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Achieving clear and healthy skin goes beyond just using skincare products. The state of our skin is heavily influenced by our lifestyle habits and choices.
For instance, many believe junk food causes acne, but this is not necessarily true. However, consuming junk food can negatively affect our skin by hindering important bodily processes for promoting healthy skin.
This article will discuss the significance of lifestyle changes to promote clearer skin. We will focus on managing stress, enhancing sleep quality, and incorporating self-care techniques to improve overall skin health and radiance.
Managing Stress:
Have you noticed that when you're super stressed, your acne breaks out like crazy? It's because stress messes with your hormones and makes your skin produce more oil, leading to inflammation and pimples. This area, in particular, is something I need help managing. There are some days I wake up with my stomach in knots.
I have been trying to follow a 5-minute deep breathing exercise before bed, but ultimately, getting enough sleep is a key piece of my puzzle. You can meditate, take deep breaths, do yoga, or even take up a fun hobby and see what works for you. It's also important to ensure you're not working yourself to the bone and taking time to relax and hang out with your loved ones.
Read this: The Benefit of Hobbies for Wellness
Prioritizing Quality Sleep:
Quality sleep is essential for skin repair and rejuvenation. During sleep, our body regenerates and replenishes skin cells, helping maintain health and appearance. Lack of sleep can disrupt this process, leading to dull skin, increased inflammation, and compromised barrier function.
Aim for 7-9 hours of uninterrupted rest to ensure a good night's sleep. Create a calming bedtime routine, set up a comfortable sleep environment, and avoid stimulating activities or electronic devices before bed.
I've started tracking my sleep with my Oura Ring. It breaks down my sleep to show how much REM, deep, and light sleep I've gotten. Knowing the number of actual hours benefits me, forcing me to look for things that aren't positively serving my sleep habits.
Nourishing Diet and Hydration:
Maintaining healthy skin and achieving a glowing, radiant complexion requires a well-balanced and nutritious diet. You can accomplish this by including various fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains in your meals.
These foods provide essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that promote skin vitality. Additionally, drinking enough water throughout the day helps to keep your skin hydrated and aids in the elimination of toxins.
I'll be honest. Eating enough fruits and veggies to promote radiant skin is nearly impossible, so I started taking a multivitamin to fill in the gaps. About three months after consistently taking a multivitamin, I noticed I was experiencing almost zero hormonal acne. I am about to start testing a silica supplement to see if it helps correct my texture.
Vitamins and supplements I have tried that made the biggest difference:
I get most of my supplements from Thrive Market. Get $40 off using this link.
Regular Exercise:
Exercise is great for your skin. It helps improve blood flow, giving your skin more oxygen and nutrients while eliminating waste. Exercise can also lower stress and regulate hormones, leading to clearer skin.
A proper exercise routine is one of the last things I will implement into my glow-up era. Simply because dedicating an hour to the gym every day will be hard. Instead, I will be more active by using the stairs and walking my dog to the other side of my apartment complex to do her business.
Gentle Skincare and Proper Hygiene:
Adopting a gentle skincare routine is essential for maintaining clear skin. Avoid skincare products with added fragrance, essential oils, or plant botanicals, as they can be too harsh for the skin's natural oils and disrupt its balance.
There are many instances where plant botanicals are beneficial, but if you are experiencing acne, it's a good idea to revert to a basic skincare routine.
My favorite face washes and moisturizers:
Additionally, practice proper hygiene by regularly washing your face, changing pillowcases frequently, and avoiding touching your face throughout the day to minimize the transfer of bacteria.
Read this: 3 tips for better skin.
Sun protection:
Protecting your skin from the sun is essential for maintaining healthy and youthful skin. Sun exposure can cause premature aging and increase the risk of skin cancer. In fact, about 90% of aging is due to external factors like sun exposure. Moreover, protecting your skin from the sun is important 365 days a year.
My sunscreen routine:
My sunscreen routine involves a few different sunscreens. It's important to layer sunscreen for secured protection. Mixing sunscreen with products that don't contain SPF dilutes its' efficacy. That's why I apply a base layer of sunscreen before I go in with tinted sunscreens or makeup.
- Round Lab Birch Sunscreen - I use this as a first step to sun protection. I apply a generous amount to my face, neck, chest, and ears. To make sure I get all the spots, I typically put on two layers.
- Super Goop's Play sunscreen - I used to apply this to my face, but I prefer the Round Lab Sunscreen now. I put this on my neck, chest, arms, and legs anywhere the sun hits.
- Super Goop's Unseen sunscreen + It Cosmetics CC cream - I mix these sunscreens to improve their texture and give my face slight coverage. I use this like a foundation, focusing on the center of my face.
- ELF CC Cream - This part is semi-unnecessary. I don't love how this sits on my face when applying it everywhere, so I use it as a highlighter in the inner corners of my eyes and the center of my face. Also, it only contains 30 SPF, and I prefer to use products with at least 50 SPF. Although, if you have oily skin, you may love this product on its own.
- Drunk Elephant Tinted Sunscreen - I use this on the perimeter of my face. It has a pretty glow with little coverage.
- SPF Setting Spray - Sometimes, I skip this step, but I like to give my skin added coverage on extra sunny days.
Other Sun Protection Measures: Although sunscreen is important, taking additional measures for sun protection is crucial. To avoid the strongest sun rays, seek shade during peak hours from 10 am to 4 pm. Wearing protective clothing such as wide-brimmed hats, long sleeves, and UV-protective sunglasses provides extra defense against harmful UV rays and complements the use of sunscreen.
Read this: Shielding Your Skin: The Benefits and Importance of Sunscreen
Self-Care Practices:
Taking care of yourself can help your skin by making you less stressed and improving your mood. You can take a warm bath, use aromatherapy, have a spa day with a detox mask, or do things you enjoy.
Summary:
Taking care of your skin goes beyond using skincare products. Lifestyle changes, including stress management, quality sleep, a nourishing diet, regular exercise, gentle skincare practices, and self-care techniques, can significantly contribute to achieving clearer and healthier skin. Adopting these habits and prioritizing your overall well-being can promote skin vitality and radiance from the inside out.
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