For a radiant complexion, here are 5 simple steps you can take today to help your skin glow!
1. Exfoliate Dullness Away
You’re not going to shine if there’s buildup on your skin that’s dulling your glow. Make sure you are removing dead skin cells and the accumulation of dirt and grime that unavoidably clings to your skin by the end of each day.
Use a gentle exfoliant to cleanse skin of buildup and polish the surface to reveal fresh skin.
Try: LuRey Microdermabrasion Mask. Infused with rosemary leaf extract, shea butter, almond oil, and jojoba oil, this mask hydrates while buffing away pore-clogging imperfections and dead skin. The mask also contains Aloe Vera to calm the skin and reduce inflammation.
2. Eat Vitamin C Foods
Ingesting foods with high levels of Vitamin C can help to promote a glowing look. You can get your vitamin C fix by snacking on grapefruit, orange, or adding a lime to your morning cup of water.
Did you know red peppers contain large amounts of vitamin C—even more than an orange? Dr. Julia Carroll, a dermatologist with Compass Dermatology in Toronto explains that “Vitamin C is a pre-cursor to collagen production” which can keep your skin plump and full.
Furthermore, since exposure to sunlight “creates free radicals” vitamin C, an antioxidant, will help to reverse this damaging occurrence by neutralizing free radicals, thus shielding skin from DNA damage.
3. Use A Humidifier to Promote Skin Hydration
You may have used a humidifier to add moisture to your bedroom when you were suffering from a cold or a sore throat.
However, adding a humidifier to your bedroom even when you’re not feeling under the weather can reap great benefits.
In a previous blog post we chatted about the ways in which winter air can wreak havoc on the condition of your skin by drying it out.
When used in a wintry or dry climate, a humidifier will add back moisture to the air in your home which will in turn condition and moisturize your skin and prevent dry patches from forming. Dry skin cannot glow, so make sure that you’re not sapping your skin of hydration by going to sleep in a dry room.
4. Keep Inflammation at Bay with Matcha
Inflammation in the skin can cause your complexion to suffer. Perhaps your skin is not looking its best due to environmental pollutants or maybe you have redness due to a recent hormonal breakout.
Inflammation can be triggered by a number of factors, and one easily-achievable way to keep it at bay is to consume more green tea and/or matcha.
Matcha is made of finely ground green tea leaves, and as such, provides the same benefits of green tea in a highly concentrated form. According to LAHealthyLiving.com, “Matcha green tea has 10 times the nutrition of regular green tea due to the growing and harvesting process” which means it packs a bigger punch than green tea alone.
EGCg or epigallocatechin gallate is a component in green tea/matcha that has been linked to cancer prevention. This article by Dr. Ronald Hoffman, founder and Medical Director of the Hoffman Center in New York City, outlines the benefits of EGCgs in cancer prevention as well as in skin health. Research demonstrates that these compounds help to encourage new skin cell growth among previously dying skin cells in the dermis. EGCg have been dubbed a fountain of youth for skin, so they’re worth adding to your diet if you like the taste of green tea.
The powerful antioxidants in green tea can help to reduce inflammation, nourish skin cells, and promote skin health. We think this evidence is a good reason to replace a cup of coffee with a cup of green tea every once in a while. We love adding matcha powder to a cup of almond milk in the morning for a frothy, healthy latte.
5. Carotenoids for a Natural Faux-Tan
A recent study demonstrated that individuals who consumed foods rich in carotenoids were found to be more attractive than those who didn’t.
This antioxidant/ pigment is found in orange foods and has been demonstrated to change an individual’s skin tone to a brighter, golden color that is perceived by others as attractive. By regularly eating carrots, sweet potatoes, and other fruits and veggies containing carotenoids, you can alter your skin tone to a naturally golden color.
Essentially, the study compared individuals who ate a large amount of carotenoids to individuals with a tan and to those who did not eat many carotenoids. Lead author Dr Ian Stephen said:
“We found that, given the choice between skin color caused by suntan and skin color caused by carotenoids, people preferred the carotenoid skin color, so if you want a healthier and more attractive skin color, you are better off eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables than lying in the sun.”
For photos of the effects and to learn more about the study, go here.
We hope these tips inspired you to add a couple of new habits to your health and beauty regimen that will have you glowing skin in no time!