I am honored to have Katie Pierce write a guest blog post for me. Thank you so much.
Most people think that the key to glowing skin is a skincare routine filled with all the products you can think of. While it is a good idea to follow beauty tips like exfoliating, using sunscreen, etc., caring for your skin from within is just as crucial. Don’t get me wrong, surface-level skincare will go a long way. However, you’ll have to look inward to make your skin the most beautiful it’s ever been.
5 ways to care for your skin from the inside out
You’ll see a significant change when you start caring for your skin from within. Here’s what you can do to achieve a radiant complexion:
1. Sweat it out
You’re not imagining that post-workout glow. A consistent fitness routine can work wonders for your skin, giving you near-instant results. Here’s how: whenever you exercise, your blood vessels open up to allow for increased blood flow. When this occurs, your skin gets a good dose of oxygen, which is crucial to its ability to generate new cells. And as you sweat, your skin clears impurities that can cause skin imperfections like acne.
Try to work out for at least 30 minutes a day, focusing on fitness routines that increase your heart rate. You can stay active with at-home workouts or go for a run around the neighborhood. The important thing is to find something that you enjoy so you can do it consistently.
2. Stay hydrated
Most people think that drinking water treats “thirsty” skin. The truth is that it doesn’t transform your skin from dry to dewy—not directly, anyway. What it does is improve your blood flow, allowing your skin cells to get the nutrients they need. That way, they can continue carrying out their functions such as cellular regrowth, collagen production, and more.
Without sufficient water, your skin cells won’t be able to support themselves. Your complexion will soon start to look dull and dry, and show signs of aging like wrinkles. To promote skin well-being from within, be sure to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. If you find plain water too bland, consider infusing it with citrus fruits to add flavor.
3. Add antioxidants to your diet
Each day, your skin is exposed to free radicals from solar UV, pollution, and other sources. I won’t go in-depth, but essentially, they’re atoms that “steal” electrons from your skin and cause skin concerns such as fine lines and wrinkles.
While you can’t avoid free radicals, you can mitigate the damage they might do. The best way to do this is by adding antioxidants to your diet, such as Vitamins A, C, and E. That way, when free radicals try to steal from your cells, the antioxidants will “sacrifice” their own electrons so your skin doesn’t get damaged.
Fortunately, you can find antioxidants in most of the foods that you already consume, so you won’t have to make a drastic change to your diet. Some examples of antioxidant-rich foods are artichokes, kale, and pecans. Complement this tip with a Vitamin C serum to deliver antioxidants directly to the skin’s surface.
4. Get enough sleep
Beauty rest is a real thing! When you drift off to dreamland, your skin takes that chance to repair itself from a day’s worth of damage (mostly due to pesky UV rays). Since it’s no longer busy protecting your skin from stressors, it can fully focus on cell regeneration, allowing you to wake up with glowing skin.
It’s worth noting that your skin will always repair itself in the evening, even if you’re wide awake. However, cell turnover increases when you’re asleep, so be sure to be in deep sleep between 9 PM and midnight. This is believed to be the peak time for skin repair.
5. Reduce stress
You may have noticed that your skin is more prone to issues when you’re stressed, and it’s no wonder why. When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol—a hormone that signals your glands to make more oil. As you may know, excess oil is often the cause of skin concerns such as acne. Furthermore, stress can make your skin more sensitive. This not only leads to flare-ups but can also exacerbate your current skin conditions.
There’s no way to fully steer clear of stress (I wish), but you can ease it. For instance, you could start the day with yoga and meditation, allowing you to handle stress-inducing situations gracefully. And on weekends, why not take time to do the things you enjoy, such as gardening or going out? Just do what you need to do so stress doesn’t show on your skin.
Go and get that gorgeous glow!
Topical products can only do so much. By complementing your surface-level skincare routine with these tips, you’ll be able to nourish your skin even more. Bookmark these tips to make your skin gorgeous and glowy, and be sure to check out my other beauty articles.
Katie Pierce is a teacher-slash-writer who loves telling stories to an audience, whether it’s bored adults in front of a computer screen or a bunch of hyperactive 4-year-olds. Writing keeps her sane (most of the time) and allows her to enjoy some quiet time in the evening before she walks into a room of screaming kids (all of whom she loves dearly) the next morning.
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