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Dos And Don’ts For Healthy, Gorgeous Skin

We all want that kind of supple, youthful skin that radiates a healthy natural beauty from within. The kind that makes us feel beautiful and confident. The kind that turns heads when you see it and lends people the kind of ageless beauty that we’re all so desperate for that we’re willing to pay through the nose for it. And there lies the problem. We’ve become addicted to convenience and conditioned to believe that the answer to all our questions is always to open our purses. And the beauty and cosmetics industry knows how to play us like a fiddle with slick marketing campaigns and ubiquitous branding that make bold claims to which their products never seem to live up.

Even the cleverest and canniest of us can get fooled by the adverts and throw down 60, 70 or 100 of our hard earned pounds for a jar of gunk that leaves our skin completely unchanged by the time it’s empty. Of course, that’s not to say that no beauty products work or that they can’t be beneficial to your skin. It’s simply a case of knowing what to look for, what to avoid and understanding the lifestyle factors which also influence the health of your skin. 

With that in mind, we’ve compiled this list of dos and don’ts for healthy, gorgeous skin…

DO supplement your skincare regimen with a healthy diet

Healthy skin isn’t just made from without, it’s also made from within. No matter how comprehensive your skincare regimen and no matter how many skincare products you buy, if you don’t have a healthy diet, keeping your skin beautiful will always be an uphill struggle. That means cutting down on fatty, salty and sugary processed foods that wreak havoc with your hormones and cause outbreaks of spots. And it means in with whole plant foods which are loaded with vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals which are essential to boost our immune function and promote general well being.

Make sure you’re getting plenty of the following every day;

  • Green leafy veggies like kale and spinach- Rich in chlorophyll for that natural glow- don’t worry it won’t turn you green.
  • Tomatoes- Full of an antioxidant called lycopene which can protect your skin from damage caused by the sun
  • Citrus fruits and berries- High in vitamin C which is essential for your skin to produce more collagen and stay youthful.
  • Nuts and seeds- Which contain Omega 3 fatty acids to protect against puffiness.

DON’T buy a product without reading up on its active ingredients

The beauty industry has gotten very good at using sciency-sounding terms and ingredients to give us renewed faith in their products. It seems like everywhere we look there’s a new super-ingredient that’s poised to revolutionise the skincare industry. Some of these have a sound basis in science. Some are complete mumbo jumbo.

CBD for instance has been linked to a range of positive health outcomes for the whole body. Moreover, studies show that its anti inflammatory and antioxidant properties can have a range of benefits for skin, especially for those suffering from conditions like acne. So, you can shop for CBD Skincare UK and know that you’re not throwing money down the drain. There are some active ingredients, on the other hand, that sound much more impressive than they are. 

Collagen, for instance, is a key component of youthful, healthy skin. But don’t rush out to buy collagen infused skincare products. Collagen can’t be absorbed into the skin. The molecules are too big. You need to make your own (which is where the healthy diet comes in). The same goes for elastin. And don’t get me started on stem cells. 

In short, never buy a new skincare product without first doing your due diligence on the active ingredients.

DO stay hydrated

One of the most natural but effective things we can do is to keep it hydrated. Yes, that means using a moisturiser, but it also means keeping ourselves hydrated. The more water we drink, the better our blood is able to carry nutrients and oxygen to the skin to give it that youthful glow we all crave. Just take a look at how these women were able to look 10 years younger in a month just by drinking more water!

DON’T drink alcohol to excess

Speaking of drinking, you simply can’t expect to maintain healthy, youthful looking skin and still drink like a fish every Friday night. Alcohol dehydrates the skin in ways which can’t be counteracted by drinking more water. It leads to inflammation and puffiness not just in the face but all over the body. 

A bottle of wine shared with your partner over a delicious meal can be a great way to relax at the end of a stressful working week. But pounding booze like it’s fresher’s week at uni simply isn’t sustainable as we get older. Excessive alcohol consumption leads only to dark eye bags, deeper wrinkles and dry, sagging skin. 

DO exfoliate… gently

Our skin is the body’s largest organ. It’s alive and constantly changing, shedding old cells which sit on the surface and, if left unattended, can clog pores and rob the skin of its healthy glow. For this reason it’s a good idea to exfoliate at least once or twice a week to shed old dead skin cells and let that healthy glow shine through. Just make sure that you exfoliate gently. You don’t need to scrub like you’re cleaning out the oven. In fact, scrubbing too hard can cause micro-tears in the skin.

DON’T burn the candle at both ends

You lead an active social life. You work hard and you play harder. But be wary of burning the candle at both ends. Getting plenty of sleep is absolutely essential in maintaining healthy and youthful looking skin. When we don’t get enough sleep (at least 7 hours) it can prematurely age the skin resulting in increased inflammation which can trigger a number of conditions including psoriasis, acne and eczema. 

Stick with these dos and don’ts and you’ll continue to enjoy naturally healhy skin for years to come. 

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