Have you ever looked at a beautiful woman with bright, glowing skin and thought, ‘what are her secrets? Well, the truth is, obtaining a radiant luminescence is easier than it sounds, however, taking diligent care of your skin is par the course if you want to get a youthful radiance that enables you to stand out from the crowd.
Glowing skin is often characterized by a glass-like complexion with a nice sheen and overall healthy appearance that reflects the light. While some skin types naturally cultivate this phenomenon, for others, such as those with dry or sensitive skin types, obtaining radiant skin takes a bit more finessing with skin care, though it is possible for everyone.
What Contributes to Glowing Skin?
Glowing skin has many causes that are contributed environmentally and internally. An increase in healthy eating habits or living in a humid climate are both factors that add hydration to the skin. Other factors that impact the radiance of your skin include:
- Sleeping habits- The more you are able to get at least 8 hours of sleep, the higher the chance you have of enabling the skin to begin the renewal and repair process at night.
- Makeup- There are various makeup products on the market in the form of bronzers, shimmers and highlighters that will give you the glow you covet. However, none of these are natural ways of obtaining radiance, but can help enhance what is already there.
- Exercise- Exercise not only eliminates toxins from your body, but also increases blood circulation, which induces a nice, healthy glow.
- Skin care- The skincare that you use has a direct effect on how your skin thrives. Utilizing the correct skincare products will optimize on your skin’s needs, therefore cultivating a dewy complexion.
- Exfoliation- Accumulated dead skin cells and debris need to be sloughed away often to make way for new skin and better product penetration, which will induce your skin’s vibrancy.
Glowing skin doesn’t come by neglecting your skin, not exfoliating it and not living a healthy lifestyle. Instead, you’ll need to optimize on habits that will clean you from the inside out so that you can look your best. Healthy, radiant skin starts from the inside, but the correct skin care products will turn your beauty up a notch.
Load Up on Antioxidants
Antioxidants are substances that protect your skin cells from harmful damage. They facilitate cell renewal and growth and help your skin to look it’s best. Forms of antioxidants include retinols, resveratrol, polyphenols and flavonoids, which are all naturally occuring substances that can be found in a variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts, green tea and dark chocolate. To get the recommended amount of antioxidants each day, you should have at least 8,000 -11,000 ORAC units(Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) to maximize on your skin’s cell renewal capacity.
Moisturize
No matter your skin type, moisturization is a must if you want to enhance your skin’s suppleness. Not only does moisturizer help to protect your skin from the elements, it also activates the glue that holds your skin cells together, creating a smooth, supple texture.
Moisturizers come in many forms-creams,butters,gels, and more emollient forms. Your skin type will typically determine the type of moisturizer that your skin requires so if you have oily skin, you won’t want a moisturizer that is too occlusive as it may cause breakouts. On the other hand, skin that is too dry, would not benefit from a lightweight moisturizer that doesn’t adequately lock in moisture. Find the right moisturizer for you to help keep your skin soft and hydrated.
Exfoliate
If you’ve ever experienced dull skin that is lacking in radiance, it is probably because you aren’t exfoliating enough. Exfoliation is the process of removing the outermost layer of the skin the eliminate dead skin cells. New skin that emerges is often soft, supple and smooth. Not only does exfoliation help to remove dead skin cells and debris, but this action also encourages better penetration of products such as cleansers and moisturizers. Without exfoliating your skin, products would not glide on as smoothly and they would be rendered virtually ineffective, just sitting on the top of your skin.
There are different kinds of exfoliants that each serve a purpose depending on your skin’s needs. While some are invasive and require a doctor’s visit, others are very light and gentle. The exfoliator that you use should also correlate with your skin type for best results.
Cleanse from the Inside and Out
Healthy skin begins with a happy gut and good hygiene. While you won’t want to go overboard on cleansing, especially with those containing soaps and detergents. Washing your skin at least once or twice a day will keep it looking fresh. Most importantly, to get the most out of your skin care, it’s important to make sure that you are getting a healthy dose of essential fatty acids in the form of omega-3’s, which can be found in fish and nuts.
Obtaining healthy, glowing skin can be fun if you do it right. With these helpful tips, you’ll be on your way to your truly radiant self in no time.