Skintervention guide review

Only if I had the Skintervention guide before I went through, not one, but TWO rounds of accutane in my college years. I don’t even want to know the havoc that caused on my digestive system and chances are that I am still recovering from it. Like Liz, I struggled with acne and skin issues (dry skin, oily face, oily hair) and I thought that I was just one of those unlucky people. Following conventional advice, I used oil-free moisturizers, chemical ridden face washes, took antibiotics and still struggled with skin issues well into my adult life. My skin issues didn’t resolve until a few years ago when I started following a more nutrient dense diet. And I still have the scars to prove it! This guide hits close to home for me, so  I wanted to read it carefully before I shared my review with you.

Although, I am finally acne free, the Skintervention guide still had so much to offer me. Just to give you a general overview, the guide is divided into 3 main sections – Nutrition, Digestion & Skincare, plus a bonus Extra Knowledge section. I appreciate Liz’s emphasis on the need to nourish our bodies INSIDE & OUT. If we really want to improve our skin, it is important to focus on both the toxins that we eat, and also those that we apply topically.

Another stand out aspect of this guide is the emphasis on trusting and knowing your own body. Liz reminds us many times to look for the recommendations that speak to us personally. That is exactly how I approached it. As I was reading through the guide, I made notes on things that stood out to me. I am going to share with you the changes/additions that I am going to make based on my specific issues. I highly recommend that you read the guide and figuring out the best routine for you!

Part One { Nutrition }
This section is far more than a healthy skin guide. It teaches us how to truly nourish our bodies. It even explains how to choose responsibly sourced food. I think this section of the guide is beneficial for anyone who would like to feel healthier, not just those with skin issues. I also like that Liz focuses not only on the how, but on the why. In my experience, I have found that those people that have some understanding of why something is better for their body, tend to be more committed to a healthy lifestyle.

I personally follow the guidelines that Liz outlines, almost to a T. There is one super food she recommends, Lewis Labs – Brewer’s Yeast, that I don’t use regularly. I plan to add this to my diet and see how I feel. Brewer’s yeast is a great source of chromium and B-vitamins. Chromium is both good for the skin and blood sugar regulation.

The big change that I have decided to make after reading the nutrition section is – quitting coffee. After Hawaii that is, I definitely don’t want to deal with the brutal coffee withdrawal headaches on vacation. Just to be clear, Liz doesn’t necessarily suggest quitting coffee in her guide, but what she says is, “Listen to your body. You absolutely have to get in-tune with the needs of your body, and learn to trust it”. As soon as I read that, a thought popped in my head,” I need to quit coffee”. So, I’ve decided to go with the thought and try this out. I will share more about my quitting coffee plan after we get back from our trip.

Part Two { Digestion }
“I realized during this journey that good nutrition is key, but good digestion is equally important – if you can’t use the nutrients you give your body, they can’t make your body healthier or more lovely”. – Liz Wolfe, p. 7

Although, my headaches have improved drastically since following a nutrient dense paleo diet for 4 years and working with Chris Kresser to treat my underlying nutrient deficiencies, I do still get them from time to time. I have noticed that they always come on right after lunch.  I am going to try the below changes and see if this will help. Just a reminder that Liz covers digestion extensively in her guide, these are the aspects that were relevant to my personal situation.

• I need to eat mindfully and actually CHEW my food. I often scarf down food quickly and break it down just enough so I could swallow. I am even more guilty of eating at my computer, which is likely why I eat so fast.
  • Tip from Liz: “Lifestyle change: Take a moment before you take a bite! For thirty seconds, look at your food. Take a deep breath. Make a mental list of what you’re about to eat, and how you expect it to taste.”
• I need to manage my stress. The last year has been a very exciting one, but also a very busy one. I have had very little time to myself and I am always rushing to get things done. Although, the amount of stuff I have to do won’t decrease, I plan to work on slowing down, taking time to breathe, and using my skincare routine in the evening as my relaxing downtime.
• I need to stop chugging water too close to meals. According to the Skintervention guide, “it can dilute the digestive process, making digestion more difficult and causing problems “down the pipe.”
• Superfoods – Eat them more regularly.

Part Three { Body and Skin care }
This section is very informative, but also fun! Liz & Trina (founder of Primal Life Organics) help us understand some of the concerns with conventional body care products and they also walks us through alternatives for anything you can imagine – moisturizer, cleansing, teeth, deodorant, hair, intimate care – just to name a few! It’s seriously like a skincare encyclopedia.

I love the way it is set-up, it is made to be flexible for different lifestyles. There are 3 options; 1 – make your own with basic ingredients, 2 – make your own with a boost, 3 – healthy pre-made brands. I plan to do a mix of 1 and 3. Although, I love the idea of making my own products with a boost, I don’t have the time for it right now, so I am going to stick to the more basic versions.

At the end of this section, Trina & Liz walked us through their body care routines, which I thought was so fun to read. After reading their routines, I decided to come up with my own new routine. Some of this is stuff I already do, but most of it is stuff I am going to try from the Skintervention guide.

*Note: I am a big fan of the Primal Life Organics line, so you will see that I use many of their products in my routine. I love the quality of the products and I love how they feel on my skin. These are not the only choices given in the Skintervention guide. There are many healthy options mentioned in each category.

My New AM Routine

• Brush my teeth with Primal Life Organics tooth powder
• Deodrant – try out basic DIY options – fresh lemon, baking soda/coconut oil
• Wipe face with a warm washcloth
• Refresh with my Prinal Life Organics toner
• Moisturize with Primal Life Organics carrot seed moisturizer, I also love using the Infiniti moisturizer
• Put on make-up – I currently use makeup from a variety of natural brands that I found on EWG.

*Note: You may notice that I am not cleansing in the morning. I have only been cleansing half the time lately because I didn’t feel like I needed it. My skin felt clean in the morning. And then I read this in the Skintervention guide, and it all made sense: “…cleansing is NOT necessary in the morning! (Unless, of course, you went to bed with a full coat of makeup). Overnight, your skin goes through a deliberate process of re-balancing and recovering from the insults of the previous day, so when you wake up, your skin is a clean slate! Why strip that away? Simply wiping with a warm (not hot), wet cloth is plenty.” 

My New PM Routine

• Basic oil cleansing with coconut oil for make-up removal
• Shower using No Poo method
• Wash face with Primal Life Organics cleanser – I am currently using the Earth Primal Face Wash
• Moisturize with Primal Life Organics carrot seed moisturizer
• Moisturize body with Vintage Traditions Body Balm (I have been using this for a couple of weeks and it has been helping tremendously with my winter dry skin!)
• Dry brush body

My Weekly Treatments

• Fire/Ice Serum from Primal Life Organics
• Primal Herbal-Clay Face Mask Anti Aging
• Epsom salt bath

Click here to learn more or to order the Skintervention Guide!

Have you read the Skintervention guide? What changes/additions do you plan to make?