Skin Care
The appearance of your skin is an overall indicator of your health and well being. Healthy radiant and glowing skin is a goal that is accomplished by understanding how lifestyle can affect your skin, and taking the needed steps to improve skin health and protect it from internal and external factors that cause damage. While there is no miracle cream that can instantly give you healthy skin, here are 15 effective methods to rejuvenate skin to its best possible condition. Skin care should be taken care of the most because it is affects your lifestyle.
#1: Eat a healthy diet
Skin is the largest organ of your body and it is fed and nourished by a network of tiny blood vessels. It depends upon the right types of nutrients to regenerate healthy cells. The foods that are eaten have an impact upon skin health. Get plenty of leafy greens, fresh fruits. lean proteins and the recommended daily servings of dairy in your diet with control of the portions to supply the right amount of calories you need for optimal health. Tomatoes increase the production of natural SPF, which helps to protect the skin from UV rays. Try using an ounce of dark chocolate to satisfy your sweet tooth. It contains compounds that help to improve circulation and maintain better hydration.
#2: Eliminate the overuse of fats and sugars
Excessive amounts of sugar and fats can lead to skin infections such as blemishes and it can trigger a worsening of acne. Olive oil is the best choice over other oils because it contains monounsaturated fatty acids, encouraging better skin cell development and antioxidants which quell free radicals that can cause skin damage. You can still enjoy a healthy diet while cuttting down on the amounts of fats and sugars. This will help your skin to get more of the right nutrients that it needs and less of the ones that it doesn’t.
#3: Drink green tea
Green tea contains a compound called epigallocatechin gallate that helps to lessen teh destruction of collagen. This reduces wrinkles and helps to protect against damage from the UV rays of the sun. Iced green tea can also help to lessen the redness that is caused by rosacea.
#4: Lower stress levels
High levels of stress impact every system of your body and it can lead to increases in breakouts on the skin. When you are stressed out, certain hormones in the body increase, which can cause the skin to become drier or oilier. Use stress management techniques like yoga, meditation or deep breathing exercises. Also build time in your schedule for enjoyable recreation activities. If you have any skin conditions present, it will help to lessen them.
#5: Be mindful of the air quality in your environment
Cigarette smoke can have negative effects on the skin. It causes the release of free radicals that lead to premature aging of the skin including dry skin and the formation of lines and wrinkles. It also has a dehydrating effect. The same is true for the smoke produced by cooking oil in the kitchen. Air that lacks sufficient humidity can have a drying effect upon your skin and make lines and wrinkling worse. You can use a humidifier to increase the moisture in the air of your home to rectify the problem.
#6: Protect your skin from sun damage
Ultraviolet rays are known to cause skin damage in the forms of skin cancer, premature aging, wrinkling, drying and the development of age spots. People who drive in the sunlight have a greater exposure on the left side of their bodies as UV rays come through the windows. It is important to get plenty of sunlight for your recommended daily dose of vitamin D, but the problem is solved by using a sunscreen moisturizer with an SPF of at least 30.
#7: Keep hydrated
Dehydration can cause the skin to become dry and it won’t matter how many moisturizers you use. You must drink enough liquids during the day to keep your entire body properly hydrated, or your skin will become dry and subject to premature aging and damage. Clear fresh water is recommended, but other non sugary beverages will help.
#8: Get enough sleep
A lack of sleep can not only affect how you feel throughout the day, it can also lead to skin problems. When you are sleeping, your body is busy repairing skin cells and making new ones. When you don’t get enough, (seven to eight hours), the body becomes stressed and released more cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones can trigger breakouts of acne and other skin blemishes.
#9: Proper daily cleansing
Before you cleanse your face, be sure to wash your hands so you won’t inadvertently transfer oils and bacteria to the pores of your skin. Use lukewarm water because cold water tends to close the pores and hot water can lead to broken capillaries and excessive redness of the skin. Rinse the skin with lukewarm water, then apply facial cleanser using a circular motion with light pressure. A good tip is to use the middle and ring fingers because they are not as strong as the other ones and this will help you to get more gentle pressure. Start at the lower part of your face and move upward. It helps to stimulate the capillaries in the skin for improved circulation. Rinse by splashing with lukewarm water and pat skin dry with a towel. Facial skin is more sensitive and prone to damage so it pays to take extra care of it.
#10: Moisturize
Use a moisturizer that is free from heavy oils and emollients because this can clog the pores and promote skin blemishes such as blackheads, pimples and worsened acne. Your skin needs to be properly moisturized so it won’t dry out and be more prone to wrinkling, creasing and scaliness. Dry skin is also more vulnerable to damage and the effects of sun and wind. Even skin that is oily needs to be moisturized. Choose a moisturizer that is water based and recommended for your skin type. Be careful to use a moisturizer that is specifically designed for the area underneath the eyes as this skin is the most fragile and easily damaged.
#11: Choose the right facial foundation
Select cosmetics that are formulated for your skin type. There is a wide selection of different foundation formulas available for specific skin types. This helps to esure that you will not create additional problems for areas of the skin that are combination with oily or dry spots.
#12: Be careful about hair care products
Using hair care products such as shampoos, conditioners and other treatments that contain high amounts of heavy oils can lead to skin breakouts. Choose hair care products that are least likely to contribute to skin issues.
#13: Address problem areas
If you have combination skin with dry patches and oily spots, treat each area of your face with the products that are recommended for correction. If acne is an issue, you an use skin care treatments that are formulated to help reduce breakouts, while avoiding the use of other products in the problem areas. Treat blemishes separately from other skin that is of a normal type.
#14: Toning
Many people skip the step of toning their skin, but there are definite benefits to this addition to your daily skin care regimen. Skin toning helps to close the pores so they are not as vulnerable to becoming clogged and it helps to give you a more even and polished appearance. Toning also helps to keep your facial skin in the proper pH balance.
A good home toning recipe is to freeze skin toner in ice cube trays. Steam the face in the shower and then apply the ice cubes before you get out, while there is still plenty of steam. This helps to tighten the pores and remove any oils or dirt particles that may have become embedded.
#15: Be mindful of medications that you take
There are some medications that can cause your skin to break out. Antibiotics, fertility drugs, oral contraceptives and other medications that cause hormonal changes within the body are among the most suspect for this. If you think any prescriptions that are being used are causing skin breakouts, consult with your physician to find out if there are alternatives that can be substituted.
By following these steps, you can significantly improve the condition of your skin without costly skin treatments. These are basic skin care tips that can help you to more easily and permanently rejuvenate skin that has lost its luster and radiance. It only takes making a few healthy lifestyle changes and giving your skin the nutrition and care that it needs to look and feel its best.
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Article written by Kaithlyn Mann