When talking about healthy skin it’s important to take a good look in the mirror and evaluate your complexion on a topical level and then examine what’s going on from the inside out. Common areas of concern include discoloration or sun spots, enlarged pores, dark circles, acne, premature aging and wrinkles. Additionally, it’s important to evaluate your overall complexion and hydration of the skin (be on the lookout for any areas of flakiness, excess oil or otherwise), and determine if your skin type is normal, oily, combination or dry.
There’s a whole world of ingredients and products in existence specifically formulated to help deal with these skincare concerns, however that’s just one step of many in the battle of beautiful skin. For skincare conditions, flair ups or temporary reactions (especially if they are allergy related) you should consult a dermatologist or skincare expert.
Keep in mind treating your skin topically is just one slice of the pie. Here are some key factors to explore when looking to dramatically improve your skin’s overall health and complexion:
1. Skin Regimen – Taking into consideration all of the above, and that your skin is your bodies largest organ; it’s important to understand the importance of taking care of it. For starters, stop sleeping with your makeup on, change your pillowcases regularly and get on a healthy skincare routine. At the very least cleanse, tone, and moisturize. Add in eye creams and specialty serums depending on your skin care concerns and skin type; as well as weekly treatment masks, somewhat regular facials and schedule seasonal trips to the dermatologist as needed. Most importantly don’t forget a daily SPF, especially if you plan on being in the sun. Besides the skin cancer risks, sun exposure is the leading cause of premature aging. Also exfoliating is important to help even skintone and smooth out rough skin. It’s also helps treatment products work better by allowing them to absorb better into skin. Just note your skin is extra sensitive during this time so make sure you’re wearing an SPF (preferably 30+) if you plan on being outside.
2. Maintain a balanced diet – It’s a pretty simple rule, the healthier you eat, the better your skin will look. This statement does come with a disclaimer though. If you’re massively unhealthy and then switch overnight to healthier routine you may notice within a few days the toxins trying to escape and temporary acne can occur until your skin neutralizes. (You see this happen with cleanses sometimes). Go heavy on antioxidant-rich foods like berries and pomegranates — they help protect skin cells and keep skin smooth. Also opt for a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts (especially almonds which are rich in Vitamin E, a potent sun blocker) and whole grains and flaxseeds (rich in omega-3 fatty acids which helps to hydrate skin). Basically minimize your intake of unnatural, boxed foods, chips, sodas or bites that appears to be loaded up with chemicals, hydrogenated oils, and artificial flavors.
3. Stay hydrated – You’ve heard it before, drink 8+ glasses of water a day to help flush out bad toxins, hydrate skin and improve your overall complexion. While evidence around this varies from expert to expert, one things for certain, it certainly doesn’t hurt and is a great place to start (especially if it’s replacing sugary filled, un-natural beverages). Also high on our list, green tea which is filled with antioxidants and can help prevent skin cancer!
4. Exercise – Think about it, exercise helps increase your blood flow which then nourishes skin cells and keeps them pumping! It also helps reduce stress which can take a major tole on your skin.
5. Healthy Lifestyle – We already discussed the importance of a healthy diet and exercise which is part of a healthy lifestyle but so is understanding the effects of lifestyle choices like drugs, alcohol, and smoking cigarettes (especially in excess) as they can lead to premature aging. We’ve all heard the term ‘smoker’s face’ or worse, ‘drug face’. They are called bad habits for a reason…
AVEENO® Daily Moisturizing Lotion: Give your skin a naturally beautiful fresh start. This nourishing lotion improves the health of your skin in just 1 day! It contains ACTIVE NATURALS® Colloidal Oatmeal and is blended with rich emollients to help protect and soothe dry skin.
{Disclosure: Compensation was provided by AVEENO® via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of AVEENO®.}