When looking at your favorite beauty magazine we all have to check out the latest advertisements. We’re all secretly looking for that magical moisturizer, foundation or pill that promises to keep us forever young. It seems like today, especially, around every corner, the next turn of the page, or the next irritating pop-up ad on the internet, we are bombarded by the newest discoveries of the fountain of youth. Wouldn’t that be the discovery of the century? Just take one pill, or slather on this cream at night and poof you wake up the next morning with 20yr old skin again!
Everyone, no matter what age they are, really wants to look as flawless as those beautiful models gracing every page! Not an imperfection in sight – no dark circles – no cellulite – no lines – no age spots – perfect hair. Even though we know deep down the perfect picture we are seeing was created by a zillion professionals, we want to look just like that.
Well, maybe someday they’ll find that magic pill but for now, short of cosmetic surgery, it takes work. Don’t get me wrong, there are things out there to help us on our way but you still have to put in the effort if you want to keep your skin looking the best it can be whatever your age. Here are a few things we can do to help us put our Best Face Forward:
Eat your veggies! First of all, our diet is an important factor in how healthy our skin looks. Your Mom always told you to eat your vegetables. Well, she was right. Vegetables not only help you stay healthy on the inside, but they help your skin maintain its healthy glow on the outside. I met an Asian woman about 15 yrs ago who owned a health food store. She was a petite 4’ 10’’, always had a smile on her face and beautiful skin. I asked what her secret was and she said about 10yrs earlier, she had sinus problems, aching muscles and was tired all the time. She woke up one day and decided she was tired of being sick and tired! So she decided to take matters into her own hands. She said when she goes grocery shopping; she never leaves the produce department. Period. When she “cooks” for dinner, it comprises of a buffet of raw fruits and vegetables (organic when possible). When I met her, she had been maintaining this regimen for about 10yrs. This once - tired all the time - woman had just returned from a visit from her home town where she competed and won the national title for Tia Chi. Did I mention she was 55 yrs old! What a testimony. Try incorporating raw vegetables at least 3 times a week into your diet. They are packed full of vitamins and nutrients, take less time to prepare and your skin will love them.
WATER! WATER! WATER! And did I say water? Did you know that our skin is the largest organ in the body and acts as a storage unit for lipids and water? Since water makes up approximately 70% of our bodies weight it is vital for maintaining healthy body functions including keeping our skin hydrated. Water helps our bodies flush out impurities which we encounter on a daily basis. Whether it is environmental pollution, medications or daily stress, water is used by our bodies to rid these impurities from us. Drinking plenty of fluids is an essential contributor in our overall health and well being. The rule of thumb is half your weight in ounces per day. (example: a 150 lb woman would need to consume 75 ounces of water p/day. 150/2=75). Try adding half of a fresh squeezed lemon in 1 gal of water to give your liver an extra boost in detoxifying your body. Put in the refrigerator and drink throughout the day.
Curb those urges for sweets! As we age, our skin loses elasticity becomes dull and slows down in the natural exfoliation process. Sugar can speed up this process. It is believed to be one of the main causes of premature aging. Sugar is said to cause inflammation in all organ systems, including the skin. One of the reasons inflammation occurs is from a rapid rise in blood sugar, which causes biochemical changes in the cell that result in accelerated aging. When blood sugar goes up rapidly, sugar can attach itself to collagen in a process called "glycation," making the skin stiff and inflexible. Losing this elastic resilience of young skin will give you deep wrinkles and make you look old. Next time you need a sugar fix, try slathering it on in a body scrub instead. Sugar is also a natural exfoliant and will help to slough off those old dead skin cells to reveal newer, healthier looking skin.
Exercise! All types of exercise are great for getting that mojo going. Whether you pump it up at the gym, step it up at your favorite step class or walk it off at the nearest track, do some kind of exercise at least 30 minutes a day. This doesn’t mean you have push yourself until the lady next to you is wondering whether or not to call the paramedics. Just get moving. When you vacuum try putting on your favorite up-beat cd, stick in the headphones and have some fun. When you have that dust rag in your hands, instead of just dusting, do some stretching. Try taking the steps to that doctor’s visit instead of the elevator and park in the last spot in the parking lot and walk in instead of riding around until a spot next to the door comes open. Exercising doesn’t have to be a chore, make it fun!
When we think about exercising, we think of the usual walking, jogging, aerobics, resistance training, etc. but what about our faces? Check out my next blog and I’ll teach you some exercises you can do to tighten those trouble spots……on your face.
In the meantime..... tell us what you do to keep your Best Face Forward!
Skin eScentuals, LLC
Starting anew...
12 years ago
