If you are in search of a radiant, youthful complexion you have probably been drawn to advertisements for the “miracle” cream that promises to turn time back. Although creams can help skin, the real source of beautiful skin comes not from what we put on our skin from the outside but from how we treat our skin from the inside.
A radiant, youthful complexion is possible when you take care of your body from the inside out. Start following these simple steps of treating your body with respect and it will begin to respond in kind.
A Healthy Diet
A healthy, glowing skin is a product of what we put into our bodies.
What we put in our bodies shows on our skin. If you eat foods rich in fat and toxins, your skin will reflect that. Give your skin proper nutrition and it will glow. Nourishment for the skin comes from the inside in the form of vitamins and minerals. Eat at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day. Dark green vegetables and orange fruit are the best because they are high in nutrients and fibre. No single food can supply all the nutrients that your body needs for optimum health; so eat a wide variety of foods to get all the nutrition.
Regular Exercise
Regular workouts help the skin by increasing circulation, improving delivery of nutrients to the skin cells and removal of potentially damaging toxins. Health experts say that regular exercise can reduce acne breakouts, by controlling the production of testosterone-related hormones. They also concur that it keeps wrinkles away by creating the conditions for making collagen. For those who don’t know, collagen production supports the fibres that keep wrinkles away.
Know Your Skin’s Enemies
Pollution, stress, smoking, overexposure to sun, and dieting, all have disastrous effects on the skin’s appearance. To protect your skin from pollution, wear a foundation; reduce stress through exercise, meditation and yoga; monitor the time you spend in the sun and avoid dieting and smoking.
Get Proper Rest
Getting 8 hours of sleep per night helps improve the texture and the luminosity of our skin. During the night, the skin is restored from the harmful effects of daily stress. When we do not get the required sleep, our skin suffers. This is especially noticeable in the fragile skin under the eyes. The under-eye area is almost 50 per cent thinner than the skin on the face. Sleepless nights leave behind fine lines, dark circles or puffy bags. Cosmetic treatments can soften the effects of sleep deprivation but prevention is the best cure. Eye treatments are limited in their ability because they cannot reverse the stress that lack of sleep causes to the skin.
Use Skin Care
Instead of searching for a miracle cream, use a skincare programme that is designed for your skin type. A proper skincare programme includes: a daily cleansing, moisturising and protection (foundation). Exfoliate twice a week to get rid of dead skin cells and to uncover softer, clearer skin. The skincare brand you use is not as important as being faithful to a skincare programme.
A healthy, radiant complexion is possible with the right amount of care and dedication. Make note of what changes you need to make, and implement a healthy skincare programme now. A radiant complexion will be your reward.
Diet Tips
Diet of a natural sunscreen
Dark chocolate, sunflower seeds and green tea contain antioxidants that protect skin from free radicals (the damaging molecules that form in skin exposed to sun and pollutants). Antioxidants, called polyphenols in cocoa, can keep skin hydrated and lessen the effects of high exposure to sun.
Add vitamin C for healthy collagen
Vitamin C in strawberries, citrus, red capsicum, and broccoli is known to activate fibroblast cells, which make collagen, the tightly packed and carefully organized support system sitting under the skin’s surface.
Eat fish for fewer wrinkles
Manu species of fish contain omega-3 fatty acids that help decrease inflammation and improve blood circulation, producing a healthy glow.
Eat more colours for smooth skin
Dark orange, red or green fruit and veggies, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and spinach contain antioxidants that work magic on the skin. The orange and red in most of these foods is due to beta-carotene, an antioxidant that promotes the production of new skin cells and shedding of old skin. A regular influx of new cells keeps the surface of your skin smooth, fresh-looking and resistant to irritants and damage.
Increase iron and zinc for clear skin
Fortified cereal, oysters are brimming with zinc and iron. Zinc is critical for a beauty diet, contributing to nearly every enzyme in your skin, including those that help create collagen and produce new cells. It also aids in healing wounds.