Having the ideal complexion is more than just heredity.
While the secret of good skin can be attributed to your genetic makeup, how you take care of your skin will determine whether you will keep looking young despite the passage of time.
Here’s a quick refresher course on how to improve your complexion.
You’ve got to work from the inside out with good nutrition. You have heard this before, and this bears repeating. Think vitamins A, B complex, C, E, K and zinc.
New discoveries in skin science have proven that vitamins and minerals don’t just improve your health, they also make you look better. The skin mirrors the internal state of your body. So, if you are battling psoriasis, acne or a serious skin rash, there is a problem that needs fixing within.
Gregory’s story: “For years, I never gave importance to the value of vitamins, no matter how often my mother would nag me as a teenager. Until, in my early 20s, I realized that I hadn’t outgrown my pimple problem. Just having joined the working world, I lived on fast-food and convenience store quick snacks.
“One morning, I was repulsed by my awful skin. Also, I remembered what Mom used to tell me: eat your veggies and fruits, drink water, and don’t forget your vitamin C.
“It was a radical lifestyle change for me. Within two months, my skin problems disappeared. And all I had to do was to listen to sound, motherly advice.”
By combining vitamins, with a healthy lifestyle, one can delay skin aging, reduce damage caused by prolonged exposure to the sun, improve the collagen of your skin, thereby minimizing and smoothening wrinkles.
Good food sources are berries of all kinds, açai, blueberry; tomatoes, citrus fruits, leafy greens, bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, nuts, seeds (sunflower, squash), olives and eggs.
Avocados
Avocados are rich in vitamin E and biotin, which can also improve the quality of your hair and nails.
Green tea is extremely skin-friendly. The bonus: it is an immune booster and improves the metabolism.
On your fruit list, include grapes, oranges, apples, cherries. Don’t forget to add sprouts of all kinds like alfalfa, radish, broccoli.
Adding 1-2 oz of dark chocolate cocoa goodness can keep your skin smooth and hydrated. The cocoa flavonols contribute to better circulation.
If you find olives too salty, drink 1 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil before bedtime. It will add a glow to your skin.
Sometimes called invisible gold, water is the most valuable of beverages. This, because your body requires clean water to stay alive. Drink 10-12 glasses daily.
You won’t drown in water if you take it every hour. Don’t drink it all in one sitting—which can be dangerous, as your blood pressure might drop suddenly.
If you can manage, take your water tepid or slightly chilled. It could shock your tummy if it’s too cold. Your stomach’s temperature is naturally warm.
Try nondairy milk like almond milk if you have acne. Dairy milk could aggravate pimples.
Red wine is rich in resveratrol, a compound that improves heart health through better circulation. It also has anti-tumor properties. Drink moderately, though.
At the cost of sounding repetitive, exercise nourishes the skin by promoting better blood circulation.
Notice the natural blush on fitness aficionados after a brisk walk or run. This could be yours, too. You must walk to break a sweat. And your exercise need not be hardcore but simply a lifestyle workout.
Sweating clears the pores of your skin, giving it a natural flush. It’s like having a small facial.
Furthermore, it relieves stress. Problems and anxieties may go away or seem lighter and manageable.
Get good sleep. The rule is, be in bed by 10 p.m., not later. Your body undergoes repair when asleep. Good, quality sleep for six to eight hours is needed for good health. The very first benefit is a cheerful mood and a cheerier complexion.
Make this a weekly ritual. Mix 3 tbsp of sugar (preferable muscovado or coconut) with 1 ½ tbsp of virgin coconut oil. Gently scrub your whole body, from face to feet. Then reverse the motion of scrubbing from feet to thighs to encourage circulation.
Rinse with warm water, followed by a cold splash. Your skin will become smoother instantly.
This week’s affirmation: “I glow radiantly inside and out.”
Love and light!
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