How to Get Great Skin

There are lots of ways to make sure that you take care of your skin. There is no magic solution that will give you a perfect blemish free complexion; but there are several common sense health tips which will keep it glowing.

Things To Do

When taking care of your skin it is essential that you maintain a proper diet. You should eat at least five portions of fruit or vegetables a day to keep your vitamin and mineral levels up. If you don’t think you are getting enough, take a multivitamin and mineral supplement available from any pharmacy. Try to avoid greasy, high fat or sugary foods which will just cause spots.

Water is essential for the hydration of the skin to keep it moist, soft, supple and clear. It is the loss of moisture which is one of the main culprits for causing wrinkles. You should drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.

People who are physically fit look good and feel good. Exercise brings more oxygen and nutrients to the skin so that it is firmer and better nourished. It is also thought that exercise slows down aging. A regular exercise program will help to lengthen your life, improve your appearance, build your self-confidence and reshape your figure. Exercise also benefits the skin by helping to maintain a clear circulation, calming the nerves and promoting a deeper, more revitalising sleep. So move more, to be younger and look better!

Many people can vouch for the lack of sleep, if we don't get enough rest or sleep it will lead to tiredness which affects the appearance of the skin. Not only does lack of sleep make your eyes puffy but will make the skin look dry and dull. The average amount of sleep required for a good night’s rest is about 8 hours. However many people only get about 5 to 6 hours per night. So, not resting or sleeping properly will start to show as you age.

Having a regular facial routine is another good thing to practice to keep skin healthy. You should cleanse your face every day, ideally by using three different products. These include a cleanser to keep the pores free from grease, grime and pollution, a toner to close the pores after they have been cleaned and a moisturiser to keep moisture in and add elasticity and hydration. Be sure to use products only for your skin type. Such as oily, dry or combination skin products.

Things To Avoid

Smoking cigarettes will rob the skin of its vitality and potential for being smooth and attractive. It also restricts blood flow and toxins to and from the skin, the free radicals in smoke particles cause cellular damage to skin making it age prematurely. It will also look pallid and tired as a result.

Alcohol can dehydrate the skin and impede circulation, thus robbing the skin of precious moisture and depleting the body of vitamins and minerals needed for a healthy complexion.

In addition to being mentally damaging, stress can affect you physically too. One of the first places that it will manifest itself is by the way of facial spots, eczema or psoriasis. This can cause inflammation and sensitivity. It does not stop there though, causing the complexion to look dull too.

Soaking up the sun may give you a great tan, but the links with skin cancer and UVA/UVB rays, outweigh the benefits. If you want to sunbathe then do it in a controlled manner. Avoid sunrays when they are strongest (usually between 11am and 1pm) and always use a high factor sunscreen (SP15 or higher). Overuse of sunbeds can also be damaging as they do not rule out causing skin cancer. In addition to this they can be very dehydrating too. So, the safest way to get a sun tan is to use a good fake tanning cream.

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