The ManicaPost
Ann Ruthenburg
HELLO there folks, I hope you are all doing well. This week I will be focusing on how to improve your skin complexion.If you had a chance of listening to me on radio, you heard me constantly saying your outside reflects what is happening on the inside. I also said what you put inside will show on the outside. So in essence you cannot cheat your way to good skin. If you abuse it in your 20s, it will punish you in your 30s if not 40s. Therefore, having nice skin takes more than just using the right products. You also have to take care of what you eat and do.
Most importantly to have a healthy complexion, you need to wash your face at least once or twice a day. Having said that though, do not over-wash. Washing your face will help get rid of all the dust, dirt, grit, and oil that get on your skin during the day. Washing your face too often, however, will get rid of all the oil (bad), because it will cause your skin to produce even more oil to compensate, which in turn for oily or combination skin will lead to even more breakouts and acne.
If your skin gets oily during the day, try blotting the oily spots with tissue, do not wipe, just pat the oil off or blot it onto the tissue. Or if you have clean fingers, do it with the top of your thumb or two middle fingers. Avoid using hot water when washing your face. Hot water can be very drying. Use warm water instead. Splash your face with cold water after using warm water, it shocks your skin making the blood flow quicker through your facial vessels, which is great for renewing the cells and plumping the face, reducing the look of wrinkles. Always wash your face and remove your makeup before going to bed. If you leave makeup on, you may clog your pores and end up with a breakout. This might not be so in your teens and twenties for some, but it will catch up later in life. If you have an active outdoor life, use a gentle facial cleanser meant for your skin type. There are different types of cleansers available, and some are meant to help certain problems, such as acne, oiliness, or dryness. When choosing a cleanser, avoid anything that is heavily perfumed or coloured; it can irritate your skin. Try finding a cleanser that is also exfoliating; it will help buff away the dead skin cells, and reveal the bright skin underneath. If you have dry skin, look for something that says “hydrating” or “moisturising.”If you have oily skin, look for something that is oil-free, or is labelled “for oily skin”If you have acne or blackheads, try using something that says “deep cleaning.” These products will flush out the dirt inside your pores. Your hands are not your face is best friends believe it or not. Try not to touch your face too often. This is especially important for those battling acne. The more you touch your face, the more dirt and bacteria you get into your skin. This will lead to more acne and breakouts. Fight the urge to pop any pimples that show up. This could lead to more redness, or worse: scarring. Try using a sulfur-based pimple treatment instead. Toners are not for everyone, because many have a high alkaline base or alcohol base which is drying to the skin. Use a facial toner and moisturiser. Toners help re-balance your skin’s pH and tighten pores. Moisturisers help hydrate your skin. They are best for all oily skin. However, if you have oily skin, try to use a light-weight, oil-free moisturiser.
Vitamin D, my favourite word for hair, but also or skin. Enjoy the sun, but be sure to protect yourself from it as well. Sunlight is not a bad thing, because it gives you Vitamin D, but too much of it can do your skin a lot of harm, just like any good thing. Aim for about 20 to 25 minutes of sunlight a day. Too much sunlight can lead to skin cancer and wrinkles, so when getting your dosage of sun, try and not have it directly on your face burning it. Wear sunscreen with at least 15 SPF. Try to avoid the sun between 10am and 2pm. It is the strongest during the time. If you are going to spend a lot of time out in the sun, cover yourself with long sleeves and hats. Water, is another thing I will not get tired of talking about. Drink six to eight glasses of water a day. This washes away impurities and leaves your skin with a healthy glow. Water will also help hydrate your skin, and make it look more firm and youthful. If your skin looks dull and grayish, you need to drink more water. Green tea is also great for your skin. It is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. It can help your skin look more clearer. Try drinking iced green tea, without any sugar added; hot green tea may increase redness in skin. Sleep, sleep, and sleep people. Be sure to get seven to eight hours of sleep. Sleep is important for both your skin and your overall health. It gives your skin time to heal and replenish itself. Try to sleep on your back, instead of on your side or tummy. This will help prevent wrinkles, puffiness, and under-eye bags. Not everyone though can sleep on their back, so it is not an issue. All I am saying is get enough sleep. What you eat will come out from everywhere, not just into the toilet but through your skin and sweat, everyday. So eat well for healthy skin. Certain foods are not only good for your body, but also for your skin. They contain vitamins and antioxidants that help your skin look healthy, so it does not help you to say you won’t eat certain foods (unless they are detrimental to your health). Healthy fats, found in avocado, fish, nuts, and seeds, also contain vitamin E. Most also contain Vitamin A. They help hydrate your skin, and keep it youthful. Selenium is an antioxidant found in broccoli, eggs, fish, nuts, shellfish, and tomatoes. It protects your skin against cancer, sun damage, and age spots. Vitamin C is an antioxidant. It can brighten your skin and give it a healthy glow. It can also lessen blemishes. You can find it in: blackcurrants, blueberries, broccoli, guava, kiwi, oranges, papaya, strawberries, and sweet potatoes. Zinc helps repair damage and keeps skin feeling soft. You can find it in fish, lean red meat, poultry, nuts, seed, shellfish, and whole grains.
Okay folks, I hope this will help you. Until next week, God Bless!
Anastasia can be found at Kutz & Kurlies Hair Salon in Meikles Store or messaged on 0772 933 845. Or follow her Blog (annruthenburg.blogspot.com), or email on [email protected]
