According to Dr. Nigma Talib, the secret to flawless skin starts in the gut
While premium skincare products might work wonders in some areas, the root cause for most skin problems actually comes from within, according to Dr. Nigma Talib. And she should know, being a naturopathic doctor to a number of A-list clients including Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Stella McCartney and more.
Dr. Talib has authored the book “Younger Skin Starts In The Gut”, which explains how food that's terrible for your digestive system will ultimately cause unwanted facial features such as acne, blemishes, and wrinkles. She refers to this as “digest ageing” and suggests that for flawless skin, it's best to work on your diet before reaching for the beauty cabinet.
Making an appointment with Dr. Talib isn't easy, as it often requires a six-month-long wait. On her first visit to Hong Kong, we spoke with the London- and Los Angeles-based naturopath about her own skincare range and how one can achieve perfect skin in hot and humid Hong Kong.
How did you know you wanted to be a naturopath? Have you always been passionate about this field?
When I was a teenager, I was quite ill with a lot of digestive problems. My parents would take me to different doctors, gastrologists, and allergists and none of their treatments worked. But when I went to a naturopathic doctor, I started to get better within two or three months.
That’s when I decided to become a naturopathic doctor, as they do not suppress symptoms but uncover the root causes of illness. I went to medical school in Toronto and 10 years ago, I moved to London. Now, I have my own clinics in Los Angeles and London.