Beauty Detox: 10 Tips to Remove Toxins From Hair and Skin

Piling on foundation, concealer, powder, contour, highlight (you get the point!) day after day, can wreck havoc on your skin. The oils, chemicals and fragrances in your cosmetics can aggravate acne, clog pores and dry the skin. Spend a couple of days a week makeup free, or lighten up your application to give your skin a much needed break.

Also, phase out products with mile-long ingredient lists, and replace them with products free of sulfates, phthalates, parabens and synthetic fragrances. You can also try making your own DIY skincare at home for a natural solution.

Start your beauty detox with a facial. A professional esthetician can get into all the nooks and crannies you can’t reach, extracting clogged pores without damaging the skin. Estheticians also have access to specialized products that aren’t available to consumers, that remove impurities, reduce excess sebum production and banish breakouts. A facial is a great way to reset your skin.

Try Hand and Stone Spa.

RELATED: 15 reasons why you should be getting regular facials.

We’ve all enthusiastically purchased masks only to watch the bottle collect dust until the product is unusable. Set aside 10 minutes, once a week, to pamper your skin with a purifying clay-based mask — your skin will feel smoother, look clearer and be more receptive to moisturising products. Look for salicylic acid to decongest clogged pores, and cooling clay for the removal of impurities.

Available at Dermalogica.

Winter is just getting started and yet our ends are dry and brittle, causing strands to fall limp and look dull. Book in a trim or, even better, a restyle. By cutting off dry split ends you’ll not only promote healthy hair growth but strands will instantly look shinier and bouncier.

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Product accumulation, excess oils and itchy scalp all contribute to dull, limp and unhealthy looking hair. A detoxifying shampoo and scrub treatment will clarify the hair and scalp — by removing sebum and product build-up — restoring the balance of your locks. A sea salt scrub can also be used post-colour to remove chemical residue left on the scalp.

Available at Sephora.

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Our skin is our largest organ and seeing as one of its many responsibilities is eliminating toxins from our body, it’s vital we pay special attention to it. Using loofahs or scrub gloves in the shower is fine for cleansing, but nothing invigorates, clarifies and smooths the skin quite like dry brushing. Use a soft, natural bristled brush, in brisk downward motions, on dry skin before showering to increase circulation and lymphatic flow, and to slough off dead skin cells. Flush away toxins and rehydrate by drinking plenty of water afterwards. Bonus: dry brushing also reduces the appearance of cellulite.

Available at Amazon.

Sweating is one of the many brilliant ways your body releases toxins. Whether you love spinning, hot yoga or an old fashioned walk, perspiring helps remove impurities from your skin. Sweating once a day will help induce a naturally healthy glow and clear complexion — just make sure you cleanse well afterwards.

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Sometimes your body needs a little help eliminating toxins. Instead of using antiperspirant (which only blocks the release of toxins) try using a detox deodorant. Activated charcoal acts like a magnet so chemicals and toxins are drawn out via the armpit area. Doing a deodorant detox will take your pits through five stages of detox — it gets worse before it gets better, but the result: minimized sweat and odour.

Available at Kaia Naturals.

It’s no secret that nail polish, despite how beautiful it makes your nails look, can contain some pretty sinister ingredients. Luckily times are changing, and so are nail polish formulations, with companies producing 3-, 5-, 7- and even 9-free nail polishes. Now it’s much easier to get your hands on nail colours that are free of toxic, potentially cancer-causing ingredients like formaldehyde, toluene, DBP, xylene, camphor, ethyl tosylamide, triphenyl phosphate, and formaldehyde resin. Switch out your old formulations for healthier versions.

Available at Tenoverten.

Purify and clear the complexion, diminish spots, and brighten ruddy tone, all from the inside out. Flush your lymphatic system by upping your intake of antioxidant- and vitamin-rich foods like dark berries, tomatoes, cilantro, and beets. Improve tone and texture, and accelerate the skin’s healing process by munching on omega-packed foods such as nuts, salmon, and avocado. Dust off the blender and make morning smoothies for an easy way to jam-pack complexion-boosting foods into your diet.

RELATED: 10 foods to eat regularly for beautiful clear skin.