5 free ways to improve your skin
Guest post by Ralph Montague
It’s a constant battle, isn’t it? Trying to keep your skin healthy without having to pay for expensive treatments that may or may not work. Well, you’ll be pleased to know that there’s plenty you can do to improve your skin health, absolutely free. Better still, most of these things can be incorporated into your existing beauty routine.
#1| Moisturise
Moisturising is good for you skin; however, it can be detrimental if it’s not used correctly, with the right timing. Moisturiser actually traps existing water in your skin by blocking your pores, stopping water from evaporating. In order to use moisturiser more effectively, try using it within a few minutes, and we literally mean a few, after having a bath or shower. This will ensure that you capture the optimal amount of water from your bathing routine.
If you tend to wash your face in the sink as part of your routine, Dr Doris Day recommends to apply moisturiser straight after you’ve cleansed your face and patted it dry. It’s a common misconception that if you drink plenty of water, your skin health will be at the top of its game; although it’s great to drink plenty of water, unfortunately the water tends to reach other organs in your body before it reaches your skin. So, keep drinking water, but also remember to apply water to your skin and keep it locked in with moisturiser.
#2 | Sleep
Whilst you’re asleep, your skin repairs itself, so naturally the more sleep you get, the better your skin will be. If you’re sleep deprived, this puts stress on your body which in turn releases more adrenaline to your system and cortisol. Unfortunately, these factors can cause further effects, such as, skin conditions like acne, especially in adolescents, according to Barbara R. Reed, a clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Colorado, Denver. So, get plenty of sleep, which is never a bad thing, and watch your skin flourish.
#3 | Eat Vegetables
Sure, we all know that vegetables are good for us, but can they really affect our skin health? Yes! Ditch the sunbeds and start eating vegetables, as you may be pleasantly surprised at how your skin can appear a lovely golden colour, without the need for UV rays. Dr Stephen, in 2011, presented a study at University of Nottingham where he found that people who consume more portions of vegetables (and fruit) on a daily basis actually had a more golden skin colour. The golden tones are all thanks to a substance called carotenoids which produce a natural pigmentation.
#4 | Exercise
We are aware that exercise presents cardiovascular and muscular benefits to us, but some people aren’t aware that exercise can actually maintain and increase your skin health. Blood carries oxygen throughout the body to working cells which includes the skin. As blood flows through your cells, it helps to eliminate waste products; increasing the amount of blood flow to your body can help flush out cellular debris from your system, leaving you with fresher and healthier looking skin. One thing to remember, however, is not to exercise outside between 10am and 4pm when the sun’s UV rays are at their peak.
Exercise has also proven to reverse the effects of skin ageing; a study by researchers at McMaster University in Ontario found that a group of participants, aged 65 or over, who exercised at a moderately strenuous pace for 30 minutes twice a week, the outer and inner layers of their skin resembled that of a 20 to 40 year old.
#5 | Stop picking
As tempting as it may be, putting your hands on your face and squeezing those pesky spots and blemishes can do more harm than good. Picking, however light or heavy it may be can permanently damage your skin. When you press against a blemish or spot, it causes inflammation to your skin; bacteria get pressed deeper inside your pores causing more damage to your face. The results can often lead to acne, discoloration, and scarring.
If you really can’t bear not to pick at your skin, leave it to the experts at a skin clinic who will offer you a consultation, skin repair treatments, tips and tricks, and will leave you seeing great results and healthier looking skin in no time.
