10 Essential skin tips for happy, healthy skin
We all need and deserve happy and healthy skin, but how do we achieve this? Our skin wants to be looked after and given tender loving care. Good skin care and a healthy lifestyle can delay the natural ageing process. We have put together our top 10 essential skin tips to help you get the best from your skin.
A doctor once told me the worst three things for your skin is the 3 S’s – smoking, stress and sun, hence they are in my top 3.
Don’t smoke.
Smoking ages the skin and contributes to wrinkles particularly around the mouth. Smoking narrows the blood vessels which decreases blood flow and in turn depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients that are vitality essential for healthy skin. Smoking also increases the risk of cancer.
Stress Management.
Manage your stress levels and learn to relax, laugh and have fun. Go on holiday or book a holiday for next year, having something to look forward to is so exciting and keeps you in positive form. Pamper and spoil yourself, book a massage or a Reflexology treatment, we all get stress at some point in our lives. Uncontrolled stress can trigger acne breakouts and other skin problems. I have mild psoriasis and know my body is stressed when red patches appear. This is my time to book in for a pamper treatment.
Sun Protection.
Protect your skin from the environment – pollution, car fumes and sun. The most important way to take care of your skin is to wear a broad spectrum sunscreen when spending long periods in the sun. A lifetime of sun exposure can cause age spots, pigmentation, wrinkles and a high risk of skin cancer.
Drink Water
Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water, your skin will love you for it and you will use less moisturiser. Water flushes out toxins in the body, hydrates the cells which improves elastin leaving your skin plumper. Herbal teas are a good way to increase your water consumption along with foods containing a high water content. Watermelon and strawberries contain about 92% water per volume
Eat the right foods.
Beauty starts from within, the age old saying “you are what you eat” is so true.
“Gluten free keeps spots away” or so my friend tells me. She has been gluten free most of her life and says if she goes to a restaurant and eats gluten within a day or two a spot appears. Eating the right foods is very important for happy, healthy skin.
Fruit and vegetables are packed full of antioxidant, spinach, broccoli, peppers, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and grapes to name but a few are high in antioxidants. These beauties are necessary for normal skin cell development and healthy skin tone.
Stock up on Selenium which is another powerful antioxidant, selenium is an important mineral and has many benefits, it is very important for cognitive function Just four Brazil nuts will provide enough RDA, (recommended daily allowance) other good sources are shellfish, fish, eggs, tomatoes and broccoli.
Studies have suggested that selenium-rich diet can help protect against skin cancer, sun damage and age spots.
Once you make changes to your diet within 6 weeks you should notice the difference, as new skin will emerge up to the surface.
Have a Facial ….
Cleanse & Moisturise using the correct skin care products at home. Pamper with masks or really spoil yourself completely and book in for a facial.
Body Exfoliation
Did you know dry body brushing stimulates the lympathic system and directly assists in removing pathogens, removes dead skin cells and stimulates circulation, leaving the skin soft and smooth?
Exercise
Whether you walk the dog go running or attend the gym, any type of exercise is extremely beneficial for the skin. Increasing heart rate and blood pumping through the system will bring essential nutrients to the skin via the blood giving a glowing complexion. And you always feel good after exercise as the body releases chemicals called endorphins which trigger that positive feeling in the body similar to morphine.
Plenty of sleep
Getting enough sleep plays an important role for good health and wellbeing throughout our life. Sleep helps your brain work efficiently. Studies show after a good nights sleep studying for exams, learning a skill or problem solving will be much easier to tackle.
Vitamin D from the sun
The best place to get vitamin D is directly from the sun. Sunlight is the best and only natural source of vitamin D. Its our sunshine vitamin.
In summary, put yourself at the top of your to do list every single day and the rest will fall into place.