For those of us who strive to always put our best face forward, it can sometimes feel incredibly difficult to try to figure out that exact combination of ingredients that will give us the plump, radiant, dewy skin we all crave. An ingredient that may work well for your best friend’s super dry and blemish-free skin just simply may not work as well for your combination, more acne-prone complexion.
While it’s also far too tempting to think that we can have perfect skin just by throwing a bunch of serums and creams at it, the truth is, our bodies are far more complex than that. In other words, sometimes that rash of bumps on your cheek or the scaly patch on your forehead may be a sign that something’s not quite right with your health. If you want to look and feel beautiful, then you also need to take care of your overall wellness, too.
Take a Look at Your Diet
In today’s super hectic, hustle and bustle lifestyle, it can definitely be a major challenge to always remember to make good food choices. It’s far too easy to grab some fast food after a long day at work, or rush out the door without eating breakfast. However, while your body can forgive little slip-ups here and there, one of the first signs of a poor diet can actually be the condition of your skin.
Your body needs a wide variety of vitamins and minerals and other nutrients to help repair itself and stay healthy. For instance, if you skimp on the B-vitamins, you may start to notice your skin getting dull and even start to form wrinkles. Low Vitamin D can lead to dry skin, acne breakouts, and even is linked with psoriasis. And of course, Vitamin C is important in collagen production, meaning that skipping it can lead to sagging jowls.
Focus On Getting Enough Rest
Many people tend to sacrifice sleep to trade it out for other things, like staying up late to sneak in an extra hour of Netflix, or pulling an all-nighter for a huge deadline on the horizon. While one night of tossing and turning won’t make you suddenly become haggard overnight, it can start to take its toll on you over time, leading to dark circles under your eyes, a dull complexion, acne, and even an increase in fine lines and wrinkles.
If you’re trying to get enough rest but can’t nod off at night, don’t fret! One of the biggest culprits for insomnia is something that professionals like to call “poor sleep hygiene.” By making your bed a place just for sleeping (and not watching TV!), making your bedroom as dark as possible, slowly unwinding a half-hour before you lay down, and skipping the caffeine at night, you can help improve your chances of getting that much-needed rest.
Drink Plenty of Water, Too
Did you know that most of us are chronically dehydrated, but we don’t even know it? Our bodies are over 55% water, and it uses that H20 to perform a huge variety of functions, like helping you think and focus, get rid of unwanted waste, and even keep your temperature regulated. Dehydration can happen super fast, and once it does, you may start to find yourself feeling tired, grumpy, and headachy.
Not getting enough water can also hurt your skin, too. Dry skin is a huge sign of dehydration, as are itchy patches and irritation. Dehydration can also negatively impact your skin’s laxity, meaning that if you don’t get enough water, you can also start to appear older than you really are. On the other hand, a tall glass of water (and you should aim for at least 64 ounces!) can help quickly restore its supple, soft appearance.
Check With Your Doctor
Sometimes your skin’s appearance can be tied to an underlying health condition, and it might be one of the only signs that something can be wrong with you. Many of us understandably don’t like going to the doctor, but if something’s going on with your skin, then it may be time to pick up the phone and give them a call. A quick appointment can pinpoint a number of things that may be affecting your health and your skin.
For example, your thyroid and your skin health are closely linked, and scaly patches can suggest that it’s gotten out of balance. Skin cancer can just look like a strange mole. And even HPV can cause a scary crop of warts to show up anywhere on your body, possibly even eventually leading to cervical cancer. Fortunately, early detection through a Hologic Women’s Health test from your doctor can dramatically help improve your prognosis.
Feel Great and Look Great
Ultimately, having beautiful skin is more than just having a ten-step beauty routine and buying fancy sheet masks for your face. After all, your skin is the largest organ on your body, and it makes sense that it can change and react to your general health. By taking the time to follow these four steps, and really listening to what your body is telling you, you can help ensure you look as beautiful on the outside as you truly are on the inside!
Images from BEAUTY SCENE EXCLUSIVE: Lilian F by Bruno Baptista – See the full story here
