I’m sure you’ve all heard the saying, “you are what you eat”. Well I’m here to tell you that saying rings true! The food you put inside your body always has a way of showing itself on the outside. Whether it’s through weight gain or troubled tired looking dull skin. Troubled skin can be difficult to change, but who is ever really feeling dull skin?
How do we get that GLOW? We all want it! That beautiful radiant skin that doesn’t need much if any cover-up at all. To wake up looking bright and refreshed everyday (I woke up like dis?!). Want to have beautiful glowing skin? Hopefully these easy steps are just what you need to follow. Small steps can lead to big changes and results that will allow you to literally love the skin you’re in!
1. DRINK LOTS OF WATER
You’ve probably been told this a million and nine times but how many of us are positive we drink enough water in a day? 8 cups of 8 ounces of water a day is the recommendation but what does that actually mean? That’s about a 2 liter bottle of soda (but filled with water, obviouslys lol) that you should finish in a day! Or, another way to see it, four regular sized water bottles to be finished in a day. The easiest way to do this is to purchase a durable, and easily portable water bottle that you can use repeatedly. Try to go for a sturdy glass material. Choose one that’s sleek and easy to carry around. Whether you choose one that holds 16 oz., 32 oz etc make sure you’re drinking the correct amount of water. It makes drinking all the water you need in a day so much easier and you’re more than likely to stick to it!
Water is oh so important for your skin. You skin is made up of cells and cells NEED water. Every cell needs hydration and when every cell gets sufficient amount of hydration your skin will be and appear to be healthy. Cells and skin that are hydrated have more resilience and are less prone to wrinkling, and no one wants them wrinkles just yet (or ever). Water is used so rapidly in the body so it is always important to replenish replenish replenish! Unfortunately, after all your other organs, your skin is the last place to soak up water, so make sure to always drink up. *tip: good moisturizers are also REALLY beneficial for hydrating your skin, so use one for nighttime and one for the morning (make sure the morning moisturizer has SPF protection) alongside drinking ample amounts of water*
2. EAT YOUR VITAMIN C
According to research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, people who eat foods that are rich in vitamin C have fewer wrinkles and less dry skin (age-related) than those who don’t consume enough vitamin C. Vitamin C is an ANTIOXIDANT and antioxidants fight against free-radical damage (which damage cells and break down collagen) that is responsible for the both the visible and hidden signs of aging. For softer, smoother, and brighter skin (fight against those dark spots!) eat your vitamin C foods often.
Foods that are high in vitamin C are bell peppers, dark berries (i.e. blueberries, strawberries etc), dark leafy greens (i.e. kale), kiwis, broccoli, citrus fruits (i.e. grapefruit, oranges, lemons etc), tomatoes, peas, and papayas. There are also many topical skin treatments that are infused with vitamin C that are beneficial to the skin. You can buy these or even make some do-it-yourself facial masks at home. Make a smoothie for yourself, adding in foods that are high in vitamin C (i.e. a berry smoothie), mix with your preferred yogurt and honey (a great moisturizer, by the way) and drink up. You can save a bit of excess smoothie and apply it straight to you face. Leave on for about 8 minutes then rinse off. Sounds funny but hey, it could work for you.
3. DRINK YOUR GREEN TEA
If you already drink tea, then start drinking green tea! Green tea is loaded with health benefits including anti-inflammatory antioxidants. These antioxidants help calm the skin and improve conditions like eczema and acne. We know how great antioxidants are for our skin. They’re EXTREMELY detoxifying. They protect our bodies from the overproduction of those annoying free radicals (remember, those that damage our skin?). Green tea is one of the most natural ways to achieve healthier brighter skin. So start drinking up! But for some topical treatments using green tea, save those tea bags! They’ll come in really handy.
After you drink up all of your green tea take your tea bags and drain them of any excess water. Store them in the fridge if you aren’t going to use them immediately. Once you want to use your tea bag, tear it open spilling out the contents in the a small bowl. Add some organic honey to the green tea (creating a paste) and massage it onto your face for about 10 minutes, then rinse off with warm water. Remember honey can be used as a great natural moisturizer (yummy and hydrating, pooh bear knows). If you don’t really want to put honey on your face you can simply take your leftover green tea and massage it straight onto your face. Let it sink into your skin for a few minutes before you rinse off. One last step (that I think will work best as a topical solution using green tea) is heating up the tea bag itself. You can do this by running the tea bag under REALLY hot water until steamy. Squeeze out excess water (but not all of it!) and rub onto your face until the bag is cooled. Pretty simple stuff.
MAKE NUTRITION WORK FOR YOU
Everyone has certain creams and facial treatments that they believe reign supreme but beautiful skin starts with nourishment from within. Your body’s cells are constantly being shed and replaced and a constant stable supply of nutrients are necessary to maintain this growth. The best piece of advice I can give to achieve healthier skin is to eat a balanced diet.
Eat more fruits and veggies and stay away from those processed, oily, greasy, and heavy foods. You don’t have to give them up completely but know MODERATION IS KEY. You will start to feel better on the inside as well as on the outside. Small steps can lead to BIG results in your life. Work with correcting your diet, drinking more water, sleeping better, and using skin moisturizers and skin protection (like lotions and sunscreens) everyday. You may not see results immediately but ALWAYS BE CONSISTENT. Consistency will get you results. Remember, eating the correct balance of nutrients will hydrate and revitalize your skin leaving it softer, smoother, and blemish free. Avoid those harsh chemicals and prescriptions and remember healthier, brighter, radiant skin can be achieved through natural methods. I hope this helps you on your journey for a healthier brighter you!
Until next time,
alaaspantry
http://www.alaaspantry.com * instagram.com/alaaspantry
tip: if your skin problems are really stubborn, consult with your dermatologist. talk with her/him and see what is the best method for you to achieve healthier skin naturally
This article is also featured on Www.muslimahlife.com
No Comments