The 360 Degree Approach for Glowing Healthy Skin

In order to get healthy glowing skin, we can't just rely on skincare products, we need to make the correct lifestyle choices too!

Today we live in a society of pressure, exhaustion and stress.  Especially this year, where we have all experienced uncertainty during the Covid-19 pandemic. Stress is likely to increase our cortisol levels  (stress hormone) which can cause unsettlement in the skin, even if you are using the highest quality skincare.  Let’s focus on mindfulness and improve your way of life to reduce breakouts and inflammation in the skin. Most importantly, ensure you have a well-balanced lifestyle so you can begin to glow inside and out.

Breathe

The best way to start is with a simple yet important mindfulness technique; Deep Breathing. Think of it as our portable stress reliever. As many of us are on the go all the time, we forget about breathing properly.  This simple technique can help reduce our stress levels instantly and can be done anywhere, at any time of the day.

All it takes is a deep inhale in through your nose — deep into the chest that you can also feel in your stomach. Followed by one long exhale, through the mouth and repeating it for a minimum of seven times a day.

Beauty Sleep 

When the sun goes down your mind and body switch into an active regeneration mode – repairing daytime damage and boosting the production of substances that protect and renew.

A secretion of melatonin (our sleep hormone) is released to help regulate our sleep cycle. Melatonin also contains anti-oxidant properties. Exposure to all colours of light helps control your natural sleep and wake cycle, or circadian rhythm. Even more so than any other colour, blue light messes with your body's ability to prepare for sleep because it blocks melatonin. Which is why saying goodnight to technology at least an hour before bed is highly recommended.

Other benefits of sleep:

• reduction in elevated cortisol levels
• repair and strengthening of the skin
• providing the body with a chance to make more collagen

Sleep hygiene is paramount and winding down from an active day does not begin 5 mins before bedtime. It must start at least an hour before we hit the sack. Say goodnight to technology and this includes social media, taking time for your night skin routine, enjoy a soothing bath with beautiful essential oils, such as  Waterlily Peace or Waterlily Love Body & Bath Serums. Read a good book and as we are a creature of habit try and go to bed the same time every night.

Other sleep tools may include ShhhSilk Eye Mask to help block out light and help keep moisture in your eye area and the ShhhSilk Pillow Case to reduce inflammation and face creases on the skin while you sleep. Another quick tip to boost and rehydrate the skin while we sleep is to apply the Aspect Probiotic Sleep Mask or Synergie Masquerase instead of your night cream once a week and remove in the morning.

Lifestyle

Remember the Mars Bar slogan “A Mars a day helps you work, rest and play? Work, rest and play sounds like a great balance with exercise added on to it. Yet is this even possible when you have a family and a demanding job? It can be with a good structure!

It is important to exercise at least once or twice a week whether going for a walk, gym class or doing Pilates. Get your body moving and re-oxygenate the skin and body. Don’t feel guilty about the rest time, it's your time to recharge, whether it be watching your favourite Netflix show or having a relaxing facial or massage. You deserve it and you can give so much more to others once your mind is calm and clear. Playing and spending time with your family is precious too because your kids will leave the nest before you know it, so don't miss out!

A good lifestyle balance will prevent your frown lines from deepening, and in a positive sense allow your cheekbones to lift when you smile.

Diet

A well-balanced diet is the way to go!  It seems obvious but unfortunately, so many people’s diets are unbalanced.  The best approach is to “eat a rainbow” and “drink the waterfall”. In other words, make sure you eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and drink plenty of water.

During stressful times, our caffeine and sugar intake is usually increased and in turn, can cause inflammation in our gut. This can lead to inflammatory skin conditions, such as rosacea, eczema, acne etc. It really is amazing how gut health influences the appearance of the surface of our skin. Remember there are hidden sugars in many foods, even food that seems to be healthy. Eg. Muesli bars.

Nutritionists will tell you that our body is not made to accept high doses of vitamins at one time and we should not rely on vitamin tablets for our nutrition.  Rather, we are designed to get nutrients in smaller quantities during the day and nutrition should mainly come from food. However we need to recognise that some of us need extra help and that is when inner health supplements such as green powders eg Miss Vitality Elevate, Fish Oils and Miss Vitality Curcumin have their place in assisting with good gut health.

Remember we are what we eat and treat your body as if it were a temple. 

During consultations, we take great effort to understand the lifestyle, diet, medication and stress levels in our client's lives. We know it's not always about the products you use but the lifestyle you lead that will contribute vastly to better-looking skin.