Special Edition Sweat Equity Magazine, page 19
1. Moisturize.
According to the Mayo Clinic, moisturizers affect the appearance of skin by doing three things -- fighting dryness, balancing skin tone and improving skin texture. The moisturizing product achieves these goals by helping the skin absorb water and by filling in the spaces between skin cells to replace lost moisture. Use chemical free products that don’t irritate your skin, clog up your pores, or wreak havoc on your hormones. Among the most effective ingredients are shea butter, cocoa butter and coconut oil. These rich emollients are readily absorbed by the skin. The best times to moisturize are right after your shower, while your skin is still damp. This will help lock in the water to your skin. The second best time to moisturize is before bedtime when the moisturizer has ample time to absorb deep into your skin.
2. Exfoliate. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells, leaving your skin radiant and smooth. Whether it's bikini season or you just want soft, clean skin, exfoliating your skin from head to toe will get you glowing.
3. Wash your face at night.
Over the course of the day, makeup, dirt, and oil build up on your face. Make cleansing your skin part of your bedtime routine with gentle, all-natural. Skip soaps with colors and fragrances. Dyes can leave a dull residue, and scents can trigger allergies. Remember that you want to clean your skin, not completely strip it of all oils — if it feels tight and dry after washing, you're using something too strong. Pat dry. Don't roughly rub your skin dry with a towel. Instead, dry it with small, gentle pats or let it air dry.
4. Hydrate with lots water and water-rich foods. Staying hydrated keeps your skin, smooth, soft, supple, and glowing. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables helps to keep your skin moisturized and deter wrinklesnsince they are high water content foods. Eat citrus (oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit) often. Vitamin C discourages wrinkles because C helps pump up collagen (supportive protein fibers that stop skin from sagging). Eat lots of for the greens, too which helps to prevent skin from drying out. Spinach, broccoli, kale, mustard greens, collard greens, and arugula, are especially rich in skin-loving vitamin A which encourages cell turnover, deters dryness, and keeps skin's surface supple.
5. Use under eye gel or cream.
Always keep your delicate eye skin moisturized. The eye area is prone to signs of aging including fine lines, “crows feet “and deep set wrinkles as we mature. Using an all-natural eye cream or gel to soothe eyes, reduce under eye puffiness, eliminate dark circles, and to help fight the aging process through the years.
6. Sweat.
Sweat out the toxins for an ultra glow. Sweat purges your body of toxins while increasing blood flow to the skin, and increasing neuronal stimulation to help with vibrant skin. Exercise, yoga, steam rooms, are all great ways to get your sweat on.
7. Protect your face and body from the sun. Sunscreen helps prevents wrinkles and keeps your skin radiant. Use an all-natural sunscreen that is good for your skin, your body, and the environment. (like all-natural, organic Raw Elements USA skin tone stick, that is voted #1 sunscreen by the EWG)
Bonus beauty tip!
8. Tweeze your eyebrows.
Well groomed eyebrows balance your features and frame your eyes, and open up your face. The shape of your brows can make a major difference in your radiance and how you are perceived.