A great skincare regime isn’t a guaranteed ticket to perfect skin – believe us, we’ve tried. Don’t get us wrong, it plays a major and very important part, but there are SO many other lifestyle choices that you need to consider in the quest for happy, healthy skin. We hate to admit it, but a 7-step toning ritual will not rectify eating greasy food all the time and getting zero sleep. So, the next time your skin’s acting out and before you add to the products on your shelf or say your skin care routine just isn’t doing what it should be doing, reassess your lifestyle choices and take up these six skin-saving habits instead.
1. Sleep with your skin in mind
The reality is, few skincare products possess the same transformative powers of a good night’s sleep. When you’re in a deep sleep, your skin replenishes as its metabolism improves, which enables your skin cells to reproduce and repair more efficiently. Therefore, you need to sleep for at least eight hours a night to allow your skin time to heal and rejuvenate – ideally on a silk pillowcase to reduce pulling and tugging, which can lead to fine lines and wrinkles. You should also sleep on your back to avoid puffiness, and don’t forget to change your sheets weekly. Otherwise, they’ll harbour dead skin debris and bacteria, which you’ll then transfer onto your skin – gross!
2. Reassess your diet
If your diet is awful, your skin will suffer; you need to be supplying your body with beauty-boosting vitamins and minerals and steering clear of acne-inducing foods. Load up on fruit and vegetables that are full of antioxidants, these antioxidant-rich foods will help fight against free radical damage that breaks down collagen, causing premature wrinkles. You should also avoid foods that are high in saturated fats, refined sugar, and even dairy, as these are all proven to increase inflammation and oil production and can trigger a breakout. Say goodbye to those foods that are liver loaders and hello to real food! Think about your good fats, your green leafy vegetables and all the delicious foods that are high in vitamins and minerals, your body and your skin will thank-you for this!!
3. Check your makeup game
As much as we love makeup, we won’t lie; it can wreak havoc on your skin. Therefore, it’s super important to know how to remove it properly each night, to let your skin breathe and repair. The easiest way to do this is to double cleanse, you could do this with one of our Precleansing oils followed by your cleanser or the superb Magic Mitt by Jane Iredale (or all 3 if you are like me) It’s also essential to clean your makeup brushes regularly, so they can’t be the perfect breeding ground for bacteria that could trigger breakouts. Also think about what is in your makeup? You spend good money on eating clean and healthy, on facial products that are free of damaging chemicals, do you put the same thought into your makeup? Mineral and Organic like our Jane Iredale range will offer you good coverage, great choices and no skin damaging nasties (also a fab way of touching up on the sunscreen before you dash out at lunch time!)
4. Think about your gut
A healthy gut is the key to happy skin; it helps remove acne-inducing toxins while supplying your body with glow-enhancing vitamins. The easiest way to kickstart your gut is by eating foods rich in sulforaphane, like broccoli, kale, cauliflower, and cabbage, as these will enhance antioxidant levels and help detox your body.
5. De-stress and meditate
Stress can have a detrimental effect on your skin; it can cause breakouts, premature aging, and leave your skin looking. Plus, when you’re stressed your brain releases a hormone called cortisol, which blocks the supply of oxygen, starving your skin of nutrients. Meditation is a great way to de-stress and helps deliver oxygen more efficiently to your skin, and it can even up your glow game
6. Get moving
By exercising regularly, you’ll not only look and feel healthier, but your skin will benefit too! Exercise increases blood flow, which will help boost skin cell renewal and allow your body to cleanse itself of any skin-aggravating toxins more efficiently. It’s also a natural mood booster and stress buster as it releases endorphins (happy hormones) in the brain.