Feeding Your Skin
I don’t know about you, but my pimples always had a way of knowing when to show up, and to my dismay it was mostly on important days like school photos, interviews, or first dates. Sometimes they can be successfully buried under concealer, but unfortunately there will be times when this won’t work. Pair that with a bad hair day and you’re ready to call in sick!
Puberty causes all sorts of hormones to start the changes that turn us from children into adults. This is where bad skin starts for most of us (unless you’ve experienced eczema, but that is another topic altogether). Other things that can cause bad skin include genetics, and anything that clogs your pores like excessive sweating (due to exercise) and makeup.
Makeup is a bit of a catch-22 situation. You put it on in order to conceal pimples only to have that makeup clog your pores and therefore lead to more pimples later on.
To sum it up, improving poor skin complexion from the inside out is the best way to achieve permanent improvement. Otherwise, you are probably spending money on expensive products that only have a very small overall effect!
So, can what you eat really help with bad skin? The answer is yes! Food plays a big role in the quality of your skin and what you put into your body affects how well it is able to maintain wellness. On the other hand, food can also make your complexion worse. If you consume greasy and sugary foods on a regular basis, these can contribute to dark circles forming around the eyes (as can lack of sleep), lack of color in your cheeks, dry or oily skin and, in the long term, increase the formation of wrinkles (you heard me – more sugar means more wrinkles!).
So here are some tips to help you improve the appearance and health of your skin:
Food: If you really want clear skin then cutting out sugar and greasy food is a definite must. Eat less chips, chocolate, candy, and soda. Eat foods high in antioxidants (vitamins A, C and E) such as grapes, bell peppers, berries, oranges, and kiwi fruit. Antioxidants rid your body of free radicals, which work to break down cell walls, affecting the elasticity and character of your skin. Nuts and seeds are also beneficial for skin health as they contain good oils that help make your skin more supple and smooth.
Water: Drinking water helps to remove toxins and other waste from the body. Flush your body with water (eight cups a day is ideal) to prevent these things from accumulating and leading to blocked pores.
Some other very important things to do if you want better skin include the following:
- Wear less makeup (or none when you can help it) or invest in mineral makeup which is less oily
- Taking care of hygiene and wash your face regularly
- Get enough sleep each night (About 8 hours is recommended)
- Avoid picking…
- If you use cleaning products on your face make sure they are not too strong or soapy. Harsh products will strip your skin entirely of natural oils. Your body reacts to this quickly trying to replenish those oils and may over-produce which can cause a vicious cycle of oily skin.
- Avoid oily moisturizers on the face
- If you wear products in your hair, be sure to wash them out before going to sleep (otherwise they may rub off onto your pillow and subsequently your face).
Remembering to do all of these relatively easy things may not erase every pimple or blemish from your face, but it will give your skin the best chance it can get. Improved quality and freshness is something only healthy living can do and once you make a habit of it, it won’t be so hard. (Otherwise you’ve got a long wait for a puberty time-machine to be invented so you can skip the whole thing). Give it a try though and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed with the results. Good luck!
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