Want beautifully glowing skin with a smooth soft touch? Well you can ditch the mountains of toxic skin care products that promise the earth and cost a fortune. Instead go for natural alternatives, that will make you glow from the inside out. Not surprisingly, it's a balance between what you put on your skin, and what you put into your body that will make the biggest difference.
1. Eat your greens
...and every other colour of the rainbow. There is no limit to how much you can eat when it comes to fresh organic fruit and veg. The more variety you eat, the greater variety of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants you will putting into your body. These will help fight the signs of aging and naturally promote healthy glowing skin. Certain fruits and veg will have a bigger impact on your skin, so do your research.
2. Cut out sugar!
When we eat too much refined sugar, your body can experience a "burst of inflammation" according to dermatologist Dr. Nicholas Perricone, which produces enzymes that breakdown collagen and elastin, causing sagging and wrinkles. Opt for complex carbohydrates and low GI foods like brown rice, veggies and whole grains, to give your skin a fighting chance.
3. Drink plenty of water
Keeping hydrated will help keep skin supple and fresh, and will help to flush out toxins in your body. A build up of toxins can do all sorts of damage to your skin. Drink water when you wake up in the morning and before you go to bed at night. Try to include eight glasses a day and space them out evenly, so that your body is constantly hydrated. If you find plain water boring, you could try adding sliced up fruits to give it more taste. Fill up a jug of water in the morning, add slices of your favourite fruit and let it sit in the fridge to be enjoyed throughout the day. You could also try drinking herbal teas. There is a huge variety of herbal tea available, some of them are specifically designed for healthy skin.
4. Reduce stress and relax
When we are stressed out, we don't eat well, we don't sleep well and pretty much don't look after ourselves like we should. Be sure to set aside "me time" every day. Try to get in a bit of light - moderate exercise. Even if it's only 15 mins before bed, do some stretches and breath. Maybe even spoil yourself with a massage every now and then. When we start looking after ourselves, our skin will benefit. And don't forget to end the day with a good night sleep.
5. Give yourself a weekly mini facial
Set aside a some time at the end of each week. This will not only help to refresh your skin, but will also help you relax after a hard week. Have a nice warm, not too hot, shower, wash your hair, then go through a similar routine as you would in a day spa. Wash your face, and using
organic skin care products - exfoliate, put on a mask, enjoy some soft music, then rinse and moisturise. Try out different natural products until you find one you really like and look forward to using every week so that it feels extra special.
If you're a gal who just can't live without her make up, aim to use a
natural organic make up range instead of the harsh chemical based ones. With more interest in
natural organic skin care these days, there are plenty of great quality natural make up options available. And because they are based on all natural organic ingredients, when you wear a good quality natural makeup, you are actually nourishing you skin whilst you wear it. Be sure to always remove make up before bed and try to have a couple of makeup free days a week to give your skin chance to breath. This blog post was contributed by Biome Blogger, Julie Orr.
Further reading http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/eat-your-way-fabulous-skin http://paleoleap.com/paleo-101/ http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/sugar-bad-for-skin_n_4071548.html?section=australia
