Refresh Your Skin
July 9, 2010It has been said that you are what you eat. Increasingly, that truism is shaping many aspects of good health, including skin care aimed at promoting a youthful glow. Amazingly, some relatively simple changes in diet can greatly improve skin’s appearance.
Facial cleansing with water, upon waking, then using a gentle cleansing product before bedtime, will assure removal of the day’s dirt and makeup. Toner may follow, depending on individual preference, as many are now less drying, formulated to offer additional hydration and remove makeup traces left behind after cleansing. The final, and necessary, step is moisturizing, beneficial to all skin types. With products designed to work with various complexions, a lighter weight moisturizer may be applied for daytime, especially pre-makeup, while a heavier cream can be applied for sleeping. Additionally, using an exfoliant, 2-3 times a week, sloughs off dead skin cells, stimulates cellular energy and promotes a nicer looking complexion.
Drinking 8-10 glasses of water, everyday, contributes to pretty skin. Good hydration, needed by the inner body, is manifested in a softer, less wrinkled exterior. White tea has also been heralded due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation intensifies the breakdown of collagen and elastin, contributing to wrinkles.
Drinking lots of water is also skin friendly. While nurturing the body’s internal health, the outward benefit is seen in more radiant looking skin. Moreover, recent evidence spotlights drinking white tea, for its anti-inflammatory benefits, slowing down collagen breakdown. Since collagen keeps skin firm and wrinkle-free, that’s significant.
Besides being moisture loving, skin requires a few minutes of sunlight to promote Vitamin D production. However, exposure, over fifteen minutes, calls for protective sunscreen so that ultra violet rays do not cause cellular damage, exhibited by reddening or burning. As for the face, it is probably not by accident that so many moisturizers have built-in sunscreens. Keeping the delicate facial skin protected at all times is smart.
Also akin to happy skin, is a diet plentiful in antioxidants. These substances reduce free radicals produced in skin, causing wrinkles and aging damage. The most powerful antioxidants are vitamins A, C, and E, along with zinc and selenium, all available in supplement form to boost daily levels.
Besides drinking adequate water, using moisturizing products, and getting ample sleep and exercise, an optimal skin care regime features a diet rich in powerful skin-enhancing antioxidants; vitamins A,C,E, selenium and zinc abound in olive oil, nuts, beans, whole grains, and vegetables. If unable to add them to the diet, they can be supplemented. Conversely, reducing sugars, butter, processed foods, and red meats will assist wrinkle prevention. Why not drink water, that is, to that?
This was written by a leading dermatologist, who specialises in anti-aging treatments and skin care. Has recently reviewed and recommends the following product: kanebo cleansing cream
