I met Krizia at a bloggers meetup when I was living in Toronto. Krizia is one of those gorgeous women that just glows with vitality and energy, so I wasn’t suprised when she started up her health blog – Eat Smart Age Smart. Krizia has very kindly written this article for High on Health because she wanted to share her story with her own personal battle with acne. Thanks Krizia!
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I’ve had acne my entire life!
Like most people I started having acne in my tweens. Because my acne was becoming more and more severe and because my face looked like it was permanently spayed with oil, I was taken to the dermatologist for some much needed help. After an assessment, my dermatologist had me on this really strict diet because she believed that my acne was related to the consumption of certain foods.
I was 12 at the time and having to give up a few of my favourite foods was like torture, but I also was very self-conscious about my face and when you are that young, you are very concerned about being teased. If giving up a few foods guaranteed an acne-free face, I was a willing participant because being teased as a kid is just horrible.
Because my dermatologist cut out things like chips, fast foods, pops, whole milk and countless of other foods, I didn’t grow up with a number of bad eating habits that afflict so many teenagers. I had a fairly good diet growing up and since become an adult (and haven been a former personal chef) I’ve been quite particular about my diet and I gladly accept the label of “health-nut”!
The sad reality is that my acne is directly related to my stress level and the impact it has on my hormones.
There was a short window of time in my life where I didn’t have to deal with acne. During my twenties, my skin was glorious, but my thirties turned out to be radically different and my acne came back with a vengeance. Contrarily to when I was younger, my acne scars wouldn’t heel and I quickly found my face covered with pimples and dark acne scars.
By the summer of 2008, I had had enough and I was tired of feeling embarrassed about my acne. You see, my acne doesn’t stop at the face, I also have acne on my chest and my right shoulder was severely affected.
I spent a lot of money on topical creams with little results and after several unfruitful appointments with my dermatologist at that time, I decided that I need to take more definite actions to overcome this frustration. I decided to visit a cosmetic doctor to find a solution to fading my acne scars because I couldn’t take it anymore.
The cosmetic doctor who assessed my condition told me there would be a few treatments she would recommend to help with my dark acne scars but she couldn’t perform any of them until I had gotten a handle on my acne breakouts. I quickly told her of my journey with topical acne products and she told me that it wouldn’t be enough and she recommended antibiotics. My eye immediately opened as wide as Frisbee disks because I really wasn’t interested in going down that road. I thanked the doctor and left her office discouraged.
A few weeks later, I was invited to attend the 10th anniversary of Genuine Health and I was so excited. Genuine Health manufacturers and distributes a long list of all natural supplements and powdered greens and I’ve been a huge fan of their products for years. At the event I was introduced to Sam Graci, the creator of Greens+ and the “father of superfoods”. During my discussion with Sam Graci, I explained my condition and how I feared that I might actually have to resort to antibiotics to help me control my acne.
Mr. Graci looked at me with a disapproving look and asked me if I had heard of their Perfect Skin product. I told him that I had seen it in stores but I was quite skeptical that a supplement could actually do anything for my condition and I dismissed the product all together. Mr. Graci, told me that I needed to try Genuine Health’s Perfect Skin in combination with Healthy Skin for about four to five months before I made any decisions about moving forward with antibiotics.
I was so desperate for a solution for my adult acne that I was willing to try anything. I also have to say that since I had been taking Greens+ for years and knew of the quality of both Sam Graci and Genuine Health products, I felt that it wouldn’t hurt to at least give this natural acne control combination a try.
I’ll tell you upfront that neither Healthy Skin nor Perfect Skin will deliver results in a few months. You really need to be committed to this treatment because your body will need to start absorbing many of the nutrients that are missing to help fight off your acne flare-ups.
>>> So what are the advantages of using Perfect Skin?
Genuine Health developed their acne control supplement based on leading skin care research and developed in-conjunction with a leading naturopathic doctor and dermatologist. Perfect Skin contains strictly natural proven ingredients including Omega3, green tea extract, zinc and chromium to target the main causes of acne and problem skin resulting from acne flare-ups.
You might be interested in knowing that in time you can expect these benefits from daily use of Perfect Skin:
- Reduction of acne lesion (less acne break outs means less acne scars)
- Reduction of blackheads and blemishes
- Reduction of inflammation of acne lesions
- Decrease in sebum production (oil production)
- Decrease in follicle blockage (which usually result in your pimples because the bacteria is trapped under your skin and it begging to get out)
- Normalized structure, size and function of pores (when your pores are functioning normally, they can better help expel toxins from your skin)
- Increased resilience to stress and regulation of mood (less stress means less hormonal fluctuation that leads to acne break outs)
>>> So when did I figure out that Perfect Skin from Genuine Health was helping me control my acne?
- The first change I noticed a few months after I started taking Perfect Skin was the fact that I was not breaking out as much during “that time of the month”. I first thought that maybe I had started taking better control of my stress levels and that maybe my work days where getting shorter and I quickly snapped out of that fantasy and remembered that I was still working way too long and running around from one appointment to another (being a business owner comes at a price) … so the product had to be working somewhat.
- The second thing I noticed was the fact that when I did break out and had a pimple, it healed much faster than before and the pigmentation was not nearly as dark as it had been in the past.
- The third thing that let me know that I was on my way to controlling my acne was when I applied makeup to go out not long ago and noticed that I did NOT have to apply as much concealer to try to hide the dark spots. Once I had finished applying my foundation, my face looked much better than it had in the past because I really didn’t need to put on as much makeup and my entire face looked so much more open and much brighter.
- The fourth thing I noticed was that the acne on my shoulders and chest was not flaring up as much.
The best part is that contrarily to topical acne products that always left my skin feeling like sand paper … especially during the winter months, Perfect Skin never dehydrates my skin!
>>> How does Healthy Skin fit into my daily acne control routine?
Healthy Skin was developed by Dr. Alan Logan, who is the author of The Clear Skin Diet, and Sam Graci, who formulated Greens+. Along with Dr. Logan and Graci, a number of world-class dermatologists were also part of the team.
The list of advantage of taking Healthy Skin is long:
- It will improve the hydration of your skin.
- It will increase the blood flow to the skin for added radiance.
- It will help with skin firmness and collagen production.
- It will help you fight free radical damage (aka oxidative stress).
- It will help reduce typical symptoms associated with acne and psoriasis.
- It will help reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
- It will help reduce scaling, dry and rough skin.
- The addition of the Greens+ will help improve your energy levels!
There are four important ingredients in Healthy Skin that helps you age well AND control your acne:
- Cocoa seed extract: Cocoa seed extract contains the highest concentration of antioxidants (polyphenols) available! They contain more antioxidants than green tea, blueberries AND pomegranate juice.
- Hydrolyzed collagen: Fish collagen is rich in proteins that are structurally similar to those found in the collagen and elastin of the deeper layer of the skin. Hydrolyzed collagen will help with the skin’s hydration, elasticity dullness and it will also help with wrinkles AND dark circles under the eyes!
- Vitamins such as B2, C and E, zinc, lycopene and selenium: This power concoction of vitamins will help with overall skin health.
- Greens+: Greens+ provides your body with the required phytonutirients and detoxification properties.
Healthy Skin is quite easy to take. I simple add 2/3 water and 1/3 orange juice, shake and drink. Oh, did I mention that the flavor is chocolate/raspberry?
>>> Healthy Skin and Perfect Skin are saviours:
The combination of Healthy Skin and Perfect Skin on a daily base has really helped me control my acne and it’s also helped my skin tremendously. I was more than pleased with the fact that I was actually able to deal with my acne without having to resort to any type of treatment that might cause some serious gastric issues down the road. I trust Genuine Health products because I know this company is so obsessed with finding excellent ingredients for all the products they produce.
>>> Where can you buy Genuine Health products?
Genuine Health products are sold both in the U.S. and Canada and you’ll find them at most health food stores and at Whole Foods Market!
You’ll find a lot more information on their web site: Genuine Health
You can read my daily banter on healthy foods and fitness at Eat Smart Age Smart.
Krizia is the founder of Eat Smart Age Smart and an Aging-Well Expert.
Fran
25 responses ↓
hi
is this only recommended for adults?
what about 15 year old teenager?
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Diet has definitely improved my skin, over just two weeks! No wheat/sugar/gluten has done wonders, no new spots, and generally looking more glowy! Will check out your blog too as well! Thanks for the interesting article.
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Amazing story! I love reading these because it makes me feel like im not alone in this world with this annoying skin disease. I am really really interested in buying this product! But I live in holland! Is there anyway I can ship this to europe? I tried on the original website but they only ship within the US.. can somebody help me out?? Thanks!
xx
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Fran, have you tried this?
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Quite the promotional article. I’ve known about Perfect Skin and Greens+ for some time now, and it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. I’m glad it helped the author, however there are many reviews online by people who have tried it for months and their acne did not improve, or it’s actually had adverse effects. Just goes to show that one thing is not a ‘cure’, and won’t work miracles for everyone. Like many acne products, I’m convinced this is simply a money grab, and it’s effectiveness is random.
Plus this stuff is really expensive for what it is, and you have to take 4 pills a day, so a 60 capsule bottle will only last you 15 days! Crap. Plus horrible for the fish and other marine wildlife.
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I have tried Perfect Skin, but as the article states, I suppose you need to be patient–I gave up after a couple of months because I did not see any change to my acne-prone skin.
I am curious about the Healthy Skin formula though…the chocolate chews look yummy!
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I also looked it up and it said that some ingredient was Vitamin E. Is that bad for acne prone skin?
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Also, does Krizia still have to take them in order to maintain clear skin?
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Stacey- Nope I haven’t personally tried this.
Jill- I totally agree, there is definitely no one cure. It’s also important to keep in mind that acne needs to be treated holistically, which means doing the diet thing, exercising, working on your emotions etc.
Anna- No vitamins are bad for acne prone skin.
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Hi Everyone,
I’m so humbled by the questions. I will answer everyone in order:
H20 – I’m not sure if a teenager can take Perfect Skin. Let me contact the company for you and I can let you know.
Dancinggal – Thanks so very much for your support. I’m all about healthy eating and I’m always so sadden when I see how many people neglect their diet and wonder why their skin is not responding.
Florentine – You are NOT alone! I cannot tell you how my adult acne was making me so ashamed and self-conscious. I’m not sure about Perfect Skin in Holland. I know they’ve just open up the U.S. market. They are a Canadian company, but maybe there is distribution. I will send a question on your behalf along with the question for H20!
Jill – You are right, it might not be for everyone … but then it’s the same for any other acne product or acne solution out there. I have to say that solving my acne has been all about trial and error. I’m happy to keep trying to test products and see if they work because I was determined to find a solution and any positive results can be passed on to my readers. It’s like ProActiv. My dermatologists have all told me to skip it and not bother trying it, but many people swear by this skincare line designed for acne prone skin.
Tina – It does take time and I know that had I not been willing to be patient, it would not have worked. The Healthy Skin has replaced my regular Greens+ product and I drink it daily. For the Chocolate Chews, I don’t like chocolate very much, but these are amazing. I won’t lie, I don’t eat them daily, but I do chew on them here and there. They are not cheap at all so if it’s a budget thing, I’d go with the Perfect Skin + Healthy Skin first.
Anna – I’m not clear on your question. The product was designed by a team of dermatologists looking for a more natural solution to help people with acne. I agree with Fran, vitamins should not harm your acne prone skin.
Fran – Thanks for jumping in! I could not agree with you more … adopting a holistic approach to treating your acne is the best solution. It will take more time and effort, but I believe your body will thank you in the long run!
Once again, thanks for this amazing opportunity to share my story with your readers!
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Hey Krizia!
I already emailed the orginial website Genuine Health about this question and they directed my to a website called the Canadian Vitamin Shop. The product itself was not expensive at all (only 18.98) but the shipping costs to holland were too much. So i decided not to let the order go.
Hopefully they will have the product available in Europe soon!
xx
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Finding articles like yours really makes a difference. I am in my 30s and Ihad never experienced acne as a tennager (except for the once in a blue moon blemish realted to my cycle). That is until this past November where I suddenly found my face inflamed and sore from adult acne. I have read in some palces that acen is hereditary and well my mom had adult acne in her 30s as well. In January, I visited a dermatologist in the hopes of nipping it in the bud. I was prescribed anitbiotics, benzyl peroxide, and micro-retin A. The results? I had no energy because of the anitbiotics and I had two little ones under the age of 4! The benzyl peroxide–severe and painful reaction (swollen burnt face) and the micro retin A led to a whole lot of peeling. And on top of all that, my acne got worse and more inflamed. So I ditched all that after having spent quite a bit of money. I went a more natural route. My acne has calmed down. I do notice that when I an stressed, that is when I get 1-2 majorly painful inflamed spots. ANd it is so challenging tfor me to get my stress under control while looking after 2 young children, working on my PhD, and a hubby who travels alot and no family around for support.
My concerns regarding my acne is that I have some uninflammed acne (little white bumps, which under stress become inflamed) that does not want to go a away. For the past 3 weeks, I have been trying out a new skin care by the Best Bath Store, which is all natural, animal cruelty free, etc. So far so good. Also i have been taking lots of vitamins and supplements. One supplement I highly recommend is Neem. It really helped me control my flare ups. Anyway, it is a daily struggle with acne.
Sorry my post is so long! I just wanted to share my story.
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My mother bought this 4-5 months ago, and today her skin is 95% clear, she looks great. She also changed her diet, drank more water, and exercises, and she really loves this product along with natural skin care product Burt Bees.
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Florentine – Good on you for contacting them. I’m trying to see if they have plans for Europe soon. Since Genuine Health just started selling to the U.S. a few months ago … maybe Europe might be coming soon.
Amnura – You said the magic word: stress! Acne when you are an adult is often related to stress and women who have NEVER dealt with acne as teens are being hit big time. I so feel your pain my friend. I looked into Perfect Skin because I didn’t want to go on an antibiotic. I have an unfair advantage because my nutrition site allows me to get more information and when Sam Graci heard me say my doctor had suggested antibitics, he almost passed out. Most average people will go with the recommendation of their dermatologist when it comes to acne treatments because you consider your doctor as the expert. Yes, you will find it hard to manage stress with your workload and family responsibilities, but I think the idea of adding nutritional supplements that are robbed from your body when it’s in a state of stress is good. I would surely understand your situation when it comes to un-inflamed acne … I have had loads of those and yes when my stress is at its peak I breakout like crazy. I also have had some acne bumps under the skin that hurt and that will stay there for weeks … so I know how you feel. Up to now the Perfect Skin has helped me a lot because it’s provides my body with elements that are missing. Another solution for me has been to get beauty treatments to clean my pores and ensure that dirt doesn’t stay trapped inside my skin … which also will contribute to acne. Thanks for the recommendation on Neem. I know that David Wolfe was recommending it as a replacement to calcium supplements, but I didn’t realize it was excellent for acne. I might have to investigate more and perhaps do a feature on that and I will surely thank you for putting me on this track. Also, one last point – I will look into a new treatment here in Toronto called salt spa … it’s an all natural spa cave treatment that is supposed to be incredible for acne as well. I’m not sure if you have access to that?
Adelaide-Marie – I’m so happy your mom is getting great results with Perfect Skin! I hope this will show that it does take time to work and of course, your mom changing her eating habits can only help!
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Consuming a balanced diet is always good for your skin. Try to avoid fried food, milk products, and caffeine as much as possible. Have vegetables and fresh fruits to control your acne breakouts. You can also try green tea. This stimulant is rich in antioxidants and can kill the bacteria causing acne. It also improves your skin texture as green tea contains Vitamin C and Zinc.
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Sara,
You bring really good points to the table.
I really also agree about the part about avoiding fried food … not only should you not eat them too often because they are bad for your skin, but they are also terrible for your overall health!
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H20,
After waiting for an answer, it hit me that I should check out the bottle!
I found an answer for you in regards to age and Perfect Skin:
The bottles says that Perfect Skin can help teens as young at 12 to prevent acne.
I hope this helps!
Thanks for your question and don’t hesitate to ask other questions.
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I’ve been intaking the Greens+ Multi Glow daily and the results r true my skin feels more elasticity and nice effect on hair and nails. As for acne im still getting them im also taking the Chocolate chews. It says 3 daily but imt aking one a daily. THey are pretty tasty and a nice vitamin booster. I notice while on Greens+ any formula that when I urinate the color is like a highlghter yellow color anyone experience this?
Like i sometimes just chew the chocolate chew for the day and all day my urination is highlighter yellow color and i do drink the reccomended water amount
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Wow, that product sounds like a dream come true! I’m so glad you said no to antibiotics! My dad is part owner of a skin care company called D’Arcy (I do some work on the side for them, as well), and they really promote natural ingredients in products and the use of PROBIOTICS, rather than antibiotics, to cure and prevent acne. This Perfect Skin supplement you talked about sounds just like a probiotic supplement and acne treatment line D’Arcy is supposed to be coming out with in a few months. I don’t know how much it will cost, but I’ve read a lot of information about it and how probiotics can help people with acne, so it should be really effective. If anyone’s interested, check out darcyskincare.com in a few months to see if Probiology is up on their website. They also have some other acne products for sale right now on the website, but they’re supposed to be expanding, so there will be more later. Anyway, great blog post! Very informative and helpful :).
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Wow this sound great i think im going to give it a try.=]
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Jon,
I’m sorry for the delay in commenting on your feedback.
I’m happy to see you are getting great results with Genuine Heath. I also love starting my day with the Greens+/Healthy Skin formula.
Indeed the product do colour urination.
Indeed, those chocolates are so tasty AND good for your skin!
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Erin,
Getting product foods into your body will make a hufe difference in the condition of your skin!
Good for your Dad for being at the head of a company that promotes good health.
Krizia
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Katie,
Perfect Skin is a really great product. If you do try it, make sure to give yourself time to see results.
Krizia
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I find that taking Biotin and Quercitin has been the best supplements for acne – you can get it from a good nutritional store, I get it from either Whole Foods or Sprouts-the reason the work is because the decrease the inflammation in the body associated with flare ups. Read more about it for yourself, the two supplements have numerous benefits. All I can say is that it has worked for me and nothing had before, it’s worth a try. Stay on it as a way of life, it’s not a quick fix. Good Luck!
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I am using Greens+ multi for five days and I am breaking out :( I’m hoping its my body getting rid of toxins or something. I have acne prone skin since the age of thirty and tried many OTC treatments such as Pro-activ etc. But Benzoyle Peroxide seriously irritates my skin. I have found the best products for your face is Paula’s Choice, you have to order it online but it REALLY works! She sells a wide variety of products and a complete line for acne including a benzoyle peroxide product which I don’t use, but she also has a BHA product for acne which works for me. I saw a difference in a few days once I stopped using the benzoyle peroxide with it. When it comes to supplements, I have noticed a real difference in my skin when I take omega-3s on a regular basis. I’m am taking them now with the genuine health product, but I’m wondering has anyone else broken out from genuine health products?
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