Healthy Looking Skin!
January 4, 2012
Winter is here! Which can mean bad news for your skin!
Here’s some advice to keep you skin looking happy and healthy all throughout the year!
- Moisturize– No matter what your skin type, it is very important to moisturize every morning and every night. Make sure your skin is cleansed before applying any moisturizer. Even if you have greasy/ acne prone skin it is still very important. Some acne is actually caused by a build up of dry skin cells!
- Use natural skin care products– There is a lot of skin care products in the market and some can be very expensive. Just because a product is expensive doesn’t mean that it is good for your skin. Try and find 100% natural skin care products that have no additives or preservatives. Avoid ingredients such as parabens, dioxene, alcohol, fragrance, and mineral oil. If you are trying to stop the signs of aging, search for a product that will naturally boost your own collagen levels. Be especially aware of the foundation you are using because it can have a negative effect on your skin.
- Avoid foods that are too salty– It’s almost impossible to completely cut salt out of your diet (especially since it’s so delicious!), but try and be more aware of how much you are putting in your body. Do not ingest more then 2000mg of salt per day and when you can, try and use sea salt as an alternative.
- Eat lots of fruits and veggies– Fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins and antioxidants. Try and eat an abundance of dark and rich fruits and veggies such as blackberries, blueberries, and spinach to keep your skin happy and healthy. Some other great foods include: tomatoes, walnuts, lean red meats, and low fat yogurt. When cooking, try and use olive oil instead of butter or canola oil.
- Drink lots of water- Your skin is your body’s largest organ and it is also the last to receive water. Drink 8 glasses a day to ensure your skin stays hydrated!
- Avoid sugary drinks, and cut down on caffeine. Sugar and caffeine can dehydrate your skin and can also cause inflammation. Green tea is a great alternative. Green tea is an anti-inflammatory and is also a great anti-oxidant. It can help with wrinkles, blemishes and other impurities.
- Vitamins- You can’t beat a healthy diet, but when you are struggling to keep up try adding fish oils, acidophilus, vitamin D, vitamin A, and a good multi vitamin to your diet!
- Sunscreen- When you are in the sun it is very important to protect your skin. Even in the winter time sunscreen is very important (especially when skiing!) The fluffy white snow acts like a mirror when the sun rays hit it, causing harm to your skin. Excessive sun exposure can cause premature wrinkles and sun spots and can even cause cancer. Make sure to pick a sunscreen that protects you from both UVA and UVB rays. Once again, try and keep your sunscreen as natural as possible!
- Avoid stress– With all the holidays finally over try and take some time for yourself! Even though it can be hard it is extremely important. Read a book, have a hot bath, or do anything that makes you happy. You have to remember how important your own health and wellbeing is.
I hope everyone had a happy and healthy holiday season! Mark is currently on vacation, but he should be back later this month with a new pharmacist’s blog.
Take care!
-Alexandra
