Detox Defined
Edited and modified for LinkedIn. Originally published in January 2017 issue of NASNPRO
Detoxification is a longstanding topic in the beauty industry boasting numerous interpretations and an even broader range of applications. Some think of detox as various means of stimulating metabolic processes to enhance waste elimination, while others think of it more specifically as bundling in an herbal wrap to encourage perspiration. Still, others understand the term by its literal definition – the act of removing toxins or rendering a poisonous substance neutral. All such impressions are valid based on the term’s common usage in different professions. But there’s always a matter of technical correctness.
In skincare, detoxification is often associated with, or used in place of terms synonymous with expulsion of foreign matter. Words such as cleanse, purify, or the ever-prevalent (sometimes disputed) purge may better describe methods typically used to rid skin of, what is commonly referred to as, toxins.
Which leads to the next point: how do we define toxins? The short answer is antigens – substances that, even in low quantities, produce disease or cause an immune response in living organisms. As not all matter expelled during a purifying treatment fit this definition, impurity, pollutant, or debris may better stand as post-treatment waste descriptors.
Semantics aside, a big consideration is how detox applies to the skincare realm. In general, it’s the stuff of beauty blogs, video reviews, and step-by-step tutorials. A search for skin detox, or other similar keywords, yields a wealth of “expert” guides evaluating products, praising brands, and criticizing alternate trends – generally with expanded sections where commentators argue the validity of content and user input. Also evident are manufacturers promoting proprietary blends or claiming unique use of a remote, centuries-old ingredient guaranteed to flush one’s system and clear skin. The well-informed, discerning consumer is likely to uncover a few gems among the clutter. But may have to dig deep to find credible evidence substantiating an author’s or brand’s claims.
In the process of research, a consumer may also seek an esthetician’s guidance on the subject, creating an opportunity to discuss lifestyle and its pertinence to healthy, beautiful skin. And while detoxification might require a multipronged, holistic approach – diet, exercise, wellness activities, etc. – a skin therapist’s primary focus is on treatment techniques and ingredients necessary to achieve desired results. With that in mind, here are a couple of treatment options to consider:
Technique: Dry brushing
Ingredients: Dry brush
Benefits: Predominately a body treatment technique, dry brushing is ideal for removing superficial skin cells, increasing microcirculation, and reducing lymph congestion. This aligns with purification goals as the removal of surface cells reduces the likeliness of clogged pores; increased microcirculation helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to skin tissue; and stimulated lymph flow aids in the removal of systemic impurities. This technique typically takes place before a body wrap but may be applied as a standalone treatment.
Technique: Earth and marine wraps
Ingredients: Mud, clay, or algae
Benefits: Body wraps are an opportunity to generally apply purifying ingredients to much of the skin’s surfaces. Such ingredients are meant to draw out impurities and boost active ingredient absorption with common treatments being mud, clay, and algae-based. Mud comes in many forms and is usually found in moor, sea, and volcanic varieties; all of which are noted for their mineral content and ability to nourish skin. Clays traditionally include kaolin and bentonite which reduce capillary tension (improving microcirculation), kill bacteria, absorb sebum, and neutralize toxic elements. And algae are mineral-rich substances which boost circulation, eliminate impurities, and are antioxidant. Like the previous ingredients, algae come in many forms with red, brown, and green being common.
Technique: Herbal linen wraps
Ingredients: Red, green, and black tea
Benefits: The herbal linen wrap is a type of body treatment which involves steeping cloth in a hot tea solution and then wrapping the body. Additional layers of material including sheets, space blankets, and thick cloth may be used to elevate the individual’s body temperature and encourage perspiration. Unlike other body wraps, ingredients used are not typically wiped from the skin, but left to absorb due to their ability to neutralize free radicals.
Technique: Treatment masks
Ingredients: Activated charcoal, clay, or algae
Benefits: As previously noted, algae and clay are particularly beneficial for clearing skin of impurities in both body wrap and treatment mask forms. Another ingredient known for its “detox” ability is activated charcoal. Charcoal has been used in the beauty industry for quite a while but is making rapid gains in consumer consciousness. This carbon material is heated for enhanced porosity to better bind dirt and debris to its outer surface. And its expanded adsorptive (not absorptive) properties make charcoal particularly effective at drawing impurities from skin as a treatment mask.
Technique: Steam, sauna, or heat
Ingredients: Steamer or sauna
Benefits: Clearly there’s a difference between a chairside steamer and a sauna – one produces heat and steam locally while the other creates a warm, humid environment for the entire body. Still, each has its place in the realm of skin purification as steam helps loosen debris while heat encourages perspiration. Together these components aid skin in ridding itself of impurities.
Regardless of how one defines detoxification, processes of reducing foreign matter in skin through proper treatment can be realistically accomplished. Techniques promoting perspiration, circulatory stimulation, and lymph movement help the body eliminate by supplementing natural modes of waste removal. This – combined with microcirculation-enhancing, antibacterial, antioxidant, impurity-drawing treatment actives – can help one achieve holistic wellness and healthy, beautiful skin by way of skincare.