What does the whole Oh My Cream team have in common? A serious love of good food.
If a little mouse slipped into our office, especially on a Friday, it might spot each of us reaching for bagels, pizza, burgers… and sweets. (We promise not to name names!) But we know that a good skincare routine can’t do everything. Pairing it with a balanced diet is essential for keeping skin looking its best. So which bad eating habits are undermining your—and our—beauty efforts?
Too much sugar
The sworn enemy of a slim waistline, too much sugar also wreaks havoc on the skin. Consumed in excess, it causes internal inflammation, notably by attaching to collagen fibres and “caramelising” them. This chemical reaction, called “glycation”, stiffens the collagen fibres, compromising skin firmness and density and accelerating skin ageing.
We replace it with honey, maple syrup or coconut sugar… We don’t give up sweet treats, but we really do skip white sugar.
Too much fat
Here, skin problems arise when the intestines struggle to eliminate toxins. Looking after them is important because they absorb nutrients and remove waste—processes supported by a good diet that affect the skin. Eating poorly reduces the absorption of beneficial nutrients and hampers the elimination of toxins, as there are more of them and the body can quickly become “overwhelmed”. A diet that is too high in fat therefore disrupts the digestive system’s cleansing work, and our skin suffers the consequences: a dull complexion, visible pores and shine.
One alcoholic drink too many
The antioxidant effects of wine have long been established… but alcohol is particularly effective at dilating blood vessels. That’s why some sensitive skin reacts after just one glass. When this happens too often, it puts a strain on fragile blood vessels and causes localised redness, or even visible broken capillaries.
Not enough hydration
It’s true that the skin is the last organ to benefit from the water we drink throughout the day. But since the body is 60 to 70% water and balance is key, staying well hydrated still helps keep skin supple and radiant. Water also provides minerals and trace elements that benefit many biological processes in the skin. We also try to limit our coffee and tea intake. Although both are rich in beneficial antioxidants, they have a diuretic effect, which over time makes it harder for the body to retain water. What’s more, caffeine and theine—two names for the same molecule—are stimulants. By making it harder to fall asleep, they also hinder the skin’s detoxification processes that take place at night.
Gluten in abundance
When it comes to food, balance and managing excess are key. There’s no need to go gluten-free or demonise these little proteins, but it is true that a diet high in gluten, especially poor-quality gluten, can encourage rosacea and inflammation in general, leading to more pigmentation spots and skin sensitivities.
Too much lactose
Lactose is another substance to keep an eye on. Again, the quality of the milk matters a great deal: certified organic milk will always be better for the skin and offer more nutritional benefits. A diet somewhat lower in lactose has been shown to reduce the appearance of hormonal blemishes and skin inflammation, as well as dark circles and puffiness.
