To many of us, having perfect skin seems like that unattainable dream. There is so much contrasting advice out there – one minute you can be taking on board plenty of water but the next, it turns out you’ve been using the wrong type of water. Even celebrities, those bastions of beauty with thousands and thousands of dollars at their disposal, can struggle with achieving perfect skin.
There are several simple steps that you can take though to help improve your skin, ranging from changing the hot drinks you consume to getting a good night’s sleep. Here are five ways to improve your skin.
Drink green tea
Bad news – coffee is bad for your skin. The good news is that there is a readymade alternative that can provide a warm pick-me-up, and that is green tea. The anti-inflammatory properties of green tea can be soothing while research also suggests that the epigallocatechin gallate found in it may help prevent the collagen destruction which leads to wrinkles as well as sun-induced damage to the skin such as thick lines and discoloration.
Keep stress under control
Stress increases the body’s productions of hormones such as cortisol, which makes the skin oilier and reduces our ability to fight off acne-causing bacteria. That’s why students who are stressed around exam times tend to suffer more with acne than others. By keeping stress under control, we are improving our chances of having healthy looking skin. You can do so by employing stress-management techniques such as yoga, deep breathing and meditation.
Live with good air quality
The quality of the air around us can help hugely when it comes to skin condition. While it is unrealistic to pack up and go and live in the Rockies in order to allow your skin to improve, you can take small steps to improve air quality no matter where you live. Avoid smoky environments as smoke can lead to the release of free radicals which speed up the aging process and damage the skin. You can avoid indoor air pollutants by changing the air filter in your furnace regularly, using the fan if you cook with oil and dehumidifying your bedroom on a regular basis.
Get a good night’s sleep
Sleep is important for healthy skin in so many ways, not least because it is the time when your body’s hydration is rebalanced. That means that while we sleep, the skin recovers moisture while excess water is processed for removal. Not getting enough sleep means that this process can’t take place effectively, which leads to poor water balance, bags under the eyes and an accelerated aging process. If you don’t think you get enough sleep, then changing what your sleep on could help. Bedowl.Com can help you with inspiration when it comes to mattresses, pillows and other bed accessories.
Watch your dairy intake
Research from the Harvard School of Public Health has found that teenage girls who consume an above-average amount of milk are almost 30 percent more likely to suffer with acne than those who don’t. Nobody actually knows why this is, but some believe that the natural hormones in dairy could be to blame. If you consume what would be considered an excessive amount of dairy then cut back, but make sure you never drop below the recommended levels.