The 5 Pillars of Healthy, Glowing Skin
June Javelosa
Skincare doesn’t have to be complicated.
On top of maintaining a great skincare routine, there are healthy lifestyle choices that you can make to prevent skin damage, minimize skin problems, and delay natural aging.
Start with these basics:
1. Protect yourself from the sun
Vitamin D in small, controlled doses is essential to overall health, but a lifetime of sun exposure can cause sun damage, wrinkles, age spots, and other skin issues. Remember to avoid the sun from 10 am to 4 pm, where the sun rays are usually the strongest. Wear protective clothing when you know you will be exposing yourself to a lot of sunlight. And always remember to use sunscreen—apply generously and reapply every two hours if you’re engaging in an activity where you’ll be sweating a lot from swimming.
2. Do not smoke
Smoking is dangerous to your health; it makes your skin look older and causes wrinkles. When you smoke, it narrows the tiny blood vessels in your skin, causing blood flow to decrease and making your skin paler and lose oxygen. Smoking has also been known to damage collagen and elastin—fibers that are essential to giving your skin strength and elasticity.
3. Pamper your skin
It’s essential to cleanse your skin daily, but there are a few important things to remember. For example, hot water can strip your skin of its natural oils, so it’s best to limit bath time and avoid using hot water. Don’t use strong soaps as these can also strip your skin from oil. Shave carefully, and always use something to lubricate your skin, like a lotion, gel, or shaving cream. Pat your skin dry after washing instead, and let a little moisture remain on your skin. Finally, remember to moisturize daily and use the right products for your skin type.
4. Maintain a healthy diet
Include plenty of fruits, fresh vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins in your diet. There’s research that supports that a diet rich in these ingredients can help promote younger-looking skin, in addition to helping boost your overall wellness. Remember to drink a lot of water to keep your skin hydrated.
5. Keep yourself stress-free
Unmanaged stress can trigger acne breakouts and make your skin more sensitive, Take active steps to manage your stress, make sure that you get enough sleep, and scale back your to-do lists to find time to do things you enjoy. Your skin will thank you.