Having radiant, glowing skin seems to be at the top of almost every woman's beauty agenda, as it should. Beautiful skin doesn't start with perfect genes or the latest and greatest skin care products though. The key to having healthy, gorgeous skin can be found in a combination of factors that start from the inside out. Here are 7 simple, but critical tips to having beautiful, radiant and glowing skin this summer and all year long:
1. Drink Lots of Water to Keep Your Skin Hydrated Daily
Its easy to become dehydrated in the hot, blistering summer sun. It's important that you get adequate hydration to prevent your skin from becoming dry, tight or even flaky and to flush out toxins from your body. As simple as it seems, most people do not drink a sufficient amount of water on a daily basis. A lot people who become dehydrated don't even know it, but there are signs that your body will give out when it needs hydration.Ideally, you should be consuming water at half of your body weight in ounces. If you are 120 pounds, you should be consuming 60 ounces of water a day. Or, if you weigh 200 pounds then you should be consuming 100 ounces of water each day, and so forth. Drinking adequate amounts of water will help prevent toxins from building up under the skin and causing breakouts.
2. Exfoliate to Prevent Dull Skin
Exfoliating the skin is the key to having healthy, radiant skin. When you exfoliate, you are removing old, dead skin cells that may cause the skin to look dull and lifeless. Exfoliation should only be done once, maybe twice a week depending on your skin type. If your skin becomes irritated easily, once a week should be enough.There are hundreds of products you can buy to exfoliate, but you can also make your own by using ingredients such as salt or sugar, and adding oils such as jojoba, olive and Castor oil, and other essential oils. You should also exfoliate before shaving to reduce ingrown hairs and irritation, and to allow for a closer shave. Read Also: The Benefits of Dry Brushing Your Skin
3. Get a Spa Facial Once a Month
Having a spa facial is not only relaxing, but it also soothes tired and dull skin. You can do your own facial at home, or you can have one done at a spa in your area. I recommend having someone else doing it for you so that you can really lay back and relax. Your specialist will cleanse, hydrate, and massage your skin to encourage blood flow and circulation. He or she will also exfoliate your skin and extract any blackheads if necessary. You can also discuss any problem areas or issues such as discoloration and acne for recommendations on how to keep your skin healthy and glowing.
4. Clean Your Makeup and Beauty Tools to Prevent Breakouts
Its easy to forget to wash your cosmetic tools on a regular basis, but its vital to the health of your skin to remember this important step. Hundreds of forms of bacteria can quickly grow on makeup brushes and facial sponges if not sanitized regularly. Your makeup brushes house old makeup, dead skin cells, dirt, oil and again, bacteria. Dirty makeup brushes can lead to all sorts of skin problems such as acne, irritated skin, infections, cold sores and even Pink Eye.
You don't have to spend your money on one of those fancy makeup cleansers to keep your cosmetic tools clean. You an use an anti-bacterial liquid or bar soap. I recommend using an unscented bar soap or one that is rated for sensitive skin. I've used Dial liquid antibacterial soap for my makeup brushes and it works just as well, if not better than one of those swanky makeups cleansers but without the chemicals. You can also use a few drops of tea tree oil with your soap for extra cleaning power. Tea tree oil has antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-fungal properties to eliminate germs and bacteria from your brushes.
5. Protect Your Skin from Harmful UV Rays
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 40-50% of adults will have skin cancer by the age of 65. At one time, skin cancer wasn't a huge concern in the black community because of the melanin in our skin and its ability to withstand the sun. However, times have changed and our bodies take a daily punch from hundreds of toxins in the environment that make us more susceptible to sicknesses and cancers. There have been numerous cases of black men and women being diagnosed with skin cancer in the last few years. It is vital that you protect your skin by using some type of sunscreen, wearing protective (but cute) hats to shade your skin from the sun.Read Also: How to Protect Your Natural Hair While Swimming
6. Take a Cool Shower to Close Pores
The summer time is the perfect time to stand for a cool shower. Of course, we both know the benefits of rinsing our hair with cool water, but your skin can also benefit from cool water rinsing. Just like your hair, cool water tightens the skin and pores to help the skin appear refreshed and refined. Rinsing off with cooler water also helps your pores from becoming clogged which can lead to breakouts and blackheads. Even if you shower with warm water, try a final rinse with cooler water and notice how softer and more hydrated your skin will become.
Read Also: How to Use Clay to Detox Your Skin
7. Detox to Keep Your Skin Flawless
Again, your skin takes a daily beating from the pollutants in the environment. Unlike many other organs in your body, your skin is exposed to many of the environments toxins and it can certainly benefit from a good detox treatment. Clay masks, or mud masks, are a good way to pull and absorb impurities from the skin so that you look amazing! You can purchase various types of clay masks to use on your face and akin, or you can make your own using bentonite clay or rhassoul clay and adding other beneficial ingredients. You can read more about using bentonite and other types of clay for hair and skin care here.Photo Credits: ThisThatBeauty About.Com OneGoodThing
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