Why Your Skin Isn’t Healing — Even With ‘Clean’ Skincare, Sunscreen, and a Good Routine
Featuring Andy Hnilo, Founder of Alitura Naturals
Why Your Skin Isn’t Healing — Even With “Clean” Skincare, Sunscreen, and a Good Routine
A long-form conversation on skin healing, ingredient quality, toxin exposure, smart sun habits, and the inside-out foundations that actually change your skin over time — featuring Andy Hnilo and the story behind Alitura Naturals.
Author
Craig McCloskey
Board-Certified Nutritionist
Most skincare stories start with vanity. This one starts with survival.
In 2011, Andy Hnilo was crossing a street in Los Angeles when he was hit by one vehicle, thrown into oncoming traffic, and then run over by another. He woke up in the ICU at Cedar-Sinai with a wired jaw, multiple broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and a face he barely recognized. Doctors told him he was lucky to be alive. What they didn’t tell him was how radically that moment would alter his understanding of healing — and ultimately change the non-toxic skincare industry.
This article isn’t just about skincare. It’s about recovery, inflammation, toxic burden, food, sleep, sun exposure, and why what you put on your body matters just as much as what you put in it.
When Healing Becomes Personal
During Andy’s recovery, eating wasn’t an option. His jaw was wired shut. His energy was depleted. Antibiotics, imaging, and months of medical intervention took a toll on his body — and his skin showed it.
Rather than accepting the slow decline as inevitable, Andy began experimenting. He built a morning tonic that he could drink through a straw — a dense blend of herbs, colostrum, vitamin C, medicinal mushrooms, and traditional superfoods aimed at rebuilding tissue from the inside out. At the same time, he returned to a clay mask he had used years earlier, refining it with mineral-rich ingredients designed to support circulation, exfoliation, and barrier repair.
What started as a personal recovery protocol became a full-body experiment in non-toxic healing.
And the results were hard to ignore.
Friends noticed. Estheticians noticed. Makeup artists noticed. The swelling diminished. The abrasions healed. His skin — despite the trauma — began to recover faster than expected. That formulation would eventually become the foundation for Alitura Naturals.
Why Non-Toxic Skincare Actually Matters
One of the most overlooked truths in health is that skin is not a passive barrier. It is the body’s largest detoxification organ — and what we apply to it doesn’t just sit on the surface.
This isn’t fear-mongering — it’s chemistry.
Parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, oxybenzone, and certain preservatives are commonly used because they’re cheap, shelf-stable, and profitable. They are not used because they support skin biology.
Andy’s philosophy was simple: If an ingredient doesn’t serve the skin — or actively burdens the body — it doesn’t belong in the formula.
That approach led to obsessive sourcing, food-grade thinking, and formulations built around minerals, botanicals, bee products, and bioavailable actives rather than synthetic fillers.
“If your skin isn’t healing, the problem usually isn’t aging — it’s inflammation, toxic exposure, and a routine that ignores how skin actually repairs itself.”
A Holistic View of Skin Health
One of the most refreshing aspects of Andy’s approach is that skincare is never treated in isolation. Skin is a reflection of internal physiology.
Sleep deprivation shows up on your face. Poor digestion shows up on your face. Inflammation shows up on your face.
And no amount of topical product can override that.
From a physiological standpoint, skin aging and dysfunction are driven by oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, hormonal disruption, and impaired circulation. That’s why the conversation naturally expands beyond cleansers and serums into:
Sleep quality (you wear your sleep on your face)
Exercise and sweating (sauna and circulation)
Digestive health (enzyme activity and nutrient absorption)
Dietary fat and protein intake (skin is built from what you eat)
This is where modern skincare often misses the mark — treating symptoms instead of systems.
Transcript:
[0:00] Andy: I got hit by a westbound heading Land Rover. Hit in the eastbound lane. Run over by a tundra. I woke up at Cedar Sinai ICU with a compound fracture of my jaw. Seven broken ribs, collapsed lung.
[0:12] Craig: That accident caused you to go on a search to develop one of the most incredible non-toxic skincare brands. Why did you choose the non-toxic, organic route?
[0:24] Andy: Women leave the house with over 160 government-recognized carcinogens through a dozen products — hairspray, makeup, perfume, foundation.
[0:30] Craig: There’s a lot of controversy about the sun. Is it healthy for the skin? Is it damaging?
[0:35] Andy: I love sun exposure. I mean 15 to 20 minutes at least every day.
[0:42] Andy: A lot of sunscreens and products may be contributing to the problem — and the FDA flagged concerns with certain chemical filters.
[0:54] Craig: What are foods we should avoid that accelerate skin aging?
[1:00] Andy: White flour, sugar, processed foods, seed oils.
[1:06] Craig: When you don’t get a good night’s sleep, you wear your sleep on your face.
[1:11] Craig: Andy Hnilo is a former athlete and model who went on to create a leading non-toxic skincare brand: Alitura Naturals.
[1:54] Craig: I’m pleased to introduce you to none other than Andy Hnilo
[1:59] Andy: March 20th, 2011 — I was crossing the street in Los Angeles. Got hit by a westbound Land Rover, hit in the eastbound lane, run over by a tundra… woke up in ICU with a compound fracture of my jaw, seven broken ribs, collapsed lung.
[2:31] Andy: A nurse told me, “Any day you can walk out of the hospital is a pretty good day.” That sat with me.
[3:19] Craig: You said “unrecognizable.” Your face was mangled — and your products helped you come back. That’s incredible.
[4:09] Andy: During the time my jaw was wired shut, I started building my system internally. I was meeting with herbalists and experimenting with superfoods, TCM, Ayurveda, mushrooms — immune support, colostrum, vitamin C.
[5:07] Andy: I created a morning tonic — probably 30 ingredients. I experimented with everything.
[5:40] Andy: I turned my bedroom into a little lab before Alitura was even a thing. It was all about recovery.
[6:17] Andy: Then sauna, removing impurities… clay mask to support circulation, exfoliation, and then reintroducing ingredients like colostrum and pearl powder.
[6:43] Andy: A few weeks later, someone picked me up at the airport and did a legitimate double take — the swelling had gone down, abrasions were gone. That was a big victory.
[7:28] Andy: People said it smelled terrible — but the results were undeniable. That’s when I started fine-tuning.
[8:24] Andy: It was a nutrient-dense, mineralizing clay mask. I did side-by-side comparisons with other clay masks to make sure it was different. It was.
[9:08] Craig: I found Alitura in 2020. I had a severe rash for years and was using steroid creams — turns out it was fungal and steroids made it worse. Once I stopped, my skin was dry and sensitive, and I needed something to heal.
[10:58] Craig: I ordered the gold serum, clay mask, dermaroller, pearl cleanser — and I was sold immediately. My wife says it’s the only skincare lineup where she sees a noticeable difference.
[12:08] Craig: Sauna + contrast therapy + clay mask + gold serum… I feel like I glow. People ask what I do, and I tell them Alitura.
[12:58] Craig: Why did you choose to go non-toxic and organic when you could’ve used cheaper chemical ingredients and made more money?
[13:06] Andy: Because nobody was doing it with respect. I’m obsessed with ingredients. If you can remove preservatives like phenoxyethanol or sodium benzoate and formulate with raw ingredients, why wouldn’t you?
[14:51] Andy: You can create aromatherapy through cold-pressed organic essential oils — ylang ylang, clary sage, sea buckthorn, myrrh, frankincense. There’s ancestral alchemy in those ingredients.
[15:24] Andy: It was humbling. I didn’t want to leave the house. But I learned how powerful it is to heal what you see in the mirror — then help others do the same.
[18:26] Craig: People are using tons of products daily. How harmful can that be — and how prevalent is it?
[19:05] Andy: There’s a study — on average women leave the house with over 160 government-recognized carcinogens through 12 products. Hair, makeup, perfume, foundation, lipstick.
[19:28] Andy: Pay attention to what you’re rubbing on top of your largest detoxifying organ. Toxic buildup is real.
[20:17] Andy: Use tools like the Yuka app to scan a UPC code and see a rating. Think Dirty is another one. EWG is great.
[21:24] Andy: The goal is food-grade — ingredients that serve the skin naturally, from nature, and clean actives where needed.
[23:29] Craig: Your packaging matters too — you use special glass, not cheap plastic. Why?
[23:57] Andy: We use biophotonic (miron) glass to preserve formulas through light frequency, not toxins. It helps mitigate oxidation of natural extracts.
[24:22] Andy: We also use lactobacillus fermentation in some products — supporting the microbiome and helping protect the formula naturally.
[26:27] Craig: You’re developing a sunscreen soon — what questions should people ask about new products?
[27:26] Andy: The meteorite scrub is medicine in my opinion — pearl powder, clays, matcha, oils, lactobacillus… but use it a few times a week max.
[30:03] Craig: For a beginner, what does a simple routine look like?
[30:14] Andy: Cleanse, exfoliate, hydrate, repair.
[30:20] Andy: A creamy cleanser you can almost use like a leave-on mask, rinse warm then finish cold.
[30:58] Andy: Gold serum is a concentrated moisturizer with clean actives — copper peptide, plant-derived vitamin A (retinol alternative), marine collagen, CoQ10, astaxanthin — in a no-water base.
[31:42] Andy: Moisturizer is nourishing — sea buckthorn, aloe, cacao butter, botanicals. I love bee products: propolis, honey, beeswax. Antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal.
[33:13] Craig: I’ve seen you taste products before. “If you can’t eat it, you shouldn’t put it on your body.”
[33:54] Craig: What’s your take on sun exposure? Should we avoid it? Use sunscreen? What’s the context?
[34:35] Andy: I love sun exposure — 15 to 20 minutes at least every day. It’s not for everyone, but it’s part of my mood and happiness.
[36:04] Andy: A lot of sunscreen ingredients and products may be contributing to skin cancer risk. I want something pure — zinc, non-nano, reef safe — protect while respecting the sun.
[38:44] Craig: I’m a believer in responsible sun exposure — morning light first, building tolerance. Most people are indoors 90% of the time then burn fast at peak sun.
[40:31] Craig: Food matters too. What should we eat more of — and what should we avoid — for skin health?
[41:01] Andy: Accelerated aging comes from white flour, sugar, processed foods, seed oils… and eating too late before bed.
[41:28] Andy: I believe in whole foods and good fats. Nutrient-dense vegetables, ideally fermented, healthy gut function matters.
[42:03] Andy: Gelatin and collagen help maintain elasticity. Good fats: avocado, MCT, egg yolks, ribeyes, grass-fed meat.
[44:24] Craig: Sauna, sweating, sleep, stress — it’s a holistic approach. When you feel good about your skin, you show up differently.
[45:38] Andy: I appreciate you, Craig. I’ve been watching your climb — you’re consistent and helping people.
[46:03] Craig: Where can people find you and Alitura?
[46:17] Andy: We’re at alitura.com — Alitura is Latin for feeding and nourishing. And Alitura Naturals on Instagram. Reach out with questions.
[46:36] Craig: We’ll link everything below — and a coupon code so people can save on their first order.
[47:14] Andy: People are paying attention more now — even kids are scanning products and caring what they put on their skin. That’s where it starts.
[47:38] Craig: Thanks for coming on, Andy. Everybody check out Alitura and Andy Nylo.
Sun Exposure: Damage or Medicine?
Few topics in skincare generate more confusion than sun exposure.
Andy’s stance — one I largely agree with — is nuanced. Sunlight is not inherently harmful. In fact, responsible sun exposure is essential for vitamin D synthesis, circadian rhythm regulation, mitochondrial health, and mood.
The issue isn’t the sun. It’s context.
Most people spend over 90% of their time indoors, then suddenly expose pale, unadapted skin to intense midday UV while slathered in chemical sunscreens.
That combination is a recipe for inflammation and damage.
Andy’s philosophy is “protecting while respecting the sun.” Build tolerance gradually. Prioritize morning and late-day exposure. Support the skin barrier nutritionally. And when protection is needed, use ingredients that sit on the skin rather than penetrate it.
Check out my Alitura Naturals skincare routine
Food, Inflammation, and Skin Aging
Skin is tissue — and tissue is built from food.
From a nutrition perspective, accelerated skin aging is closely tied to glycation, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation. Diets high in refined sugar, white flour, seed oils, and ultra-processed foods impair collagen integrity and disrupt skin barrier function.
Conversely, diets rich in:
Saturated and monounsaturated fats
Quality protein
Collagen-rich foods
Micronutrients like zinc, copper, vitamin A, and vitamin C
support elasticity, thickness, and repair.
Andy emphasizes whole foods, fermented foods, gelatin, collagen, egg yolks, fatty fish, and quality animal fats — the same nutrient-dense building blocks humans have relied on historically.
The Role of Sauna, Sweat, and Circulation
Sweating is one of the most underappreciated detoxification pathways.
When sauna use is paired with mineral-rich topical treatments — like clay masks — the result is often improved tone, texture, and clarity.
This isn’t cosmetic magic. It’s physiology.
A Simple, Sustainable Skincare Framework
Rather than overwhelming routines, Andy recommends a 4-step foundational approach:
1. Cleanse
2. Exfoliate (periodically)
3. Hydrate
4. Repair
The goal is to support the skin’s natural function, not override it. Over-exfoliation, harsh actives, and constant product switching often create more damage than benefit.
Consistency, quality ingredients, and patience matter far more than novelty.
Confidence Is Biological
One of the most powerful themes in this conversation isn’t skincare — it’s confidence.
When skin improves, people show up differently. Energy changes. Posture changes. Social interaction changes. This isn’t vanity — it’s nervous system regulation and self-perception.
Andy lived through being unrecognizable. He understands what it feels like to avoid mirrors and social spaces. That lived experience is why his products — and his philosophy — resonate so deeply.
This work isn’t about perfection. It’s about restoring trust in your body’s ability to heal when given the right inputs.
Final Thoughts
Non-toxic skincare isn’t a trend. It’s a correction.
As awareness grows around endocrine disruption, toxic burden, and chronic inflammation, the future of skincare will look far more like nutrition, physiology, and ancestral wisdom than synthetic chemistry.
Andy Hnilo’s journey is proof that when healing becomes personal, innovation follows — and when products are built from lived experience, people feel the difference.
If you’re curious to try Alitura for yourself, you can save 20% off your first order using code CRAIG20 through my link at craigmccloskey.com/alitura.
