As an esthetician, I often get asked about the best ways to achieve glowing, healthy skin. It’s the ultimate end goal! While a good skincare routine is crucial, your lifestyle habits play a significant role in your skin's overall health. Good skincare without good lifestyle habits will only give you a portion of the results you’re looking for.
Here are some expert tips on how to improve your skin through positive habits, in addition to a quality skincare routine.
1. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
Water is essential for maintaining skin elasticity and plumpness. No amount of serums and creams can substitute for skin that’s dehydrated.
Drinking at least eight glasses of water a day helps flush out toxins, keeping your skin clear and radiant. For an added boost, try incorporating hydrating foods like cucumbers, watermelon, and oranges into your diet.
2. Eat a Balanced Diet
Your skin reflects what you eat. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats provides the essential nutrients your skin needs to stay healthy.
Foods high in antioxidants, like berries and leafy greens, can help fight free radicals, while omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and flaxseeds can reduce inflammation and keep your skin supple.
Although all of us like to indulge once in a while, it’s best to stay away from diets rich in starch, sugar, and processed food. These foods cause glycation in skin — a process in which sugar molecules adhere to our skin’s collagen and elastin proteins, causing inflammation and collagen breakdown.
3. Prioritize Sleep
Beauty sleep is real. During sleep, your body repairs and regenerates skin cells. It’s an essential foundation that’s required for you to actually see results from your skin regimen. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to prevent dark circles, puffiness, and dull skin.
To improve your sleep quality, establish a regular sleep schedule and create a calming bedtime routine.
4. Manage Stress
Stress can wreak havoc on your skin by increasing inflammation, leading to breakouts and other skin issues.
Incorporate stress-reducing activities into your routine, such as yoga, meditation, or deep-breathing exercises. Even a daily walk in nature can help lower stress levels and improve your skin.
5. Get Moving
Regular exercise boosts blood circulation, which helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to your skin cells.
This increased blood flow can give your skin a healthy, natural glow. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week. Remember to have a post-workout skincare routine to properly cleanse your skin.
6. Avoid Smoking and Limit Alcohol
Smoking accelerates skin aging and causes wrinkles by damaging collagen and elastin. Similarly, excessive alcohol consumption can dehydrate your skin and make it look dull.
Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol intake can significantly improve your skin's appearance and health.
7. Protect Your Skin from the Sun
Sun damage is one of the leading causes of premature aging.
Always wear sunscreen with at least SPF 30, even on cloudy days, and reapply every two hours when outdoors. Additionally, wear protective clothing and seek shade during peak sun hours. There are so many chic hats, scarfs, and clothing – there really is no excuse to not protect yourself from the sun!
Improving your skin is not just about what you put on your face but also about the habits you cultivate in your daily life. By staying hydrated, eating a balanced diet, prioritizing sleep, managing stress, exercising, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol, and protecting your skin from the sun, you can achieve and maintain healthy, glowing skin.
By incorporating these positive habits into your lifestyle, you'll not only improve your skin but also enhance your overall well-being. Remember, healthy skin starts from within!
