Most of us dream of having a flawless, radiant, youthful complexion. While it may not be possible to achieve perfect skin without the use of an Instagram filter, there are many steps you can take to protect and nourish your skin. If you’re on a mission to rejuvenate, refresh and shield your skin, here are some top tips to take on board.
Taking care in the sun
For many of us, there’s nothing more comforting than feeling the warm glow of the sun on our skin. While limited exposure to the sun can be beneficial for your skin as a means of generating vitamin D, it’s crucial to protect your skin when you’re out and about on a bright day. Harmful UV rays cause skin damage and premature aging, and they can also elevate the risk of skin cancer. If you’re lying out a sunbed soaking up the rays on vacation, or you’re planning a day out with friends and family and you’re going to be outside for most of the day, apply lotion. Choose a high factor if you have fair skin or you burn easily and keep topping up your cream to make sure you’re protected. Don’t forget to apply lotion to your ears, lips and the soles of your feet. If you’re swimming or exercising, you’ll need to apply cream several times throughout the day. Sun lotion isn’t just for vacations. It’s beneficial to use skincare products or foundation or BB cream that contains SPF. This will protect your skin from burning and help to preserve a youthful complexion. If you do feel your skin starting to burn, move into the shade. It’s best to avoid the midday sun, when the rays are at their most potent. When you get home after spending a day outside, hydrate and nourish your skin with lotions, serums or oils.
Staying hydrated
The condition of your skin is one of the best indicators of hydration levels. If your skin looks bright and it feels soft and supple, this is a positive sign. If your skin looks dull, it’s dry and flaky, or you have dark circles underneath the eyes, you may be dehydrated. The best way to boost skin hydration is to ensure you take on plenty of fluid throughout the day. Ideally, you should consume at least 2 liters of water every day. If it’s hot outside, or you’ve been working up a sweat during a workout, you’ll need to increase your intake to replace lost fluids. You can also improve skin hydration by using skincare products, which are specially designed to moisturize and soften the skin. Look for refreshing sprays, serums and oils that contain natural ingredients.
Adopting a skincare regime
There is a huge amount of information about skin care regimes available online, and there are hundreds of different products all claiming to be skin saviors, so how do you go about deciding what to put on your skin, when? There is no universal answer to this question, but there are steps you can take to design and implement a skincare routine that suits your skin. The first thing to be aware of is the types of ingredients used to create products. There is a raft of chemicals and substances that can be added to cleansers, serums, lotions and moisturizers, and it can be difficult to understand what the labels mean. In recent years, there has been a shift towards organic and natural products, but what is clean beauty? If you’re not familiar with this concept, clean beauty is a term used to describe products that are free from synthetic or artificial ingredients, which have the potential to irritate the skin. When you’re browsing aisles or virtual shelves, look for organic, eco-friendly products and focus your search on lotions and potions that match your skin type. If you have dry or sensitive skin, for example, invest in products that hydrate the skin, increase radiance and reduce redness. Layer products to nourish and rejuvenate the skin. You should cleanse at least once a day, using either a gentle oil-based cleanser or a face wash. Apply targeted serums and acids, including hyaluronic acid, to the skin after cleansing and then hydrate with a facial oil or a light cream. Hyaluronic acid is found naturally within the body and it helps to revive the skin and slow the aging process.
Diet and exercise
We tend to focus on the physical and mental health benefits of eating well and exercising, including lowering the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, increasing energy levels, reducing stress and maintaining healthy body weight, but changing your diet and being active can also be hugely beneficial for your skin. There are many foods that contain nutrients that are essential for healthy skin, and exercising regularly helps to promote skin cell renewal and deliver vital nutrients to the skin cells. To give your skin a boost, add leafy green vegetables, berries, tomatoes, pulses, oily fish, nuts and oats to your diet and try and avoid eating processed foods. Aim to hit a weekly target of 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of intense exercise. Examples of moderate activities include walking, cycling at a gentle pace, swimming, gardening and playing doubles tennis. Intense exercise includes mountain biking, running, spin, circuit and HIIT (high-intensity interval training) classes and weight training. When you exercise, you sweat, and this means that it’s essential to drink plenty of water to replace lost fluids and to wash your skin after your workout. It’s also important to wash gym wear on a regular basis.
Most of us would love to have flawless, glowing skin. To boost skin health and turn back the clock, it’s crucial to protect your skin. Stay hydrated, be careful in the sun, eat well, exercise regularly and take time to choose skincare products that will target issues and nourish your skin. Spend a few minutes every morning and evening cleansing, treating and hydrating your skin and look for natural ingredients.
