Eight Tips to Keep Your Skin Young and Radiant

Beautiful skin doesn’t just happen overnight, it takes work to maintain the healthy, radiant look that leaves people wondering about your age (and I’m not talking about that pesky gray hair that started sprouting after your first kid was born!). To help you keep your skin looking as young and beautiful as possible, here are eight tips that will make the task easier for you.

1) Take care of your skin in the morning

Everyone is prone to oily skin, dry skin, or combination skin. A gentle cleanser will gently exfoliate and moisturize your skin throughout the day. Oil blotting papers remove excess oil without irritating your skin. In the morning, it's best to apply a light moisturizer that will help seal in moisture. Try applying it after you shower when your pores are open so that it penetrates more deeply into the skin. Apply in upward motions to let it settle before you put on makeup if necessary. You can also opt for an SPF to protect your skin from UV rays. There are two types of sunscreens: chemical and physical (or mineral). Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing UV rays, while physical sunscreens use minerals such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide to reflect them away from the skin. Physical sunscreens often provide broader protection against UVA rays than chemical ones do; however, they can be harder to wear because they tend to leave a white film on the skin.

2) Use skincare products

To protect the skin, it is recommended to use skincare products with natural ingredients. Try using moisturizers that are infused with essential oils like lavender or rosemary that have calming properties and are rich in antioxidants. There are a lot of high-quality products on the market that can help you maintain a glowing skin. You can read more about some of them here.

3) Avoid having junk food

Eating a high-sugar, high-fat diet can contribute to the breakdown of collagen and elastin in your skin. As we age, collagen begins to break down, leaving our skin loose, wrinkled, or saggy. Elastin fibers also break down with age which causes our skin to lose its natural elasticity. Another way a junk food diet might negatively affect your skin is by contributing to the production of stress hormones that reduce blood flow in your body. Less blood flow means less oxygen and nutrients reach your skin cells which makes them weaker. A poor diet will also cause an increase in inflammation throughout the body which contributes to acne flare-ups, eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea. The key to a healthy diet is finding a balance between eating nutritious foods that provide essential vitamins and minerals as well as reducing sugar and fat intake.

4) Remove make-up before going to bed

Remove your make-up before you go to bed by washing your face with cold water. This helps unclog pores and eliminates oils that can clog the pores in your skin. Wash the make-up off your face with gentle soap, cleanser, or makeup remover like cold cream. Remember to rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water until all residue is gone. Rinse your washcloth often while cleaning your face to remove dirt from the cloth instead of transferring it back onto your face. Dry yourself completely after rinsing so that you don't leave any dampness on your skin, which will keep it from breathing properly.

5) Drink enough water

When you consume water, it not only hydrates your cells but also filters out the toxins that can cause skin problems. Drinking plenty of water is one of the best things you can do to keep your skin looking young and radiant. It's free, helps with weight management and if you don't want to drink directly from the tap, add some sort of flavor to make it more enticing. One way to make drinking water fun is by making flavored ice cubes. Fill an ice tray with purified water or filtered water, then let it freeze overnight in the freezer. Add fruit or vegetables (strawberries, cucumbers) when possible to add a bit of flavor and natural sweetness. Put the frozen cubes in a blender or food processor, pulse until they are crushed into small pieces then pour them into a plastic container for storage in the freezer. The idea is that you should enjoy drinking water so that you will do it every day till it becomes a routine.

6) Get enough sleep

Getting enough sleep every night is one of the most effective ways to improve your skin. Here are six important points that are worth mentioning.

1) Sleep regulates sebum production, which reduces excess oiliness and dryness. 2) Sleep also helps regulate skin’s collagen production which can lead to fewer wrinkles or fine lines over time. 3) Melatonin, the chemical that helps you sleep, also has antioxidants that protect your skin from free radicals. 4) Lack of sleep alters your immune system function which can make your skin more susceptible to infection. 5) Sleep deprivation affects hormone levels in the body which may affect certain hormones that contribute to a healthy complexion. 6) Not getting enough sleep leaves your skin looking dull and grayish as well as slowing down wound healing processes in the body which makes it difficult for acne lesions to heal quickly and efficiently.

7) Get enough sunshine

Sunshine is so beneficial to our skin. The sun's ultraviolet rays stimulate our bodies to produce vitamin D, which is essential to maintaining healthy skin. One study also found that regular sun exposure boosts melanin production which helps protect the skin from DNA damage, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. These benefits are more pronounced in darker-skinned people as melanin absorbs radiation better than light skin. In short, being in the sun for 15 minutes a day can be good for the health of your skin.

8) Stop smoking

Nicotine deprives the skin of oxygen which can lead to skin damage and wrinkles. Smoking also causes your skin to become dehydrated which leads to itchy, flaky skin. Studies have shown that smokers are at an increased risk of developing melanoma, a type of cancer. Smoking also causes your pores to shrink which makes pores less able to protect against bacteria and pollutants. These things can cause acne breakouts, blackheads, and whiteheads. Smokers are more likely to develop dark circles under their eyes, fine lines around their mouths, and yellow fingernails and teeth.