So often, our skin is defined by its symptom or appearance – acne-prone, dry, oily, sensitive or combination. But when the skin is truly healthy it can simply be described as balanced. To promote a healthy and glowing complexion, there are a few habits that should be practiced on a daily basis. This holistic approach is naturally anti-aging, hydrating, and skin softening.
Habit #1 – Boost Hydration
Just like the internal organs of our bodies, our skin functions best when it’s properly hydrated. Water helps it break down, absorb, carry and deliver nutrients throughout the body. It also flushes out any toxins hanging around in the body.
The thought of drinking 3 litres of water a day can be intimidating, but that amount of water is necessary because it travels first to our internal organs before reaching our skin. This means that if you drink less than the recommended amount, there is a good chance your skin isn’t actually reaping any benefits.
Dry skin is less resilient and prone to wrinkling. Dehydration can make the skin appear tight, flakey and dull, but surprisingly, can also result in an overproduction of oil, in some cases. This may be the skin’s way of trying to overcompensate for the dryness.
A great way to kick-start your internal organs in the morning and get a jump start on your three litres, is to drink 2 cups of water first thing in the morning. I like to alternate days between warm lemon water in the morning and two glasses of room temperature water.
Another great way to keep skin hydrated is to apply face and body moisturizers while your skin is still slightly damp. Massage into your skin right after cleansing or mist your skin with your favorite toner.
Habit # 2 – Feed Your Beauty
Drinking water, juices and smoothies are excellent. The only thing better is consistently eating hydrating, protective and anti-aging foods as part of a clean diet. Let go of any expectations that your foods must be organic. What you want to do is focus on good quality, nutrient dense foods that are:
● High in vitamins, minerals, and other micronutrients such as the ones found in leafy greens and a wide variety of veggies
● High in fibre like fruit to keep your digestion moving
● Protective (antioxidant) like berries, garlic, legumes, nuts and wild salmon.
● Energizing to your body (the way carbohydrates like yams are) to help fuel your day.
● Omega rich with a balance of omega’s 3, 6 and 9. Hemp, chia and flax seeds are excellent sources of omega fatty acids. *Be sure to grind the flax and chia seeds to get all of the benefits.
Habit #3 – Get Sweaty
Move your body as frequently as possible. Most of us sit for 60-80% of our day. 80% of our day!! Not to mention the 6-8 hours we are laying down to sleep.
Movement is so important for skin health because it boosts circulation which, like water, helps carry nutrients throughout the body. It’s also the only way to get our lymphatic system moving. Unlike our heart, the lymph system has no pump. The more we move, the more nasties that can contribute to body aging and have a negative impact on our skin, can be released from our bodies.
Habit #4 – Be A Sleeping Beauty
Beauty sleep is real. It’s free. And, it can transform your complexion literally overnight.
Our bodies go into repair mode when we sleep – new cells grow and replace older cells. According to research, it’s also a time when all sorts of hormonal and metabolic changes happen in and the body, including your skin. A lack of sleep can disrupt those processes.
It only takes one night of bad sleep to see the difference in your skin. How much sleep do you need? Experts suggest that 6-9 hours should do the trick. In this care, less is more so pushing 10+ hours can actually have a negative impact on your skin.
Habit #5 – Love yourself
One of my favorite quotes about beauty is by Ronald Dahl:
“A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”
Regardless of how much effort we put into our bodies, we could all stand to learn how to love ourselves more. Learning how to love our bodies, and our skin, in its current state is one of the most transformative things we need to invest our time and energy into.
Love of self nurtures confidence, happiness, and a sense of ease in our skin – the best cosmetics a woman can wear!
