A healthy lifestyle will reflect through your skin: Not smoking or drinking alcohol to excess will greatly improve the look and health of your skin. Cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide, which displaces the oxygen in skin. Nicotine reduces blood flow leaving skin dry and discolored with a greyish tone.
Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it causes you to urinate more often making it impossible for your body to stay hydrated. Additionally, alcohol in our system hinders the production of the hormone vasopressin that helps you reabsorb water. Drinking too much will lead to dehydrated skin that looks tired and sallow with more pronounced fine lines, pores and wrinkles.
Eat your greens…and reds, oranges and everything in between! You can eat your way back to cleaner, glowing skin one bite at a time. Foods such as kiwi fruit has vitamin C that boosts the immune system, and lemon naturally lightens and tightens skin. Sweet potatoes are anti-inflammatory in nature and have a high vitamin A content to help fight acne-cause bacteria. Spinach is loaded with antioxidants and can help by strengthening skin tissues for thicker skin. Eating a good balance of fruits and vegetables along with protein-rich foods such as salmon, eggs and avocado oil help skin (and hair) to glow. Applying a medical grade antioxidant serum to the skin daily will also help prevent sun damage. We recommend the Skinceuticals antioxidants CE Ferulic, or Phloretic CF.
Mega hydrate: We can’t stress it enough; hydration is key to your skin’s well being and should be a cornerstone of your health (and beauty) routine. We recommend the Skinceuticals Triple Lipid Restore moisturizer with ceramides. Staying hydrated makes your skin appear plumper and less wrinkled. And having a sufficient amount of water in your system may also fend off breakouts by decreasing the concentration of oil on your skin. Those that ‘get in the swing’ of regular water consumption by drinking out of a water bottle at their desk or in the car, often have the increased benefit of drinking less sugary drinks. Even supposed ‘health drinks’ often have added sugar – an enemy of the skin. When blood sugar levels are increased sugars can attach to proteins in collagen and produce compounds that cause skin to sag and wrinkle.
Manage your sun exposure: Everyone loves a little warm sun now and again, but sadly Mr. Sun is no friend to your skin. Sunlight provides vitamin D, which is an essential part of helping our body to function effectively and healthily. However, there is nothing that will damage skin as quickly as the sun. Regular application of a high-quality sunscreen, and then consistent reapplication, are the first steps to avoiding sun damage. We recommend the Skinceuticals Physical Fusion SPF 50. Not doing outdoor activities in the middle of the day and wearing a hat and sunglasses can also help you save face. In addition to causing certain kids of cancers, exposure to the sun causes dark spots, wrinkles and the eventual thinning of the skin. So lather up and be sun smart, your skin will thank you for it!
Follow all these skin smart tips to get your skin glowing with health.
