too will give me an extra boost!  Also, I realized that you can add gelatin to virtually any liquid and it will gel in the fridge, making it like jello!  I tried making some gummies out of Young Living's popular Ning Xia Red, and got some delicious antioxidant rich gummies.  I also made some chrysanthemum flower and goji berry jelly and loved the coolness it provided in these hotter months.  I can't wait to experiment more with this and create more jellies to eat, while reaping the benefits that gelatin provides!  

Gluten has been getting a bad rap lately...but what IS it?  Gluten is the protein found in many grains and are said to cause inflammation in the body.  There has been many debates on the legitimacy of that claim and whether or not it is something that we should avoid.  After reading up on it and watching countless documentaries on YouTube, it seems that unless you have celiac disease, where your body attacks your small intestine upon eating gluten, you should be ok to eat it.  However, there are many people who say that they have a gluten intolerance and many naturopaths recommend avoiding it.  Personally, I don’t notice any adverse reaction when I eat gluten.  However, since eczema stems from inflammation in the body and gluten is supposed to cause inflammation, I am experimenting with gluten-free alternatives.  Although I'm not 100% gluten-free, I try to limit it when I have alternatives.  I recently organized my flour stash and have been trying new recipes that I find onlin

I was first introduced to Young Living's essential oils through a soap/cream making workshop.  Before that, I've only heard about them at holistic wellness presentations.  There are many benefits of essential oils, and each one has special healing properties.  I was most interested in learning more about the ones that help eczema.  I got the basic starter kit and started using the lavender and frankincense oils in my skincare, as they help lower inflammation and redness on the skin.  Other than using them topically, I also started diffusing some oils to help with relaxation and purify the air.  I use the lemon and peppermint oils for a boost of energy and my favourite oil blend is one called 'Thieves'.  This blend is a mixture of clove, lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary and makes my house feel clean and warm.  Essential oils can also be used in the laundry!  All of my laundry detergents are for sensitive skin and have no scent.  I tried adding a few dro

Since we are all stuck at home during this unprecedented time, I gave myself the goal of trying to incorporate some movement in my day.  It’ll be good for my body, as well as getting my mind off the itch.   Getting in a good workout is crucial for me as I can feel my body start to ache from sitting around all day.  I feel like I’m not sweating as much as before, so I’m looking to vary the type of workout I do so that I don’t get too accustomed to one thing.  Movement also helps the lymph nodes and promote circulation in the body...getting rid of some of the toxins that are built up inside us.  It's also a great way to de-stress as those endorphins kick in! I started doing 10 minutes of yoga every morning to stretch out my body.  I even created a designated space for it so it will encourage me to go back. Other than doing the yoga in the morning, there are days where I follow YouTube workouts from Blogilates and lately, Chloe Ting .  I also do some LesMills Body Combat classes

Throughout my life, I have tried too many skincare products to count! Whenever there was a recommendation on a new skincare product, my mom would buy it for me to try.  Although I am so grateful for that, I still have not yet found the holy grail for my skin.  Many conventional creams, such as Aveeno, Ceravae, and Galaxal Base are all water-based that are marketed towards protecting the moisture barrier to the skin.  I’ve tried them all and while some did help, over time, my skin still had its bad days.  As I grew older, I realized that some of those creams had preservatives and other ingredients in them that may not be so great for our bodies (you can check out the EWG's rating for your skincare products HERE ).  Therefore, I went the more natural route.  I tried shea butter, castor oil, and other oil-based moisturizers that were good for the skin.  Again, nothing really solved my itchy and red skin.  Lately, I read about the benefits of rose hip oil, so I decided to give it a

Hi there!  Welcome to my blog where I share my personal perspective and thoughts on skin, allergies, and health and wellness.  I've had eczema all my life, as well as allergies and autoimmune markers.  I'm allergic to peanuts and certain nuts (like walnuts) and have Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS) where I can't eat a lot of  raw  fruits and veggies.  I'm also pretty sensitive to environmental allergens such as dust and pollen.   My skin can be pretty unpredictable and I am constantly adapting to its changing state.  I can be doing the same skincare routine, but a flareup will suddenly happen.  Sometimes, something may bother my skin one day, but not the next.  It is definitely a wild ride.   I've done elimination diets before (3 to be exact) and haven't found a significant association to certain foods.  Therefore, I don't follow any specific diet.  I just try to eat anti-inflammatory foods that are nourishing for the body.  I believe in eating whole foods a