Our skin is one of the most visible expressions of beauty. It is the largest organ of the body and needs to be nourished from the inside first. Today’s over-the-counter skin care products only offer the temporary solution to “fix” our skin from the outside; if we start working from the inside and nurture every cell of our skin, it will radiate from within.
Glowing skin, however, can be homegrown. This simply means that there are simple and easy-to-follow tips that can take care of the skin to make it look beautiful and younger.
We have carefully selected and put together top tips that will ensure that you are on your way to your dream skin.
Exfoliate your skin
Exfoliating is an important part of your skincare regime. If done at least twice a week, it would help to remove impurities and dead skin cells from the face and other parts of your body. The scrub, after being applied to the face has to be gently rubbed into the skin in small circular movements with your fingertips for at least five minutes. You can make your scrub at home with any of the following steps:
Take 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar mixed with 1 teaspoon of yogurt and a ¼ teaspoon of honey. Mix and massage on face for 5 minutes, then rinse with water.
Blend a few strawberries with some olive oil and add 2 tablespoons of sugar. Apply on face and leave for 10 minutes and rinse off with water.
Blend 2 tablespoons of oatmeal with a few drops of olive oil and rub onto your skin for five minutes. Wash off with water.
Drink Water
Drinking six to eight glasses of water every day enables the toxins from the body to get flushed out, causing the skin to look fresh and hydrated. Drinking an adequate amount of water daily is important for overall good health because of water aids in digestion, circulation, absorption and even excretion.
Also, the fact remains that the skin is an organ and just like any other part of the body, your skin is made up of cells. Skin cells, like all other cells in the body, are made up of water. Without water, the body organs will not function properly and certainly not at their optimum, therefore you need to keep your skin hydrated.
If your skin is not getting a sufficient amount of water, the lack of hydration will make your skin dry, tight and flaky. Dry skin has less resilience and is prone to wrinkling. Water moisturizes your skin, keeps it fresh, soft, glowing and smooth. It gets rid of wrinkles and is the best anti-aging treatment around yet known!
Get enough sleep
Do ensure you get at least eight hours of sleep every day. The stress caused by sleep deprivation causes the release of a hormone called cortisol which is one of the reasons for oily skin and acne.
When we are asleep, our cells rebuild and repair themselves (the growth hormone functions only at night). So if you don’t get adequate sleep, this function is impaired in which case you are likely to become stressed. This can cause the capillaries to tighten up, affecting the flow of nutrients to the skin causing it to look dull.
After all, 8 pm to 11 pm is the typical time for hydration and stimulation, 11 pm to 3 am is the time for nutrition and regeneration, while 3 am to 5 am is the time for resting.
Take your sleep time seriously!
Watch what you eat
Ladies, what you put in your mouth is as important as the products you apply on your skin! If you crash-diet or eat highly processed foods, there’s a high possibility you’re your skin won’t be as strong and supple as it could be. For example, if you don’t eat enough protein, you are depriving your skin of the amino acids that go into making collagen (for skin strength) and elastic tissue (for suppleness). Therefore, be careful about what you eat.
Meditate
Meditation is good for your skin. Meditation addresses the underlying issues that create skin problems in the first place. An emerging field of research called psycho-dermatology studies the interaction between mind and skin, looking at the effects of emotions on the skin as well as disorders that have skin manifestations.
Also, mindful breathing while meditating adds oxygen to the skin, which is key to boosting cellular health. This increased oxygen rejuvenates your skin, balancing your body and your mind while transforming your body’s cells and tissues.
It brightens your complexion, reduces wrinkles and slows down the aging process from the inside out. Meditation also lowers blood pressure and tension-related pain such as headaches, ulcers, insomnia, muscle aches, and joint problems, making you look and feel younger.