When you’re sixteen your skin is pristine, glowing and ultra moisturized naturally. But as we age, that starts to fade away. Whether you’re in your twenties or your fifties, every lady needs to saturate their skin to keep it looking dewy and young. Many elements such as environmental impurities, the food we eat, how we hydrate and our skin care remedy can promote or demote our skin’s appearance and feel. Here, we have gathered some of the best tips to keeping your skin as resilient and youthful as it can be!
Water Works
It’s no surprise that water is one of the greatest elements we can put into our bodies. Each and every one of our organs needs water…especially our skin, the largest. The epidermis is completely made up of cells built of H2O and without it, they can die or stop functioning properly. This will slowly but surely dry out your skin cells, making your skin drier and tighter than before, ultimately resulting in aging and wrinkles.
Drinking water seems like the most obvious way to deliver the good stuff to your skin…but it’s not the only way. While it is still very important to get your daily water intake, your skin is normally the last organ of all to absorb hydration. Therefore, using hydrating products can be a direct line to your skin cells. Moisturizer is always crucial, but using a specifically ‘hydrating’ version and applying it to your skin directly out of the shower will be the most effective process, since your pores are more open and receptive.
Another amazing breakthrough in anti-aging skin care has been the use of Hyaluronic Acid. This has been proven as one of the best methods of hydrating and firming your skin. This acid is highly water retentive…holding up to 1,000 times it’s own weight in water. Try some of these products with Hyaluronic Acid as a main active ingredient:
1. Neocutis Lumiere Bio-Restorative Eye Cream - $50-90
2. Philosophy: When Hope is Not Enough – $40
3. Beauticontrol: Tight, Firm & Fill – $40-95
Additionally, using a topical water spray can offer immediate quenching to parched skin and make you look refreshed. Many water bottling companies have caught on to this trend, including Evian…who makes an excellent on the go product for those drab days in the office or perspiring from running around all day:
Derma Diet
Eat a candy bar, get a zit or three. Eat a papaya, cure a stomach ache. We certainly are what we eat. Adding key ingredients to your diet can make an enormous impact on the potential of your skin. This rule only works if this is a continual habit, however. But you will see results in the way your skin glows, it’s elasticity and overall health. Here are some of the key players:
Beta Carotene rich foods -
Omega 3 Fatty rich foods:
Mono-unsaturated Fat foods -
Polyphenol rich fruits -
Water filled fruits and vegetables -
Vital Vitamins
Mama always told you to take your vitamins. Mama did and her skin looks fabulous. Even though it may be annoying or difficult to remember to take your pills, it can really pay off later in life, as well as in the present. The quicker results will be felt in your energy levels and your immune system. But a good regimen of getting the right vitamins and minerals will really pay off in the health of your skin. Here’s a list of some of the most important and why:
Vitamin C
C is the big contender in the ring to fight off free radicals. Sun exposure is nearly impossible to avoid, especially in Los Angeles, so taking this vitamin or getting it by citrus fruits and dark greens will help reduce sun damage. Vitamin C has also been proven to increase collagen production in skin, which will help your skin’s resilience over time for a firmer appearance.
Vitamin E
Another strong antioxidant, Vitamin E pairs well with C to fend off those pesky radicals. It may also reduce your risk of skin cancer, so this is an important one. Aside from taking direct capsules, you can also find this vitamin in foods such as leafy greens and raw nuts and seeds.
Niacin
This vitamin is lesser known, but is major in helping increase blood flow to your skin cells. This is part of the B Vitamin family…therefore most B vitamins are going to be beneficial for your skin. Find them in bananas, eggs, whole oats and rice or take a supplement for a simpler solution.
Minerals
Selenium, Copper and Zinc are important minerals that can help fight against age and keep your skin radiant. Selenium is a cancer fighter that lessens your skin cell’s chance of burning and can be found in foods such as eggs, garlic, whole grains, and seafood. Copper and Zinc are best when taken alongside Vitamin C prove a powerful concoction to develop elastin. Copper is not a mineral that you should take orally, without a doctor’s recommendation. Rather, use a copper infused topical cream. Zinc can be taken as vitamins or found in oysters, poultry and lean meats.
Skin Training
When we think of exercise, the main benefits that come to mind are slimming down or building muscle. But exercise is also amazing for depression, stress, and for your skin. Blood flow is the body’s method of regeneration. When you get your heart pumping and your blood going, your body naturally oxygenates and pushes toxins out of active cells…especially your skin’s cells. Also, getting active is the most efficient way to battle stress, which takes a ghastly toll on your skin’s energy and vivacity.
Although most exercise is healthy, some forms are better for getting your heart rate up than others. Running, spinning, dancing and other cardio based workouts will pick up your pace and make that blood pump. Also, try taking a hot yoga class. You’ll still get all of the regular benefits of hatha yoga, but the heat adds the element of a cardiovascular workout, making you sweat more than you may have ever thought you could.
Skincare System
The products you choose to clean, tone and moisturize your face with make all the difference in the world. Make sure when you are shopping for skincare, you pay close attention to your own skin’s habits. If you have oily skin, sensitive skin, dry or combination…there are differences in each product’s ingredients, so find one formatted just for you. Here are some of our favorites for any problem:
All Skin Types:
Josie Maran – Argan Oil Collection
Josie Maran has tapped into an ancient remedy…with an oil that Moroccan’s, for centuries, have been calling “liquid gold”. Argan oil is a unique oil derived from the Argan tree of Moroccan semi-desserts and contains a high level of Vitamin E and essential fatty acids, pivotal in our skin’s health. Don’t let the fact that it is an oil deceive you…this formula can be used by oily and dry skin alike, seeing as this magic oil is a natural oil balancer.
Use the cleansing oil to wash out makeup and dirt from the surface of your skin and pores, use the 100% Argan oil as a lightweight moisturizer, and use the daily SPF moisturizer to hydrate and protect your skin. Oh, and did we mention it smells amazing? So amazing.
For Acne prone skin:
iS Clinical -
iS Clinical’s Cleansing Complex is not necessarily advertised as an acne treatment, but it does an excellent job of treating breakouts, while still cleansing your skin. Most people who have moderate to severe acne have oily skin types. This Cleansing Complex contains Willow Bark Extract, which is in the same family as Salicylic acid…one of the top acne fighting topical acids. This lightweight formula does not strip your skin of it’s natural oils, but rather keeps them balanced while ridding it of impurities that flare up acne.
For Sensitive skin:
La Roche-Posay -
1. Physiological Micellar Solution: Soap, Alcohol, and Paraben-free formula that gently cleanses and removes dirt. Safe for sensitive skin, prone to redness and irritation.
2. Rosaliac Anti-Redness Moisturizer: A simple, lightweight moisture that contains Thermal Spring Water to soothe redness and sensitive skin.
For Very Dry Skin:
Sugar: Face Polish & Jo Malone Vitamin E Body Treatment Scrub -
It may seem counter-intuitive to use an exfoliator if you’re suffering from dry skin, but the truth is that it can help tremendously. As long as you aren’t overdoing it (once a week at most), the exfoliation sloughs away dead skin cells and regenerates new life into the surface of your skin. Follow this up with a proper moisturizer and you should feel improvements.
