How much time do you spend worrying about your skin? If you’re like most women, you’ll spend 18 months out of your life in total thinking about its flaws.
Acne, scars, dark spots, sagging, and wrinkles are the most commonly worried about imperfections.
What most women don’t realize is that they can improve their skin naturally. Your skin is an organ, like your heart, lungs, and brain. By nourishing it from the inside out, you can improve its appearance.
Put down those harsh chemical medications from the dermatologist. Keep reading for seven ways to make your skin look healthy and young naturally.
1. Stay Out of the Sun
There’s a reason every good foundation and morning moisturizer contains SPF. The sun is always on offense, even through overcast clouds.
The UV rays from the sun do serious damage to your skin. Underneath the top layer of your skin is where the collagen and connective tissues are. They’re responsible for keeping your skin tight and wrinkle-free.
UV rays penetrate through the top layer and destroy your collagen and connective tissues. Thus, making you get wrinkles and fine lines.
It’s beneficial to get some sun exposure per day. After that, stay in the shade or reapply sunscreen frequently.
2. Hydrate Like It’s Your Job
No matter what health or beauty problem you’re trying to tackle, one of the solutions is always hydration. And, this is for good reason. We need water to survive and to thrive.
Your skin’s cells are made of water. When you don’t consume enough, the cells get damaged and destroyed. You’ll start to notice dry, dull, and tight skin.
You want your skin to look plump and youthful. The key is getting enough hydration through drinking water and applying it to the skin.
That means using water-based products that include hydrating properties. Even if you have oily skin, it still needs hydration.
3. Eat Foods Rich in Antioxidants
The cliché adage is true: you are what you eat.
If you only eat greasy, fried, and sugary foods, your skin will reflect that. You may notice acne, oiliness, and inflammation.
To clear up your skin, focus on eating foods that are high in antioxidants. Antioxidants repair damaged skin cells and protect them from nasty free radicals.
Some delicious foods that contain antioxidants are berries, spinach, nuts, and seeds. Dark chocolate and organic green tea also contain lots of antioxidants.
Combine your new habit of eating antioxidants with getting active. Dr. Bill Andrews from Siorai.com says that resistance training combined with a diet rich in antioxidants can help delay the aging process.
4. Start a Healthy Skin Care Routine
What if your skin has always been clear and flawless? Even people as lucky as yourself can’t avoid the effects of aging. Proactive skin care will maintain your youthful-looking skin.
Take some extra steps in the morning and night to devote to your skin care.
In the morning, rinse it with water and use a gentle cleanser. Then, use a moisturizer that contains SPF.
At night, make sure you remove all of your makeup. Use a gentle toner and cleanser. Apply an anti-aging serum followed by your nighttime moisturizer.
And, once or twice a week, use an exfoliator to remove dead skin cells. A face mask here and there won’t hurt, either.
5. Use Natural Skin Care Products
It’s not enough to simply use a serum and moisturizer. The type of products you put on your face will affect its appearance.
Some affordable skin care brands contain harmful ingredients. Avoids products that contain parabens, formaldehyde, and sodium lauryl sulfate.
You may notice that sodium lauryl sulfate is in every shower product you own. It’s a commonly used ingredient to create a lathering effect.
But, it can actually react badly with the natural sebum in your skin and cause your pores to clog. It can also cause skin irritation, burning, and inflammation.
Instead, opt for products from the natural skin care section. Always read the ingredient list so you know what you’re putting on your skin.
6. Do a Detoxifying Cleanse
You’ve likely heard about juice cleanses on social media. Perhaps you thought they were all a hoax and don’t actually do anything. While this is true for some cleanses, it’s not true for all.
Our skin collects toxins from everything. From air pollution to the food we eat to the cleaning products we use. Those toxins make it hard for our skin’s cells to stay healthy.
You don’t have to buy a juice cleanse to clear out these toxins. Consider detoxing by starting every day with a glass of lemon water. For a few days, make lemon water the only beverage you drink.
This can help flush out the toxins from your body. It can improve your skin’s appearance as well as the health of all your other organs.
7. Eat More Healthy Fats
The ketogenic diet has been all the rage lately. It focuses on high-fat and high-protein meals instead of high-carbs and processed foods.
Our skin depends on healthy fats to retain moisture and keep its cellular walls strong. Both these actions make your skin have more elasticity and plumpness.
Consider increasing the omega-3 and 6 content in your diet. This doesn’t mean eating all the cheese you can get your hands on. It means choosing a variety of healthy fats in different forms.
Some examples of healthy fat foods are avocados, oils, nuts, fish, and flax seeds. You don’t have to commit to being ketogenic, but increasing your healthy fat intake is a good idea.
Ready to Make Your Skin Look Younger and Healthier?
It’s a natural part of the aging process to develop fine lines and wrinkles. But, certain lifestyle and diet choices can prolong that process.
Use the tips about to nourish your skin from the inside out.
If one of the reasons your skin isn’t looking its best is excessive sweating, read this. While sweating is an important skin process, too much could signify an underlying condition. Take your health into your own hands and be your best advocate!
