SKIN HACKS TO MAKE YOUR SKIN LOOK GREAT (3 min read)

And skin care is important, your skin is the largest organ in your body and just like any other organ it needs to be looked after.

So why not look after it, not only should it get the same amount if respect as your other organs, but it’s the one most likely to help you look and feel great.

So here we take a look at some quick and easy tips to get the perfect glowing skin. 

WASH YOUR FACE ONCE A DAY…

You might want to stop washing your skin more than twice a day.

The oil on your face is, in fact, a natural face moisturiser. And a certain amount is needed for your facial skin to remain balanced. 

You should wash their face in the morning and then spot dry with a clean towel followed with toning products instead of washing their face while showering.

Later in the day wash your faces at night after the day is done.

…AND USE COLD WATER

Yep, that’s right cold water. This is not just a fad pushed by everyone on YouTube for no reason.

It is a basic rule, but unknown, skincare tip that works. Add it to your routine, it is often best to wash your face with cold water straight showering.

Why? The cold water closes up your pores and protect your skin from air pollution.

SKIPPING SUNSCREEN (SOMETIMES) IS OKAY

While conventional wisdom dictates that we put on sunscreen every day, it can actually clog your pores.

Sunscreen has also been found to hinder the body’s ability to create vitamin D, which boosts elasticity and collagen production.

Please note, this is not recommenced to be done regularly, only sometimes.

WHAT TO AVOID…

What you put in your body impacts your outer appearance, including when it comes to things that can impact your skin. These are, among others things to avoid:

Excess dairy: Prone to cause a build-up of excess fat which leads to acne

Sugar: Aside from potentially causing weight issues, sucrose can lead to inflammation and breakouts. Sugar itself can also accelerate the formation of wrinkles and fine lines on your skin. On top of that, sugar binds to and destroys collagen molecules which the skin needs to stay supple and youthful

Dark sodas: These contains pore-clogging substances that age your skin horribly, while the syrup robs the skin of its natural elasticity

Alcohol and caffeine: Dehydrates the skin and causes inflammation. There is a reason why most models and regularly photographed people stay away from both.

Food high in iodine: Cranberries, strawberries, yogurt, milk and potatoes have high levels of iodine and can cause inflammation or acne.

Cigarettes: Contains chemicals which reduce the blood flow to your face and drain your body of vitamins and minerals, discolouring and drying out your skin.

Smoking also makes your skin age faster, causing sagging and premature wrinkles.

AND WHAT TO CONSUME

It’s obvious that one should to eat lots of fruits and vegetables while also taking extra vitamin C, K, D and E. Rather less well known are these parts of their diet:

Anti-inflammatory food: Tomatoes, olive oil, dark leafy greens, almonds, salmon, mackerel and oranges help avoid inflammation, which is one of the factors behind redness in the skin and premature wrinkling.

Lemon water: A glass a day is not just a great source of extra vitamin C which helps prevent ageing but also for detoxing the body.

Dark chocolate: Anything with 70-percent dark chocolate content is rich in flavonoids—antioxidants which help prevent ageing, sun damage and create a healthy glow.

Foods high in healthy fats: Salmon, mackerel, dark leafy vegetables, flax seed, walnuts and herring contains Omega-3 that makes your skin look plump, reduces inflammation and prevents acne scarring. Also helpful is biotin—also known as vitamin B7—which is found in eggs, salmon, avocado, cheese and supplements.

Supplements: Supplements that contain Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Vitamin D.   

SLEEP ON YOUR BACK

Sleeping face-down or on your side means that you are applying pressure on your face. This increases the likelihood of premature wrinkling.

On top of that, both sleeping positions can also affect your backbone as well as your jaw—which could lead to narrowing of your jaw and making your teeth untidy. Hence, the best sleeping position is on your back.

PUT FROZEN SPOONS ON YOUR EYES

Keep a spoon that fits the size of your eye area in the freezer overnight and place it over your eyes the morning.

This DIY technique an easy and cheap alternative to eye gels and will help your under-eye bags disappear faster.

DRINK GALLONS OF WATER

The main and probably most essential secret to having great skin is hydration.

Especially for those thirty and over, hydration is the number one way to retain elasticity and plumpness.

In addition to moisturising at least two times a day after washing, we recommend drinking a gallon or more of water each day.

MEDITATE AND YOGA

The fast pace has slowed a little recently, the new normal is still causing quite a lot of stress, plus uncertain sleeping hours also wreaks havoc on our skin. 

In order to de-stress, we recommend separating out 15-30 minutes to meditate and do yoga.

This is not always easy to do, but there are many great apps and of course YouTube that can help run you through some routines, no matter how beginner you are.