We all want supple and healthy looking skin. Many people assume that achieving it requires using expensive products with fancy names and from luxury brands.
But there are many far simpler actions and habits that form the foundation, no pun intended, of skincare.
Here are the most important health and lifestyle tips you can start with.
Eat Right
Choose carefully what you eat. Flawless skin starts with what we let inside our bodies. Having a balanced diet with the right amount of vitamins, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates is essential for a healthy looking skin.
Have loads of fruits and vegetables. Blue, yellow, red, orange and green colored vegetables and fruits are rich in antioxidants that nourish and protect your skin.
Too much sugar, damages your Collagen and elastin causing the skin to wrinkle and age prematurely. So avoid sugar foods like soft drinks and excess pastries.
Also avoid too many processed foods full of fats; they will counter your skin goals, causing your skin to become oily and vulnerable to problems like acne. Opt instead for healthier fats and oils like omega3 and olive oil that keep your skin moisturized.
Hydrate
That dull, flaky looking skin is a result of dehydration. Drink as much water as your body needs in a day. Adequate water boosts circulation and oxygen supply to your skin and keeps skin cells PH balanced.
This keeps your skin supple and healthy.
Work out
Exercise benefits your skin in three important ways:
- Sweating rids your body of Toxins that could affect the health of your skin.
- Exercise helps with blood and oxygen circulation which is why your skin glows after a workout.
- Exercise helps reduce stress levels. Some feel good hormones are released to your body countering high-stress levels that could lead to acne break-outs and increased skin sensitivity.
Sleep
Getting quality shut-eye is essential for that beautiful skin you hope for. As you sleep your body gets time to repair and rejuvenate itself. New skin cells are produced, replacing the dull and worn-out ones at the surface. Quality sleep also prevents the tell-tale signs of poor rest like eye-bags and saggy skin.
Use natural products
Other than taking care of what we put inside our bodies we need to be extra selective with what we apply on our skin.
Many skin care products claim to help your skin with this or that but end up causing damage mostly because they contain harmful ingredients.
Natural products are made with natural ingredients that nourish your skin without any negative health effects.
It is important to note that not all products that claim to be natural are actually safe. When selecting a beauty product, look out for products that have a natural base or are 100% natural or organic. Some of the ingredients that work well with your skin are
- Fruits rich in vitamin c. They are a great source of antioxidants that help your skin look and feel great
- Witch hazel. A natural antiseptic to help heal and soothe the skin.
- Grapefruit. Contains natural antibacterial properties and is also loaded with antioxidants that protect the skin from breaking.
- Niacinamide or vitamin B3. Helps in strengthening your skin and make it less susceptible to damage.
- Jojoba oil and other organic oils. They are great at cleansing and moisturizing your skin.
Protect your skin from the sun
The sun is not the bad guy here. Our body requires sun rays to break down vitamin D in our bodies. The problem comes in when we spend too much time in the sun without protecting our skin.
Excessive exposure damages the skin and increases the risk of skin cancer. Whenever you go outside, protect your skin by;
- Using sunscreen; choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that has an SPF of at least 30 and is able to protect you against UVB and UVA rays. Wear this regularly and reapply after a few hours if you are outdoors for too long.
- Wear protective clothing such as a hat and long sleeved clothing.
Cleanse and exfoliate regularly
Daily cleaning removes dirt build up, opens up your pores and helps reduce damage to your collagen and elastin. Use a natural cleanser that does not dry your skin or strip it off its natural oils.
Exfoliating removes dead cells and encourages the production of new ones. New skin cells promote a healthy, youthful look.
Normal, sensitive and dry skin types need a good scrub at least once a week. Oily and combined skin types may need more scrubs for best results.
Again, use only natural products when cleansing and exfoliating. They will reduce the risk of sensitivity and they carry extra benefits such as moisturization and anti-bacterial protection.
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