Don’t just focus on what goes on inside your body when detoxifying; your skin needs help too! To find out how to detox our skin, we spoke to the founder of organic and plant-based skincare company Cocokind, Priscilla Tsai.

Splendid Spoon: Hey Priscilla! First things first, why do we need to detox our skin?

Priscilla: Your skin is your body’s largest organ. It has a permeable surface, which means that environmental factors and any topical products easily penetrate into the body. While your body does naturally detox itself, you can speed up the process with nourishing and cleansing products.

Splendid Spoon: What are the best natural ingredients to detox our skin?

Priscilla: I love using unprocessed oils, or superfoods such as spirulina, chlorella, or wheatgrass.

Splendid Spoon: Does what we put on our body and in our body affect how clear our skin is?

Priscilla: Definitely. However, it’s important to note that everyone’s body is different. Internally, some people have food allergies, like dairy allergies, which can make their skin more reactive and prone to breakouts. Externally, when it comes to beauty or skin products, you have to be aware of the ingredient list. For instance, many products contain fragrances that can increase your skin’s sensitivity. The FDA doesn’t require companies to list what chemicals are in their fragrances, so you could unknowingly be putting something very harsh or reactive on your skin.

You have to venture on a process of trial and error when it comes to skincare. We all have different skin: what works for me may not work for you. Plus, our skin is always changing. The best way to figure out how to obtain clear skin is to learn how your skin reacts to different ingredients (both in and out).

Splendid Spoon: What ingredients should we absolutely avoid putting on our skin?

Priscilla: There are so many! Instead of listing the thousands to avoid, I encourage people to focus on the ingredients to use! Organic foods are the best skincare ingredients.

Splendid Spoon: Should we change our skincare routine with the seasons, just as we change what we eat with the seasons?

Priscilla: The key is to listen to your body — no matter the time of year. If your body stops benefitting from the use of a product, move onto something else. If your body is loving a product, keep using it.

What you eat reflects externally on your skin. I love eating dark, leafy greens, and other vitamin C-rich foods. Having a clear digestive tract is important for clear skin, so I always go for foods that promote a healthy gut!

Splendid Spoon: What’s your favorite way to cleanse the skin that will leave us feeling (and looking!) radiant?

Priscilla: I love just using coconut milk to cleanse my skin! It’s so moisturizing. Obviously I’m biased, but I’m obsessed with using our Cleansing Oil or Chlorophyll Mask too: they’re both made with just four organic ingredients.

Splendid Spoon: What are your top tips for preventing breakouts in the hot summer?

Priscilla: Use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to prevent premature aging and keep your body safe from harmful rays. Don’t allow your sweat and sunscreen to mingle too much. When sweat sits on your skin for too long, bacteria breeds. To solve this problem, I cleanse or exfoliate more often in the summer. Also, always moisturize your skin so that your sebum production isn’t out of balance.

Splendid Spoon: How do you recommend we treat breakouts? What ingredients help draw impurities from our skin?

Priscilla: My favorite ingredients to treat breakouts are tea tree oil, turmeric root, ginger root, chlorella, spirulina, and vinegars.

Splendid Spoon: Is there anything else you do to get glowing skin?

Priscilla: Exercise is a great way to increase the flow of oxygenated blood in the body. It speeds up cell renewal and benefits our entire body!