Keep Skin Glowing!

Having gorgeous, glowing skin was so easy—when we were teens. It’s a sad fact that our skin begins to show signs of aging as we hit our late 20’s. And it only gets worse as we blow out more candles on our birthday cakes.

But that doesn’t mean you’re doomed to look like an extra on The Walking Dead anytime soon. Here are some tips on how to maintain your skin’s natural, gorgeous glow!  

Know your skin type
It’s a common mistake for many people to use beauty products not formulated for their own skin type. This is important, because ingredients in facial cleansers, toners, and even moisturizers, depend on the skin type they are meant for. So if your skin is dry and you keep using products made for oily skin, don’t be surprised if your skin gets blotchy and flaky. Again: stick to products made for your own skin type.

Kick butt
Cigarette butt, that is. Smoking accelerates the over-all aging process of your skin. Whenever you smoke, blood vessels in the outer layers of your skin begin to narrow, causing less blood flow (say bye bye to rosy cheeks) and reducing the skin’s intake of oxygen and nutrients (no skin food means dead-looking skin). Taking puffs can also damage connective fibers such as collagen and elastin, which keep your skin looking young and supple. Quit now, unless you’re excited at the thought of having wrinkled, leathery skin.

Get some sleep
Yes, there is such a thing as “beauty sleep”! Skin renewal and repair happens at around 1 a.m., when we’re at our deepest sleep. This is when “cell repairs” increase by 300%. Day-time naps don’t count as skin rejuvenation time, as our brains are wired at that time to increase energy, not skin repair. Get at least eight hours of straight, uninterrupted sleep a night to give your skin cells ample time to work their magic.

Eat healthy
You know the saying that “beauty comes from within”? Well, it’s true—whatever you put into your body will show on your skin. So ditch the potato chips and opt for healthier meal choices. Eat foods rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs), such as sardines, salmon, nuts, and soya beans. EFAs keep skin and hair glowing and healthy. You can also increase your intake of EFAs by using rapeseed, walnut, soya bean, or flax oils when cooking. Also, add more fruits and veggies to your diet, as they’re rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants destroy free radicals in our bodies. Free radicals love to munch on collagen, so amp up on the antioxidant intake with uncooked fresh fruits and vegetables.

Also read: Healthy Eats Around The Metro

Skip the beer
You need water to keep yourself hydrated. Staying hydrated makes your skin appear healthier and younger. Alcohol, on the other hand, is a diuretic—meaning it helps force water and other nutrients out of your body. Alcohol can also cause facial blood vessels to dilate, and can worsen existing skin problems (like rosacea and psoriasis.) If you really have to down a drink, turn to red wine. Grapes contain resveratrol, which is a powerful anti-aging antioxidant. A small glass of red wine every other day should do the trick.

Also read: Fight Belly Flab

Moisturize your skin
Drinking a lot of water helps hydrate your skin from within: but you’ll have to help boost hydration with a good moisturizer. Pick one for use during the day (preferably with an SPF of at least 15), and one for night. And don’t interchange the two! Day creams or moisturizers are formulated with ingredients to help battle free radicals as you go about your day, while night formulas are meant to deeply moisturize. Pick a moisturizer with alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), as they help slough off dead skin cells, leaving you with smooth, healthier skin.

Also read: Why Everyone Needs To Moisturize

Wear sunscreen
As long as you’re heading out the door, wear sunscreen. UVA and UVB rays are some of the worst free radicals that break down healthy skin cells, which can cause premature wrinkles and lines. Pick a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Apply sunscreen even on cloudy days, because UVA and UVB rays can still penetrate through the clouds.

Also read: How SPF Really Works