Keeping Your Skin Looking Young and Radiant

If you are concerned about your overall appearance, and you wish to remain looking young and radiant, taking care of your skin is one step that will make a huge difference in stopping the appearance of aging signs. There are several ways you can boost your skin's appearance by doing a daily regimen of maintenance tasks. Here are some ways you can slow down the appearance of aging by caring for your skin.

1. Cover Exposed Skin

When going outside, put on sunscreen even if you are not going to be in the sun for more than a few minutes. Sunscreen will protect your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays and wearing it even when in rainy weather will help to filter out any of these rays from penetrating to your skin in any way. Put on a moisturizer first and then apply a coating of sunscreen over it about twenty minutes before you intend to go outside. Cover your arms and legs in addition to your face if you plan on driving, as UV rays can still get to you through glass.

2. Drink Plenty Of Water

If you are interested in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you are most likely aware that drinking approximately six to eight 8 oz. glasses of water a day is recommended. Water can help the appearance of your skin by moisturizing it from the inside, giving you a smooth and supple appearance.

3. Protect In Cool Weather

When temperatures plummet, using a moisturizer on your skin will not be helpful as the water content within is rather high. This will instead promote chapping. Look for a cream made with emollients rather than moisturizing properties. This will keep your skin hydrated and looking younger.

4. Kick Bad Habits

Everyone knows that smoking is bad in general for your health. It is also a premature aging factor to the skin, causing wrinkles around the mouth area. Smoking depletes your body from Vitamin C, which is needed to maintain supple, healthy skin. Stopping smoking will save yourself from looking older than you really are. If you enjoy alcoholic beverages, drink them in moderation. Alcohol causes the blood vessels to dilate. This will bring blood close to the surface of your skin, making it look red and blotchy. It also causes dehydration of the body, leaving your skin lackluster in appearance.

5. Eat Healthy Foods

The diet you eat will help your skin's appearance. Load up on leafy greens as they are beneficial to overall skin tone. Foods with abundant Omega-3, such as tuna, salmon, walnuts, kale, spinach and flaxseed are all rich with this vitamin, helping to keep skin smooth and elastic rather than rough and rigid. Limit the amount of sugar you consume as it will cause skin to wrinkle or become dull. Sugar damages the collagen in the skin, which is a protein in the body that helps retain the elasticity. When collagen is damaged, your skin will appear brittle and may begin to sag. Eating healthy foods while maintaining a fitness routine will help keep your skin looking younger overall.

Natural Moisturizers You Can Make

Moisturizers can be expensive and contain questionable chemicals. Fortunately, there are natural moisturizers that you can use daily. These moisturizers can slow skin aging and infuse your skin with nutrients that will give it a healthy glow.

Coconut oil, Vitamin E, and Essential Oil Paste

Mix a half cup of coconut oil, one teaspoon of liquid vitamin E, and seven drops of lavender essential oil or tea tree oil in a bowl until you create a homogenized paste. Apply the paste as you would with a moisturizer.

When applied to the skin, coconut oil can sterilize cracked skin with its antiseptic qualities. The vitamin E acts as an antioxidant, neutralizing any free radicals around and in your skin cells, thereby fighting signs of aging such as wrinkles. Lavender and tea tree oil have antiseptic properties as well. 

Although slower acting, studies show that tea tree oil is as effective as benzoyl peroxide.

Witch Hazel

Mix witch hazel with water and apply it to your skin. Witch hazel has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Thus, not only does it moisturize, but it also fights inflammatory skin conditions.

Grape Paste

Crush grapes and mix with an emulsifier like vitamin E to form a paste. Due to the magnesium, potassium, selenium, flavonoid, and vitamin B6, A, and C in the grapes, this paste will make your skin glow.

Rosehip Seed Oil Mixture

Mix rosehip seed oil with water and apply it to your skin. Rosehip seed oil seeps into your skin without leaving a greasy residue. It's rich in essential fats, thus making it well-suited for dehydrated skin. It can also heal scars and prevent signs of aging.

Opt for a natural moisturizer before buying an expensive commercial chemical formula. It takes less than half an hour to make, and not only will it be healthier and cheaper, but it can treat blemishes and prevent premature aging as well.

References: 

• organicfacts.net/health-benefits/oils/properties-of-coconut-oil.html
• goldenrule.com/health-wellness/benefits-of-vitamin-e-on-skin/
• well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/27/remedies-tea-tree-oil-for-acne/
• popsugar.com/latina/DIY-Latina-Beauty-Remedies-38279437
• livesimply.me/2013/09/18/simple-homemade-moisturizer/
• mountainroseherbs.com/products/rosehip-seed-oil/profile

Are You Applying Moisturizer the Right Way?

Applying moisturizer seems pretty easy, right? If you are the slap-it-on-and-go type, think again! Putting on moisturizer properly helps give softer, smoother skin. 

Here’s how to make the most out of your hydrating regime.

Choose the Right Moisturizer for Your Skin Type
One of the keys for hydration is to pick a product that is suitable for your skin, because an unsuitable product may cause breakouts and irritation. 

Oily skin: Look for lotions instead of creams. Find formulas that have exfoliating ingredients, such as lactic glycolic and salicylic acids.

Recommend: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

Dry skin: Definitely use a cream, especially in the winter weather. There is more oil in a cream, therefore it is more moisturizing. 

Recommend: Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance

Combination skin: Lotions with no acids, something simple such as Cetaphil, Aveeno, or Neutrogena.

Recommend: Neutrogena Fine Fairness Clinical Muiti-Protect UV Fluid

Normal skin: Moisturizers with natural oils work well.

Recommend: Dr.Ci:Labo Aqua Collagen Gel

Sensitive skin: Avoid moisturizers that contain perfumes and other chemicals.

Recommend: Avene Very High Protection Mineral Cream 

The Best Time to Apply Moisturizer?
Within a minute of cleansing. This is because your skin is still moist and will receive the maximum benefits of the moisturizer. 

Massage It In
Take some moisturizer on your palms and rub your hands together, as it will warm up the cream and allows faster absorption on the skin. Gently massage it into your skin in small, circular motions to promote better penetration.

Remember, the keys to moisturizing skin are choosing the right product and applying it at the right time and in the right way. No more dryness and flakiness this winter, but beautiful, bouncy, and supple skin!