Want Better Skin? Follow These 6 Habits

“Better skin requires commitment, not a miracle” 

There are a number of factors that contribute to better skin. If you want glowing, healthy, clear skin, it does require some level of commitment. You have to do the work, eat healthily, stay hydrated, reduce your stress levels and think happy.

In this article, we will reveal six habits that will surely boost the health of your skin.

1. Eat Healthier

Consume plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, reduce processed food and fill up on foods that will cleanse and detoxify the body. If you want better skin, consume plenty of foods that are rich in beta-carotene and antioxidants. Papaya is an excellent example of a skin enhancing fruit.

Why Papaya?

According to Healthline, papaya contains vitamin C, lycopene and beta-carotene. Consuming papaya regularly will protect your skin and reduce the signs of aging. In a scientific study carried out over 12 weeks, participants were given a lycopene supplement daily.

RELATED: Top 7 Foods For A Beautiful Skin

The investigation revealed that those who took the lycopene supplement experienced less damage to their skin after sun exposure.

Drink Plenty of Water

Stay hydrated, drink at least eight large glasses of water a day. Make this a habit you stick to, and you will see visible skin improvements. Do not expect miracles but you should see a difference if you remain dedicated to drinking water on a regular basis.

Why Water?

Skin is an organ; our bodies are made up of 70 percent water. Therefore, it makes sense to keep your skin healthy by keeping the body hydrated. Water hydrates the cells and facilitates toxin removal.

Thus, even if you do not see massive results from drinking water, stay hydrated anyway, your body needs it.

2. Steam Your Skin

Steam your skin weekly, what are the benefits?

Steam helps to remove dirt and impurities by softening the surface of the skin. This encourages the skin to release build up, therefore, reducing the appearance of whiteheads and blackheads. Steaming your skin on a weekly basis will improve circulation thus boosting the appearance of the skin and complexion.

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Steaming your skin can also reduce stress levels by making you feel calm and relaxed. If you want glowing skin, stress reduction is essential.

Steam your face at home by filling a bowl or bucket with hot water and covering your head with a towel or cloth. Place your face in the bowl for ten minutes or until the water is lukewarm.

If you have more time on your hands, go to your local spa. Spend 15 to 20 minutes in the steam room. Enjoy a cold shower afterward to close your pores.

3. Exercise

Get active. Exercising not only boosts circulation but encourages the body to sweat. When you sweat, you facilitate the cleansing of the skin. According to WebMD, exercise nourishes the skin by increasing blood flow. “We tend to focus on the cardiovascular benefits of exercise. But anything that promotes healthy circulation also helps keep your skin healthy and vibrant” says dermatologist Ellen Marmur, MD. She also states that exercising can help to eradicate cellular waste from the skin.

Exercise at least three to four times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes. Take a long, brisk walk, jog, do some squats, jumping jacks or jump rope. Just get your body moving.

4. Stress Less

Reduce your stress levels for better skin. Reducing stress is easier said than done because we cannot control every aspect of our lives. However, there are steps that you can take to decrease the amount of stress you feel on a day to day basis.

Firstly, let’s talk about reducing stress, then we will discuss why stress can have a detrimental effect on the skin.

Reducing Stress

Meditation

Breathe deeply and meditate for at least 10 minutes a day to calm the mind and alleviate anxiety.

Take a Walk

When you feel the tension bubbling over, take a long walk, release your thoughts and focus on positive thinking instead of dwelling on the negative.

Talk

Live by the saying, a problem shared is a problem halved. When you talk about your issues, you release the emotions and reduce feelings of fear and worry. Talk to your friends, family members or even a professional therapist.

Write

If you don’t have anyone to talk to, write your feelings down in a journal. Whenever you are feeling down or stressed, de-stress by writing out your thoughts.

5. Pamper yourself

You don’t need to spend lots of money on spa treatments and expensive products. A simple soak in the bath with some essential oils qualifies as a relaxing pampering session. Set up a home spa by making kitchen cupboard skin treatments such as avocado and olive oil facial masks, and honey and oatmeal skin softener.

Avocado Mask

Mash one medium avocado until it is smooth. Add ½ a teaspoon of olive oil and mix well. Apply the mixture to your face, leave it for 10 minutes, rinse well.

Honey and Oatmeal Skin Softener

Blitz your oatmeal into a fine powder using a food processor. Don’t forget to sterilize your utensils with hot water before using them. Add a tablespoon of honey to ½ a cup of powdered oats. Mix well to form a paste, apply to face and leave for 10-15 minutes. Rinse well.

Stress can mean less sleep, which leads to reduced blood flow to the skin, and less hydration. For better skin, try some of the stress busting tips above.

6. Get More Sleep

Lack of sleep can have a detrimental effect on your overall health. This can include skin problems, premature aging, low immune system, fatigue, and depression. For better skin, get at least eight hours of sleep every night.

According to Michael Breus Ph.D. when you sleep, blood flow to the skin is increased. Therefore, sleeping less reduces the blood flow to the skin causing a dull, lifeless complexion.

Also, lack of sleep reduces the production of the human growth hormone. Which slows down the aging process and reduces the risk of various diseases. Therefore, better sleep equals better skin.

RELATED: Sleep Deprivation Effects

Your skin won’t change overnight, however, by implementing a few or all of the tips outlined in this article, you should see some improvement in a few days or weeks. Remember that it takes 28 days for your skin cells to renew themselves, therefore, expect to see changes in 28 days or more.

A brighter, younger, brighter complexion is just around the corner!

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