What is glowing skin?
Click on the image to know how
Have you ever been complimented on how great your skin looks? Don’t you just feel so amazing after? If you ever wanted it, but don’t know how, don’t worry we have you covered. Here we will talk about what glowing skin is, and how to achieve it. It’s a lot simpler than you think, and it doesn’t rely on some magic cream or mystic youth elixir.
So what is glowing skin? Glowing skin can be characterised as moist, not dull and flaky, having small pores, even complexion and free of pimples and other blemishes. To help your skin shine you will need a good daily skin care routine and have the right Butrition for skin health.
Beauty Regime
As with any beauty regime, consistency over time is key, below are the steps and product types that can be used to get that glow.
Exfoliate
Our skin regenerates every 27 days [1] so when we have dull skin it is often because the newer and more vibrant skin is being hidden behind the dead cells on top. This is why exfoliating two to three times a week is essential, as it removes the dead cells and exposes the newer ones. There are two ways to exfoliate your skin:
- Chemical – this is actually gentler on your skin than physical, as we tend to over exfoliate with the physical one and it can damage the skin. Alpha-Hydroxy Acid exfoliators dissolve away dirt and impurities gently.
- Physical – made up of small grains that literally rubs out the dead cells, though effective you have to be careful not to over scrub!.
Sunscreen
Our relationship with the sun is a strange one, we need it stay alive and it gives our body the chance to make essential vitamin D, but too much exposure can lead to skin damage. In fact sun damage over a long period of time can cause more wrinkles, create age spots and sometimes cancer. This is why applying sunscreen to your face daily is key. Be sure to choose one that reads ‘noncomedogenic’ or ‘nonacnegenic’ as these don’t block the pores, which can cause acne.
Hydration
Drinking water is essential for healthier looking skin, it keeps our cells hydrated giving the appearance of fuller and firmer skin. When we are dehydrated it makes the skin look dull and highlights our wrinkles and fine lines even more. Try to drink between 2 to 3 litres of water daily, which can include herbal teas.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid is a carbohydrate which is naturally occurring in our skin. It helps the skin by holding on to moisture and gives the appearance of fuller plumper skin and reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
Retinoid
A form of vitamin A, retinoid helps your new skin cells generate more quickly and replaces the older ones. This increases the collagen in the skin, which makes the skin more elastic and gives a smoother appearance. [2]
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is known for the ability to brighten the skin, and topical application helps reduce dark circles, pigmentation and other blemishes.
Cleanse often
We should clean our skin at least once a day, as it removes excess oils, dirt and other pollutants which can cause blocked pores and pimples. Use a natural make up remover such as olive oil and wash with a gentle soap. Rinse off with luke warm or cold water and pat dry your face.
Moisturizer
This may sound obvious but failing to moisturize the skin can leave it looking dry and flaky. Be sure to moisturize twice daily in the morning and the evening after washing your face.
Baobab Face Mask
At Plant Burst we love natural face masks and our Organic Baobab powder makes the perfect ingredient. Baobab fruit nutrition has high levels of vitamin C which is vital for skin protection, packed with antioxidants which reduces free radical damage and helps reduce premature ageing. Try this super hydrating Plant Burst face mask:
2 tsp of Plant Burst Baobab Powder
1.5 tsp of turmeric powder
2 tbsp. of oats
2 tsp melted coconut oil
2 tbsp. coconut yogurt
Mix all ingredients well in a bowl and apply evenly to your skin and let it dry for 15-20 minutes. Wash off with Luke-warm water and pat dry skin with a towel. Repeat 3 times weekly and watch your skin look and feel younger.
Beauty from within (Nutrition)
Our skin is often a reflection of our diet and lifestyle, which is why it is essential you eat a healthy diet to support and nourish your skin. Consuming foods high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and polyphenols give your skin all the nutrients to shine and give you the glow.
Below is a list of key nutrients which play a key role in skin health and a list of foods which contain them.
Omega 3
Omega 3 are essential fatty acids, essential means the body cannot produce it, and so we need to find these nutrients in our food. Omega 3 fatty acids form part of the cell membrane and keeps our skin moist, supple and more elastic.
Found in – Chia seeds, flax seeds, walnuts. 1 ground tablespoon of ground flax is all you need for your RDA.
Antioxidants
Daily sun exposure and pollution can cause free radical damage to our skin, and quicken the ageing process. A diet rich in antioxidants help fight and slow down the ageing process.
Found in – organic baobab powder, berries, and cacao. Consuming 7-10 portions of fruit and vegetables will give us a vast array of antioxidants.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is vital for collagen production, collagen is what keeps our skin firm and elastic.
Found in – Organic Baobab powder, bell peppers, and berries – two tablespoons of baobab gives you nearly 60% of your RDI.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E works with vitamin C in collagen production and helps reduce damage from UV rays
Found in – almonds, sunflower seeds, and avocados
Vitamin A
Our upper and lower layers of our skin are made up of vitamin A. It helps lessen sun damage, and help reduces itchy, dry and bumpy skin.
Found in – carrots, dark leafy vegetables, and sweet potatoes
Foods to avoid
As much as our skin absorbs the nutrients we eat, it also absorbs the toxins and other nasties from our food. So we should try to heavily reduce or eliminate the following:
Alcohol – alcohol is a diuretic, which means it increases the amount of water expelled by the body, so this dehydrates the skin.
Processed foods and sugars – these foods can cause gut issues as they feed the bad bacteria in the gut. If we have an unbalanced gut it can lead to acne.
Oily foods – consuming fried foods can cause inflammation in the skin, which leads to oily skin which can cause acne.
Smoking – though not a food, smoking dry’s and ages the skin. As the oxygen in our skin cells are replaced with carbon monoxide and nicotine.
Final Thoughts
Glowing skin is the holy grail of all beauty, making simple daily changes to our morning and evening routine along with a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables and exercise we can create the environment for our skin to shine.
Here are some tips for health skin
Don't have time for intensive skin care? You can still pamper yourself by acing the basics. Good skin care and healthy lifestyle choices can help delay natural aging and prevent various skin problems. Get started with these five no-nonsense tips.
1. Protect yourself from the sun
One of the most important ways to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun. A lifetime of sun exposure can cause wrinkles, age spots and other skin problems — as well as increase the risk of skin cancer.
For the most complete sun protection:
- Use sunscreen. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Apply sunscreen generously, and reapply every two hours — or more often if you're swimming or perspiring.
- Seek shade. Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are strongest.
- Wear protective clothing. Cover your skin with tightly woven long-sleeved shirts, long pants and wide-brimmed hats. Also consider laundry additives, which give clothing an additional layer of ultraviolet protection for a certain number of washings, or special sun-protective clothing — which is specifically designed to block ultraviolet rays.
2. Don't smoke
Smoking makes your skin look older and contributes to wrinkles. Smoking narrows the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin, which decreases blood flow and makes skin paler. This also depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients that are important to skin health
Smoking also damages collagen and elastin — the fibers that give your skin strength and elasticity. In addition, the repetitive facial expressions you make when smoking — such as pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke — can contribute to wrinkles.
In addition, smoking increases your risk of squamous cell skin cancer. If you smoke, the best way to protect your skin is to quit. Ask your doctor for tips or treatments to help you stop smoking.
3. Treat your skin gently
Daily cleansing and shaving can take a toll on your skin. To keep it gentle:
- Limit bath time. Hot water and long showers or baths remove oils from your skin. Limit your bath or shower time, and use warm — rather than hot — water.
- Avoid strong soaps. Strong soaps and detergents can strip oil from your skin. Instead, choose mild cleansers.
- Shave carefully. To protect and lubricate your skin, apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before shaving. For the closest shave, use a clean, sharp razor. Shave in the direction the hair grows, not against it.
- Pat dry. After washing or bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture remains on your skin.
- Moisturize dry skin. If your skin is dry, use a moisturizer that fits your skin type. For daily use, consider a moisturizer that contains SPF.
4. Eat a healthy diet
A healthy diet can help you look and feel your best. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. The association between diet and acne isn't clear — but some research suggests that a diet rich in fish oil or fish oil supplements and low in unhealthy fats and processed or refined carbohydrates might promote younger looking skin. Drinking plenty of water helps keep your skin hydrated.
5. Manage stress
Uncontrolled stress can make your skin more sensitive and trigger acne breakouts and other skin problems. To encourage healthy skin — and a healthy state of mind — take steps to manage your stress. Get enough sleep, set reasonable limits, scale back your to-do list and make time to do the things you enjoy. The results might be more dramatic than you expect.
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