NURSE AND CHIC MAMA, ABIGAIL OCHSE, GIVES US TIPS FOR GLOWING SKIN

It’s no secret that us women have to handle a lot when it comes to our bodies. We go through hormone changes, every month we go through a menstrual cycle, and most importantly we’re able to give the gift of life. With all of these changes our bodies go through it can take a big toll on our skin and it’s often times hard to find what works best for our personal skin types. To figure out how to deal with all of these life changes while maintaining our natural glow, I spoke with nurse and super mom, Abby Ochse on what she think works best for skin.

If you’re unfamiliar with Abby, she is the Editor in Chief and Founder of The Chic Mamas. This  Kentucky gal moved to LA to pursue a career as an oncology nurse and twelve years later she continues to work as a nurse in dermatology, blogs & runs The Chic Mamas and is a mother of 3  ( One 4 year old girl, Willow Phoenix and twin baby boys Ranger & Bodhi) with her partner, AJ Buckley. The motivation for starting The Chic Mamas actually came from becoming a mother, she wanted to belong to a community where she could share her experiences. Overtime the site has turned into an inspirational lifestyle blog that is focused on modern motherhood, beauty, travel, fashion & recipes. Oh and if all of that wasn’t enough, her and AJ co-own a company called Paperclip which creates stylish bags for everything from work, travel to changing your baby! To say that she is a SUPERMOM is a serious understatement. With all of this on her plate, Abby has managed to find what works best for her skin and is sharing her tips with us!

Being a mom, how have you seen your skin transition with the change in hormones?

I had always heard everyone talk about this amazing “glow” you get once you are having a baby and luckily I had that when I was first pregnant with my daughter. Yet when I got pregnant with the twins the second time around it really took a toll on my skin. My face was broken out with red bumps all over my cheeks. I was diagnosed with rosacea which I had never experienced before.  As vain as it may sound, and as someone who expected that healthy pregnancy glow to adorn her face I was really devastated to wake up everyday with new pimples and rashes on my face. I remember Willow asking me why my face looked like a railroad track due to the red lines all over my cheeks (got to love a 4 year old’s honesty).

What are the 3 top things you recommend for glowing skin outside of beauty products?

I think as far as beauty and skin standards go many of us forget that it’s what we put into our bodies that can really make a difference for our skin. Of course a great skin care routine is a must but we often overlook little details that are the foundation of healthy skin.

Water is a must! Drinking an adequate amount of water every day is important for your overall health but also for glowing skin. Your skin is your biggest organ and just like every other organ it is made up of cells. Cells are in turn made up of water. Without the proper water intake your cells and in turn your organs are not functioning at their best. Those that lack hydration will often experience dry, flaking or dull looking skin that is prone to wrinkling. My nutritionist tells me I need to drink 3-4 liters of water each day to stay hydrated! I take a liter water bottle with me and refill it throughout the day to ensure I’m meeting my water intake goal. Staying hydrated is the first step to that healthy glow!

Ever heard the saying “get your beauty sleep?” The older I get the more I feel any lack of sleep and I really see it in my skin. When you get your 7-9 hours at night your body is boosting blood flow to your skin leaving you with a bright complexion come morning. When you skip sleep your skin will start to show it. Research has shown that getting less than 6 hours of sleep affects your appearance making it look ashen or drab. Also remember that when we sleep this is our bodies time to regenerate and repair itself, increasing certain cells like collagen and elastin. Add a couple more hours of Zzz’s to your nightly routine and you will see an improvement in your skin in just a couple of days! I take the Love Wellness Lights Out supplement made with ingredients like  magnesium, melatonin and valerian root to help me knock out at night.

Diet… now this topic as it correlates to skin is always a hot one! Ever eat a chocolate bar and then break out a couple of days later?? I have heard so many of my patients make statements like these, but the truth is there isn’t really any hard science or evidenced based research that really backs this up. Although I personally feel what we ingest has some effect on our skin, and eating a healthy well rounded diet in turn keeps our skin cells healthy too. I also believe that a healthy gut can lead to glowing skin. About 60 to 80 percent of our immune system lives in our gut, when the bacteria in your gut is “off” or imbalanced it can affect your entire body causing inflammation and many skin issues. Think about it acne, rosacea, or eczema are all really underlying inflammation conditions in your skin. Keeping your gut on point with probiotics also helps keep your skin glowing. I also take the Love Wellness Good Girl Probiotics daily to keep my good bacteria in all the right places.

What beauty brands do you stand behind?

I am slowly trying to transition a lot of my beauty products over to a more all natural routine. It is definitely a process but my intention is there! Recently I am loving 100 Percent Pure that is natural, and organic. They use fruit to create amazing pigments for their makeup line and coffee bean eye cream to de-puff and brighten your under eyes.

Remember ladies, everyone’s skin type is different so what may work for others may not work for you. It’s all trial & error when it comes to certain skin products but Abby has given us three great foundational tips : water, sleep and a good diet! If you’re lacking in any of these departments try to listen to your body and get what you need. Let’s glow all year round!