Reference Lab

SEPT 15, 2022

Everyone’s skin feels different to the touch. Sometimes skin texture can be dry and rough; other times, it can be oily and supple. (Read more about skin texture types). Overall, skin texture can be a good indicator of skin health and hydration. Here’s how you can improve skin health to improve skin texture.

Smooth skin is a sign of healthy skin. Maintaining skin hydration, strength and elasticity is a great way to avoid dehydrated, wrinkled skin and promote smooth, supple skin! Continue reading to find out how to improve skin hydration, strength, and elasticity to improve skin texture. Here are four key contributors to promoting healthy and hydrated skin for a smooth skin texture:

1. Diet
2. Gut health
3. Sleep
4. Skincare

Let’s take a closer look at each of these contributors and how we can use them to improve skin health and texture. A good diet can stimulate collagen production to increase skin collagen levels and preserve skin barrier function. A sturdy skin barrier helps lock moisture into the skin, keeping it smooth and supple.¹ Here are some foods that improve collagen levels to smoothen the skin:

1. Wild-caught fatty fish- Estrogen promotes collagen and elastin production in the skin; this maintains skin barrier and elasticity. Fish such as salmon stimulate estrogen and, in turn, collagen and elastin!
2. Chia seeds- Chia seeds are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids promote skin barrier function to maintain skin hydration.
3. Avocados- Avocados have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. These properties prevent oxidative damage to the skin barrier, promote skin barrier function, and maintain skin hydration.
4. Leafy greens- Leafy greens are high in vitamin C and promote the skin’s natural collagen production. This strengthens the skin barrier and enhances skin hydration.¹

The gut microbiome plays a surprisingly large role in maintaining skin health and skin texture. Inflammation, eczema, and rosacea are all heavily linked to gut health.² For a healthier gut microbiome, try some of the following practices:

1. Cut out processed foods- Processed foods are easily broken down into sugars. High sugar concentrations cause the good bacteria in your gut to lose water via osmosis. These dehydrated bacteria cannot divide or grow, creating an environment ripe for dysbiosis.
2. Chew your food- Digestion starts in the mouth. Make sure you chew your food a couple dozen times before swallowing and sending it to the rest of your digestive tract. Since digestion and gut health are closely tied, practices that improve your digestion can, in turn, improve gut health and influence skin health.
3. Take probiotic supplements or eat probiotic foods- Taking probiotics or probiotic foods such as kimchi, tempeh, and yogurt seed your gut with good bacteria and strengthen your microbiome.
4. Stay hydrated- Water is key to smooth digestion and good gut health, not to mention skin hydration. It’s recommended that you drink at least 8 cups of water per day.³

It’s not called beauty sleep for nothing! Lack of sleep increases inflammation in the skin, which can exacerbate acne, eczema, and scarring. On top of that, sleep deprivation can also reduce collagen levels in the skin and weaken your skin barrier. This leads to a dehydrated, rough skin texture.⁴

A consistent sleep schedule can go a long way to promote skin barrier function, reduce inflammation and promote healthier and smoother skin.⁴ Using skin care products that moisturize the skin and others that increase cell turnover via exfoliation are two effective ways of promoting a smooth and supple skin texture. However, take caution when using exfoliators or retinol, which can stimulate cellular turnover, as some products can do more harm than good. It’s important to review clinical results before adding any product to your skin care regimen. You should first determine what your skin texture type is and find the right skincare products for you. Also, don't be in a rush to try expensive skin treatments, like chemical peels or laser treatment. It would be best to consult with your dermatologist or esthetician so you can make more informed decisions for your skincare routine. To improve skin texture, look for products that gently promote cell turnover, such as niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. These products remove dead skin cells to chemically exfoliate the skin. Niacinamide is also known to help fade acne scars, even skin tone, and control sebum production, which is good for oily skin. (Read more about using niacinamide to fight acne-scarring!) If you have sensitive skin, try to avoid products like retinol, which can increase skin sensitivity and cause irritation. Other important ingredients include vitamins A, C, and E, lactic acid, and mandelic acid.

You can also improve skin hydration by strengthening your skin barrier with collagen. Collagen is the most critical structural protein for skin, forming fibrous networks that maintain the skin barrier. Topical application of small molecules, such as peptides, can stimulate collagen production; this strengthens the skin barrier and keeps the skin hydrated. (Read more about the benefits of peptides for skin!) Be wary of products that contain collagen, as collagen is a large protein that is often unable to penetrate the skin barrier. Rather, focus on ingredients that can penetrate the skin’s layers and will promote natural collagen production, such as OneSkin’s OS-01 peptide. Sun damage is a huge contributor to rough skin textures. This is because sun-damaged skin is high in free radicals, which can degrade skin collagen and accelerate skin aging. Sun-damaged skin also experiences more inflammation which can promote acne, eczema, and scarring. Sunscreen is a highly effective way to prevent sun damage, and one of the most important products in skin care. Sunscreen can prevent the development of a rough skin texture and should be used on a daily basis to maintain long-term skin health. Extensive sun damage can also cause crepey skin. Aside from applying ample sunscreen, you should also use a product that boosts collagen production. You can also apply ceramides for skin and allantoin for skin to improve elasticity and thickness. If you’re looking for topical products that enhance skin health and smoothness for all skin types, OneSkin’s Topical Supplements may fit the bill. Our proprietary OS-01 peptide is small enough to penetrate the skin barrier and stimulate collagen and hyaluronic acid production from the deepest layers of the skin. With collagen strengthening the skin barrier and hyaluronic acid increasing cell turnover and improving hydration, you can achieve a hydrated and smooth skin texture. The OS-01 peptide also accelerates repair from sun damage to reduce free radicals and radiation-induced inflammation in the skin.

OS-01 FACE is clinically proven to improve skin smoothness and overall appearance in 100% of users. It’s also clinically proven to reduce the appearance of wrinkles in 87% of users. OS-01 BODY has been scientifically proven to increase skin’s epidermal thickness and minimize the appearance of dry skin.

• Smooth skin is a sign of healthy skin. Maintaining skin hydration, strength, and elasticity is a great way to avoid dehydrated, wrinkled skin and promote smooth, supple skin!
• A healthy diet, healthy gut microbiome, good sleep schedule, and consistent skin care regime can all promote a hydrated and smooth skin texture.
• To cosmetically improve skin texture, look for products that gently promote cell turnover, such as niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. These products remove dead skin cells to chemically exfoliate the skin and promote skin cell turnover.
• Sunscreen is a highly effective way to prevent sun damage, and one of the most important products in skin care. Sunscreen can prevent the development of a rough skin texture from sun damage and slow the onset of wrinkles and other skin texture issues.
• OS-01 FACE is clinically proven to improve skin smoothness and overall appearance in 100% of users. It’s also clinically proven to reduce the appearance of wrinkles in 87% of users.

Sources:

1. https://camillestyles.com/beauty/skincare/how-to-improve-skin-texture/
2. https://nowpatient.com/how-can-gut-health-affect-your-skin-and-why/
3. https://www.piedmont.org/living-better/10-tips-for-a-healthier-gut
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31692145/