Want better skin? Cleansers, serums, and creams can help, but your lifestyle also plays a huge role. What you put on top of your skin matters, but so does what happens inside your body. Making lifestyle changes can help not only your overall health, but also the look and feel of your skin.
Here are six changes to make to your everyday life to help your skin improve:
1. Get More Sleep
One of the best things you can do for your overall health, not just for your skin, is to make sure you are getting a full night’s sleep every night. Besides making you grumpy, poor sleep can lead to inflamed and irritated skin. It also breaks down the collagen, which is what makes your skin bright and elastic, and stops your body from rehydrating, which contributes to puffy undereyes, wrinkles, and dry skin.
2. Relax
When your mind is clear, your skin will also be clear. You’ve probably experienced a breakout that comes during a stressful time. That’s because stress sends chemicals through the body that can make skin look dull, uneven, or splotchy. In some people, stress can lead to dry skin, rashes, tired eyes, and bags under the eyes. Stress is impossible to avoid, but taking time to relax every day can make a huge difference in your skin. Learn some basic stress management tips that work for your lifestyle and practice them regularly to keep yourself relaxed and your skin looking brighter.
3. Drink Water
You’ve definitely heard this one before, but drinking more water contributes to every aspect of your health, especially the skin. Water is what keeps your skin nourished and rejuvenated throughout the day. Even just a small increase in water consumption can help skin be more moisturized and elastic, which fights wrinkles and helps skin look younger and more vibrant. Water removes toxins from the body and cleanses the skin with every glass you drink. It also helps the skin exfoliate itself naturally, which gets rid of old, dry skin cells and reveals fresh, clear skin underneath. Drinking more water helps skin not get irritated and can fight skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. If your skin is dry, the easiest way to fight it is to simply drink more water.
4. Eat a Balanced Diet
It’s time to remember that old food pyramid. Clean, healthy foods give your skin vitamins, while less healthy foods don’t provide nourishment and can lead to dull and droopy skin. For good skin, eat a variety of fruits and vegetables every day, especially those that contain antioxidants. Some of the best foods are carrots, kale, sweet potatoes, spinach, and papaya that have vitamins to encourage skin development and an even skin tone. Whole grains are also important in a balanced diet. Focus on foods that are rich in vitamin C and E, protein, and omega 3 fatty acids.
5. Exercise
Getting in a good workout does more than just help your body stay fit—it also removes toxins from the skin and keeps it looking bright and fresh. It doesn’t matter what kind of exercise you do, just get moving on a regular basis. The sweat that comes from a good workout removes impurities from your body and helps the skin look and feel better from the inside out. Movement also stimulates the immune and lymphatic systems, which are what keep you healthy and not inflamed. When your lymph nodes get blocked, it can lead to a skin inflammation. The easiest way to open those lymph nodes is through exercise.
6. Wear Sunscreen
Turns out your mom was right—wearing sunscreen has a huge impact on your skin. Even on cloudy days, your skin is still exposed to powerful UV rays, which can cause serious damage to the skin. It might not always show up as a sunburn, either—UV damage can make skin dry and lead to wrinkles, small bumps, or areas of thick skin. Adding a thin layer of SPF 30 or greater sunscreen every day can make a world of difference in building bright, youthful skin.
Living a healthy life helps you feel good and look good. Making these lifestyle changes can help build bright and youthful skin, naturally!