3 Skin Care Essentials We Can't Live Without

James Colquhoun JAMES COLQUHOUN

What you put in your body matters, but so does what you put on your body.

The skin is your largest organ and absorbs 60% of what you put on it and according to the Environmental Working Group, the average woman uses 12 “beauty” products per day, containing about 168 ingredients. That’s a lot of ingredients you’re putting into your body and if we're not careful, many of which could be toxic!

When it comes to creating that natural, glowing, age-defying look we really have to have focus on beauty in two different ways. From the inside-out and the outside-in. At Food Matters, we’re often talking about foods to help you glow (such as our skin beauty salad) so today let’s talk about what we recommend you do from the outside-in.

When it comes to skincare we’re sticklers for reading labels. And even then it can be confusing. Some of the best brands it turns out are on the ‘dirty’ list. And many of our once previously favorite brands have been bought out by big (toxic) competitors and their formulas have changed over time. So who do you trust?

I know there are so many brands out there these days, and you’re probably going to comment below on which brands you’re using, but for us I tend to focus more on the founder and the ethics behind the brand before I get to their ingredients list (because by doing so you normally don’t even need to check the ingredients list then).

One of our favorite brands is Annmarie Skin Care. Founded by, you guessed it… Annmarie! She is the wife of one of my dear friends Kevin Gianni (who you might remember from the renegade health show) and who is also friends with Nick & Alex Ortner (the Tapping Solution) and Nick Polizzi (Sacred Science).

So her network and friend group tells me so much about their commitment to quality, sustainability, and efficacy…

 Here are my 3 favorite products of theirs:

  • The Aloe Herb Cleanser: Great for all skin types! It is a pH-balanced, cream-based cleanser that will remove impurities from your skin without drying it out. If you’ve never used a cream cleanser, check this out. It will change your life!
  • Anti-Aging Serum: It’s a blessing to be able to age but our skin definitely needs a little extra TLC as we do. I love how hydrating this serum due to the hyaluronic acid. It’s also packed with amazing herbal extracts to protect against environmental stressors.
  • Anti-Aging Facial Oil: Don't be afraid to use oils on your skin! This is one of our favorites, packed with antioxidant-rich goji berries, chia seed oil, and broccoli. Told you they are good enough to eat!

And… drum roll, please! A sample of their Kaolin Micro Exfoliant and Charcoal Cacao Mask is also included for free. The entire sample kit is only $19.99—plus the shipping is free.

There's no obligation, no sneaky subscription, and no hidden ingredients. The set is simply $19.99 with free shipping in the U.S. and Canada.o dive deeper into learning more about the beauty industry, what to look for in products, and what foods you should eat to feel beautiful from the inside-out, check out our full Skin Care Buying Guide here.