How many times have you leaned in close to the mirror . . . . and cringed?
Do you hide under a deep, wide-brimmed hat pulled way down low?
Have you ever seen someone's flawless skin in passing and felt a pang of jealousy?
It doesn't have to be that way.
You're stuck in your skin, but not with it. You really can change your complexion.
A visit to your derm shouldn't be just because you found a pre-cancerous lesion you need to have removed. Often, if you're not happy with the way your skin is looking, there are things you can do to help, and many of them are as simple as changes to your daily routine. You'll be surprised at the results you can get by tweaking a few of your habits just a bit.
Healthy Skin Starts From the Inside, Out
Drink Plenty of Water
If you're not drinking enough water, no wonder you don't look your best! Hydrated skin looks smoother, fuller, and healthier because it's staying plumped from within. Plus, drinking water helps lower the concentration of oil on your skin, so it could help to decrease acne breakouts.
Rest Up
Sleeping doesn't just help your overall health. It's good for your skin, too. Your skin repairs, heals, and rejuvenates itself while you sleep. You should be getting at least seven to eight hours every night. Being sleep-deprived puts stress on the body, causing it to release more adrenaline and cortisol, which can trigger breakouts and other inflammatory skin problems.
Eat Healthy
Watch what you put in your mouth. Drinking milk can lead to more acne breakouts, possibly due to the natural hormones that are present. Other foods that can damage your skin include carbohydrates, white flour, and sugars, as they may lead to acne, sagging, and premature aging. Processed sugar glycates the collagen, which stiffens and ages it.
On the other hand, ingesting foods known to be high in antioxidants, probiotics, and other healthful ingredients can have huge beneficial effects for your skin.
These are a few, just to get you started:
- Healthy fats from avocado, fish, nuts, and seeds
- Vitamin C from blackcurrants, blueberries, broccoli, guava, kiwi, oranges, papaya, strawberries, and sweet potatoes
- Selenium from broccoli, eggs, fish, nuts, shellfish, and tomatoes
- Zinc from fish, lean red meat, poultry, nuts, seeds, shellfish, and whole grains
- Probiotics from fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, and kombucha, yogurt, miso, kefir, and tempeh
Add green tea to your list of must-dos. The tea's anti-inflammatory properties can be soothing, especially if your complexion is red or blotchy. Some experts think that some components of green tea may help to prevent the collagen destruction that leads to wrinkles and sun-induced DNA damage in the skin.
Exercise Every Day
Exercise increases blood flow to your skin, flushes toxins out, and helps to reduce inflammation-causing stress.
Avoid Environmental Toxins and Pollution
These yucky things lead to the release of free radicals that damage skin and hasten aging. Even just being around smoke will do it.
Good Skin Care For a Healthier Complexion
Choose Your Products Wisely
The ingredients that go into your skincare products is way more important than the pretty outer packaging. Look for products that contain a high amount of active ingredients like antioxidants and moisturizing agents, instead of a ton of water. Those that utilize probiotics, such as Glowbiotics, have the ability to really calm inflammation and restore your skin closer to its youthful countenance.
Cleanse Twice Daily
Get rid of all the dust, dirt, grit, and oil that gets on your skin during the day, and the grime of your skin's nightly renewal process. Sleeping with your makeup on is a huge no-no.
Follow With a Facial Toner and Moisturizer
Toners help to rebalance your skin's pH and tighten pores. Moisturizers help to hydrate your skin. Healthy, hydrated skin looks and feels young and supple. Dry skin is unable to perform its natural process of shedding, so dead skin sits on top, leading to clogged pores and blemishes. Even oily-prone skin should be moisturized. Often, oily skin is the body's cry for more moisture, and skipping out on a moisturizer could make breakouts worse.
Wear Sunscreen
This is an absolute must, even when you're indoors! UV rays damage your collagen and elastic tissue, causing wrinkles. People who wear sunscreen religiously tend to look much younger than their actual age.
Windows let sunlight in, and fluorescent bulbs and electronic devices emit UV rays, so it's crucial to protect your skin when indoors, too. When heading outdoors, it's important to apply sunscreen before you're exposed to the sun, and to reapply it every two hours.
With just a little bit of an extra effort, you can help your body create more youthful skin with a healthy glow.