Internal

Internal  -  Nutrition / Hydration / Body Cycles / Hormones 

  Nutrition

FOOD:

Ahh . . . the deep jewel-tones of fruits and veggies—they are the colors that promise beautiful, healthy, glowing skin. “You are what you eat” is true; and this means you need to feed your skin as much as the rest of your body.
Just as a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, the best skin care regimen can only do so much, like cosmetics. For the most flawless-looking skin, you have to start at the inside. You slow down aging—way down—when you feed your body more of what builds stronger, more vibrant new cells.

Glow from the inside out with more natural foods like fruits, grains, raw nuts, healthy proteins, and vegetables. Remember those jewel-tones: the richer the color, the better your skin quality will be.
You get the most boost-for-your-bucks if you eat foods in their natural state (uncooked) or cooked as little as possible. Those natural enzymes are like money in your skin and overall health bank account. Choose foods low in saturated fats and sugars. Saturated fats are known to cause premature aging and wrinkles. Please do not eliminate healthy fats from your foods; if you do, your skin will tend towards a prune instead of a gorgeous plum. High sugar consumption, especially of processed sugars, increase breakouts (and bad moods because of them) and negatively changes the structure of collagen—and that means one thing for certain: premature aging.

Do remember to enjoy a bite or two of seriously dark chocolate, even every day. A bite, not a bar! Healthy foods and chocolate—you’ll feel good and look better.

SUPPLEMENTS:

If you’re tired and depleted, your skin is going to show it. You can make a difference with healthy foods; but unless you eat only the organic foods you grow and raise, and eat this way at every meal, it’s likely you aren’t getting all the vitamins and minerals you need to keep going and glowing.

Another thing vitamins and minerals do is flush toxins out, making acne and other skin problems diminish. A good deal of premature aging is because of toxins in the body. Flush ‘em!
One vitamin that reduces the appearance of acne and prevents skin cancer is Vitamin A. You do want to take the recommended daily dosage only; but if you apply some of that Vitamin-A gel onto blemishes, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the results. Vitamin C reduces wrinkles (and keeps gums healthy), while omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids protect your skin from drying out and thinning—two effects of the aging process.
Life can get demanding. This makes it easy to forget to eat balanced meals. Adding supplements to your daily routine can help replenish your skin with certain nutrients it may lack because of this. Make sure the label says the product provides 100% of your RDA (daily required allowance). Go for the glow!

  Hydration

Wrinkles and fine lines start showing as we get older because skin becomes drier. Some people, even at a too-early age, show signs of premature aging. Why is that?!
You’d be surprised how often dry skin-related problems result from not enough hydration. And this doesn’t just show up as lines on your skin, but also as under-eye circles, puffiness and sagging cheeks and necks.
Proper skin hydration can help counteract or slow down most aging effects, leaving your complexion looking naturally moisturized (nicer than saying, “keeps skin cells properly plumped,” but it’s the truth). Hydrated skin is smooth skin. Drink at least 8 glasses of water each day. This will also rid the body of harmful toxins that can cause skin to crack, flake, and look worn out over time.

Staying hydrated also helps your skin absorb the nutrients it needs. Besides water, other natural ingredients that aid in skin hydration are Allantoin, Avocado oil, Cetiol CC, Cegasoft PFO, Cetipol PLG, Hyaluronic acid, and Macadamia oil; so be sure your skin care products include some or all of these.
When you go out for long periods during the day, keep your skin hydrated from the inside out. Be proactive and keep a liter of water with you while you’re away. Drink water at work.

  Body Cycles

Your skin changes in unison with your body cycles. For women, for example, and during menstrual cycle, or when estrogen levels are at their lowest, skin is driest.
Even more “fun” is that during the premenstrual phase, or before ovulation, skin becomes oily. A woman might get blemishes, but what she may not realize is that this is also the time when her skin becomes weaker and more vulnerable to UV damage—all caused by excessive oil. During this time, and when progesterone levels are at their highest, it’s best to avoid too many hours in the sun, especially between 10a.m. and 4p.m.
Men also experience hormonal changes, especially at puberty, when Androgen hormone levels are highest. As these hormone levels rise, so does their skin’s oil production. Acne problems kick into gear.
To ensure skin is its best any day of the month, cleanse skin twice a day to remove excess oil. Use the right product for your skin type so you don’t strip away the protective layer, which creates more oil. Some people use such harsh products on their skin it causes them to think they have oily skin when it’s actually dry skin—dry skin gets blemishes, too. Moisturize to support elasticity, hydrate during drier days, and protect your skin with a sunscreen that has an SPF of 15 or higher, at all times.

  Hormones

DAILY CYCLES:

Your hormone levels shift during the morning so your energy amps up for your day and ramps down for your night’s rest. Your skin needs you to do something similar to support it.

In the morning, along with your usual skin care regimen, it’s important to protect your skin from daytime exposure to UV rays. A high-quality moisturizer is also a must. If you use foundation, make sure it has a sunscreen added as well.
Never go to bed without cleaning your skin. Even if you were inside most of the day, dirt and harmful pollutants floating in the air have become undesirable companions. These can clog pores and cause premature aging overtime. Besides, this stuff gets onto your pillowcase. You work hard each day; so does your skin. Treat it to what it needs: proper cleansing and replenishment with a moisturizer that’s specifically for nighttime repair.

Let’s face it. It’s easy to come home from a hard day’s work (or play) and go straight to bed, or wake up and run out the house without giving proper care to your skin. A few minutes can make a positive, long-term difference in how you look. Take care of your skin and it will take care of you.