Supporting Healthy Looking Skin: A Balanced Approach

Achieving healthy looking skin is something many people aim for, yet the amount of information available can often feel overwhelming. A simplified approach is to focus on two key areas: supporting the skin externally and supporting it internally.

Understanding Skin Renewal

The skin naturally renews itself approximately every 28 days. Because of this, it is important to allow enough time for consistent care routines to take effect rather than expecting immediate changes.

Fast-acting topical products may temporarily improve the appearance of the skin; however, these effects are often short-term and do not necessarily reflect improvements in overall skin health or function.

A More Sustainable Approach to Skin Health

A more supportive strategy is to focus on what the skin needs based on its presentation, including signs of dryness, congestion, sensitivity, or inflammation.

From a skin health perspective, this may involve:

• Supporting the skin barrier function

• Maintaining hydration and moisture balance

• Addressing underlying factors that may influence skin appearance

When the skin barrier is functioning well, the skin is better able to maintain resilience and overall balance.

Botanical and Herbal-Based Skin Support

Botanical ingredients have traditionally been used to support skin hydration and comfort. Herbal extracts contain naturally occurring compounds that may assist in maintaining skin moisture and supporting skin function when used in topical formulations.

Ingredients such as:

• White Peony

• Rehmannia

• Angelica Sinensis

• Zizyphus

are commonly used in traditional formulations aimed at supporting skin hydration, comfort, and overall skin appearance.

Focusing on the Skin Barrier

Regardless of skin type or concern, maintaining a healthy skin barrier remains an important foundation of skin care. A well-functioning barrier supports:

• Moisture retention

• Protection from environmental stressors

• Overall skin comfort and appearance

This is particularly relevant for individuals experiencing acne, eczema, psoriasis, scalp concerns, or changes in skin quality with ageing.

For sensitive skin, supporting the skin barrier function is a key focus, particularly for individuals experiencing dryness, redness, irritation, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, acne-prone skin, and scalp sensitivity.

When the skin barrier is compromised, the skin may become more reactive to environmental and lifestyle triggers, which can present as discomfort, visible redness, and increased sensitivity. A barrier-supportive skincare approach may assist in maintaining overall skin comfort and resilience.

Ingredients that support sensitive and compromised skin

Avocado Oil for dry and sensitive skin

Avocado oil is a lipid-rich botanical oil that helps support dry, dehydrated, and compromised skin. It is commonly used in skincare formulations to assist with maintaining skin hydration and barrier function, making it suitable for sensitive and dry skin types.

Borage Oil for skin barrier support

Borage oil is naturally high in essential fatty acids, which are important in formulations designed to support skin barrier integrity and hydration balance. It is often used in skincare for dry, sensitised, or reactive skin conditions, including skin prone to eczema or dermatitis.

Baobab Oil for hydration and skin comfort

Baobab oil contains omega fatty acids that help support skin hydration, elasticity, and overall skin comfort. It is commonly used in formulations designed to maintain skin moisture levels and support the appearance of healthy, balanced skin.

Calendula Extract for redness and irritation-prone skin

Calendula extract is a plant-based ingredient traditionally used in skincare for its soothing properties. It is often included in formulations designed to support calm, comfortable skin, particularly for skin prone to redness, irritation, or sensitivity.

Jojoba Oil for barrier balance

Jojoba oil closely resembles the skin’s natural sebum, making it well tolerated across a range of skin types. It is commonly used to support skin hydration, barrier function, and surface comfort, particularly for dry, combination, and sensitised skin.

Skin barrier focus for long-term skin health

Across all skin types, supporting the skin barrier remains an important foundation in skincare, particularly for individuals managing ongoing skin sensitivity or imbalance. A consistent barrier-supportive approach may assist in maintaining healthier looking, more resilient skin over time.

For skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, skincare formulations often focus on supporting the skin barrier, reducing dryness, and maintaining skin comfort, particularly in skin that is prone to redness, irritation, and inflammation. A barrier-supportive approach may assist in improving overall skin resilience in individuals with sensitive or reactive skin types, including those experiencing acne-prone or compromised skin.

Key botanical oils and butters for dry, sensitive, and inflamed skin

Kokum Butter for dry and compromised skin

Kokum butter is a non-comedogenic plant butter commonly used in skincare to support deep hydration and skin barrier function. It is valued for its moisturising properties and is often included in formulations designed for dry, sensitive, or irritated skin.

Kukui Nut Oil for moisture balance

Kukui nut oil is rich in essential fatty acids that help support skin hydration and moisture retention. It is commonly used in skincare designed for dry or sensitised skin and may assist in maintaining skin comfort and barrier integrity.

Tamanu Oil for skin renewal and balance

Tamanu oil is a botanical oil traditionally used in skincare formulations for its nourishing properties. It is commonly used to support skin hydration, surface comfort, and overall skin appearance, particularly in skin that is dry, sensitised, or prone to breakouts and uneven texture.

Pumpkin Seed Oil for skin nourishment

Pumpkin seed oil contains essential fatty acids, antioxidants, zinc, and vitamin C, which are commonly associated with supporting skin hydration and overall skin health. It is often used in formulations aimed at maintaining skin suppleness and improving the appearance of dry or ageing skin.

Supporting a balanced approach to skin health

For individuals experiencing ongoing skin sensitivity, maintaining a consistent skincare routine that focuses on hydration, barrier support, and gentle nourishment may assist in improving overall skin comfort and appearance over time.

Finally, overall skin health is closely linked to internal wellbeing, and dietary choices may influence how the skin presents, particularly in individuals experiencing acne, eczema, psoriasis, scalp concerns, and signs of ageing.

A balanced, nutrient-rich diet that supports general health may also contribute to maintaining healthy-looking, resilient skin over time.

About the Author

Dr Irene Prantalos (Chinese Medicine) has dedicated her work to supporting individuals experiencing a range of skin concerns after her own lived experience with psoriasis during childhood and early adulthood.

Through Salubre Skin Clinic, she supports clients with acne, eczema, psoriasis, scalp concerns, and ageing skin, offering an integrative approach that may include acupuncture, herbal medicine, and skin health guidance tailored to individual needs.

She consults with individuals both in-clinic in Boronia, Victoria and online via https://salubre.com.au/