By Ciara Brennan
Glowy skin: although it’s not a new phenomenon, it’s never been as popular as it is right now. We all desire that dewy sun-kissed glow but unfortunately our pasty Irish skin doesn’t radiate as naturally as most of us wish it would. But fear not, with a few simple changes to our diet and lifestyles we can all naturally glow like J Lo every day of the week.
A true glow starts from within, be good to your body and it will beam from the inside out. A healthy diet is the essential key for unlocking the secrets to a dewy complexion. Start with getting in your five a day. I know it’s easier said than done but your skin will really reap the benefits. Try incorporating morning juices into your routine, not only will you be hitting the target of at least two or three of your five a day, you will also have a reason to use that Nutribullet you bought yourself last year on sale. Fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin C are the money makers, so pack your diet with foods such as broccoli, peppers, spinach and citrus fruits to detox and purify your skin.
This next step could not be any simpler, drink more water. If you were to take any healthy steps in your life today the most important thing to do is drink water. Drink it as if it was going out of fashion. Water detoxifies, improves complexion, hydrates, plumps, clears and illuminates your skin. It is recommended that we should be drinking about two litres or eight glasses of water a day, so get drinking.
A daily skincare routine could not be more important to improve your skins glow. Start with exfoliation. Your skin sheds hundreds of dead skin cells every day and it is crucial to prevent their build up on our skins surface. An exfoliator that is rich in glycolic acid is the magic trick for that extra glow. Exfoliate at least twice a week to unclog pores and keep skin smooth. Next step is cleansing and toning, night and morning for the best results. The main ingredients for that natural radiance are using moisturizer and a daily SPF. Find a moisturizer that’s suited to your own specific skin type and it will hold that water-rich glow.
The addition of an SPF to your daily skin routine will protect your skin against the harsh sun rays and keep your skin youthful and plump, the perfect canvas for a healthy glow. If you’re looking for that little bit extra, try a daily serum with your moisturizer, they are more concentrated than creams and absorb deeper into the skin. Hydrating and brightening facemasks are also a good addition to your skincare routine.
Any good glow needs time to develop and the best way to achieve this is getting the right amount of beauty sleep. It is estimated that we should get seven to nine hours of sleep per night. When we sleep our skin repairs itself, and cutting this time short dims our skin’s radiance.
Rest is extremely important for achieving a healthy glow, but exercise is just as important too. 30 minutes of exercise a day will send oxygen through blood vessels on your face, stimulating the natural pigmentation in your cheeks and keeping a healthy glow.
Image: dvsross [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)] via Wikimedia Commons
.jpg){kind=link}