Whether you're a skincare enthusiast or just starting your journey toward healthier skin, these five tips will set you on the path to a vibrant and hydrated complexion. Join us and unlock the secrets to glowing skin that will boost your confidence and leave you feeling beautiful inside and out.
Drink plenty of water
Hydrating skin is an important part of a healthy skincare routine, and one essential and is often overlooked, despite the fact that something like 72% of adults are chronically dehydrated!
Our bodies are made up of roughly 70-80 water when we are born, to 60-70% water in adulthood, so having an adequate intake ensures that our cells are functioning optimally.
A great way to increase your consumption is to fill a reusable bottle or cup and have it nearby at all times! Easier said than done. I have to switch out my waterbottle every couple of days or it becomes almost “invisible” to me.
Also try setting reminders on your phone to remind yourself to drink water every so often in order to get in the right amount per day.
What's the right amount? Roughly 50% of your body weight in ounces. So if you’re 150 pounds as an example, you’d aim for 75 ounces of water. Adding in one more cup (8ounces) for every half hour of intense sweating - whether through working out, being outside in the heat, or sitting in a sauna
Use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher
Sun exposure is a part of every day of our lives, unless we live somewhere that has days of the year without sunlight.
Cleveland Clinic states: Cumulative sun exposure causes basal cell and squamous cell skin cancer, while episodes of severe blistering sunburns, usually before age 18, can cause melanoma later in life.
Most people don't think much about how daily exposure affects our skin, but it's important to remember that proper protection is critical!
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day because it helps protect your skin from sunburn and premature aging, such as wrinkles and spots. This also helps prevent the breakdown of Elastin in the skin, which is basically the scaffolding within our skin tissue.
Exfoliate your skin regularly
Exfoliation is an important part of any skincare routine. Think about your skin cells like shingles on a roof - they overlap to protect from weather and elements. Our skin cells do the same.
Due to a sticky substance called intracellular cement, the dead cells don't exfoliate off as fast as we need them to as we age. Babies have the most gorgeous glowing skin naturally - they’re full of water, and the cells naturally exfoliate off roughly every 14 days. As we age, that slows to every 40-56 days.
Regular exfoliating helps remove the buildup of dead skin cells which can clog pores and lead to dullness and dryness. Exfoliating also encourages cell turnover, resulting in a brighter, more even complexion. This not only improves the look of your skin but also helps to reduce breakouts and uneven texture.
Start with exfoliating 1-2 times a week with a gentle exfoliant. A link to my favorite is here:
Eat More Fruits and Veggies
Eating more fruits and vegetables has been scientifically proven to be an essential part of a healthy skincare routine. Not only are these nutrient-dense foods full of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber which help to reduce inflammation, they are also full of naturally occurring water that is perfect for maintaining hydrated skin.
Eating these nutritious essentials will not only help your skin look better, but it will also help you feel your best from the inside out.
Not sure where to start? Begin by adding a variety of colors into your daily meals - green leafy veggies like spinach and kale for healthy cell production, red tomatoes for lycopene for wrinkle-fighting benefits, orange oranges or sweet potatoes for their Vitamin C content that protects against free radicals, and blueberries, strawberries or cranberries as a great source of flavonoids which aids in collagen renewal.
Get enough sleep
Sleep is essential for healthy and glowing skin. It's called beauty rest for a reason.
When we sleep our skin cells repair themselves, removing the excess dirt, oil and bacteria from our skin to give us a more vibrant look.
Without enough sleep, our bodies produce too much cortisol, which can cause inflammation and hinder production of collagen.
A few benefits of getting enough shut eye? Reduced dark circles and general puffiness in the face.
Fewer Wrinkles. And less sagging. Seems like a great way to start to me!
Bonus Tip: Caffeine isn’t bad, and Drinking Alcohol Is.
Caffeine is a diuretic, yes, but it still generally has enough water in it to balance itself out, if you are getting enough other water to begin with.
However, Alcohol doesn’t. I’m not going to tell you to stop drinking. We all get to make our own choices. I recently decided to take a step back and reevaluate my relationship with alcohol - but this isn’t about that. What it does relate to though, is how much better my skin looked within two days of stopping drinking.
Alcohol releases a histamine that dilates capillaries - this is especially noticeable with people who are prone to redness in the skin, or rosacea.
It Dehydrates the skin which causes it to look pale, dull, flaky, and more prone to dark circles.
Our body is smart - it prioritizes the vital organs it needs to survive - the heart, liver, kidneys, etc. So it's going to pull all the water to where it *needs* it, which means our skin gets dehydrated first, and stays that way until we are rehydrated again. It's a vicious cycle if you’re drinking alcohol every day.
Thank you for tuning in to the Skincare Fairy Godmothe. I hope that you found today's discussion informative and helpful in your skincare journey. Remember, taking care of your skin is not just about the products you use, but also about adopting healthy lifestyle habits such as drinking enough water, getting enough sleep, and protecting your skin from the sun.
Whats one thing you'll implement today to get Healthier, more Hydrated skin?