Seven Healthy Habits to Beautifully Clear, Glowing Skin
When your skin looks great, you feel fabulous! A clear, glowing skin is one of the keys to confidence (and it’s easier to achieve than you might think). Did you know that the skin is the largest organ in the body? Like every organ; it must be looked after to keep it looking its best. From puberty right into old age, if you take care of your skin it will reward you by looking as good as it possibly can. No doubt you have those moments when you experience breakout after breakout. On the upside, you are not alone, pimples happen to everyone at some point, from early teenage years right through to adulthood and beyond. Plenty of adults suffer with what’s known as “adult acne” but with care and by adopting healthy habits you can reduce breakouts and have a clearer complexion. Obviously, for those that suffer with severe acne, it’s best to seek advice from a dermatologist. However, no matter how mild or severe your acne is, keeping skin scrupulously clean is one of the keys to a smoother, zit-free skin. We’ve put together a list of seven healthy habits to help your skin glow with good health. They are easy to build into your everyday routine and if you try and follow these tips you’ll doubtless see an improvement in your skin’s texture and appearance in just a few, short weeks.
- Drink Water
Good old water is fantastic for your skin (and the rest of your body too!). Your body is made up of approximately 60% of water and needs to stay hydrated to function to the optimum. When your skin is dehydrated, it slackens because water keeps it nicely plumped up. It might also look and feel dry when you touch it. Water helps to hold moisture in your skin and by regularly sipping water throughout the day, you’ll help it to retain that essential moisture. Water is also excellent for clearing flare-ups and breakouts because it flushes nasty toxins and impurities out of the body naturally, through the lymphatic system. Drink 2 litres of water a day for one month and you will see noticeably clearer skin (keep a big eco-friendly bottle with you at all times). If you have fine lines and wrinkles, you’ll likely see them soften too, because lack of hydration makes fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable.
2. Always Cleanse Your Skin
If you go to bed with last night’s make-up on, you will more than likely wake up with clogged pores and spots. It’s simple, make-up, dirt and the skin’s natural oil need to be removed or bacteria grows and the result is an eye-popping pimple! Just by adopting a very regular skincare regime you’ll be able to keep your skin scrupulously clean and avoid breakouts. Promise yourself that every day you’ll cleanse your face and neck morning and evening. It’s best to choose a skincare product that’s as natural as possible, without harmful chemicals. A vitamin-infused product will also help to calm inflammation (look for Vitamin E and Vitamin C especially as these are anti-oxidants and fight free radicals). Use skincare that’s suited to your skin type, if you use a lotion that’s best for dry skin on an oily complexion, you’ll aggravate it. Always cleanse your skin with gentle motions, don’t rub or you might irritate it and splash skin with cool water following your cleansing routine, finishing with moisturiser. Even if you have an oily complexion, moisturising is essential just use an oil-free version.
3. Eat Healthily
What you put into your body will tell on your skin! So, if you eat chocolate, cake, and greasy food your skin won’t glow with good health. You can still eat those treats but make sure that you factor in plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. All of these are high in vitamin content (particularly Vitamins C and E which are anti-oxidant as mentioned) and give your skin natural defence against its attackers. Try a snack box of blueberries and strawberries (both packed with skin-boosting antioxidants) or chop up some tomatoes, they’re high in Vitamins A and C. Avocados are also excellent for promoting a youthful complexion; their vitamin content is good for helping clear blockages from your skin.
4. Change Your Pillowcase and Towels Regularly
If you are prone to regular breakouts, change your linen more regularly than usual. Just by washing your towels and pillowcase every other day you’ll help to stop bacteria transferring onto your skin. It’s best to always use a clean towel and clean face cloth on your face anyway!
5. Tie Your Hair Back
Dirty hair won’t help your quest for clean, clear skin. If your hair hangs onto your face or touches your forehead and it’s greasy, that oil will linger on your skin and you know what happens next. More oil and bacteria leads to pimples. So wash your hair regularly and if it’s a little dirty, tie it back.
6. Wash Your Hands Regularly
With the current pandemic in circulation, the message is clear. Wash your hands very regularly. Not only will this help in reducing the spread of Covid-19, clean hands mean you’re less likely to transfer dirt onto your face. Did you know, on average, you touch your face approximately 23 times an hour? That’s a lot of opportunity for dirt to end up on your skin! Frequent hand washing will remedy that and while sanitiser is excellent, it is never a replacement.
7. Evening Primrose Oil
Lots of people swear by Evening Primrose Oil as a supplement that helps to promote a clearer looking complexion. A natural product, it contains GLA (gamma-linolenic acid). This is an omega-6 fatty acid that helps to reduce inflammation. It also helps the skin to stay hydrated. GLA promotes better hormone balance, (sometimes hormones disrupt oil production in the skin especially when you’re coming up to your period). Just try 500mg every day for three months and your skin could benefit from looking clearer, feeling smoother and with that added glow everyone loves! Finally, all of the above tips are easy to introduce into your daily routine. They should really make the difference between a lacklustre, greasy and pimple-prone skin transforming it into a radiantly clean and clear complexion you can’t wait to show off.
