The secret behind glowing skin is routine care and a healthy lifestyle. With a proper skincare regime and healthy habits, most of us can achieve that smooth, supple skin that looks amazing with or without makeup. And it all starts with knowing your skin.
Our skin consists of different components and layers. The surface skin is called the epidermis, and it’s the thinnest of all. This layer works like armour, protecting us from the harsh environment. Forming a waterproof barrier, it helps guard against dust, irritants, and chemicals and maintain essential moisture. Studies also suggest our surface layer of skin plays a vital role in our immune system.
So, how do we help our skin look and feel its best? Here are a few expert tips for glowing skin.
Cleanse and moisturise for radiant skin
To achieve a smooth, radiant glow, it’s important to cleanse and hydrate your skin regularly. This is because the outer layer of our skin is responsible for protecting us from the environment, so it will encounter a number of pollutants every day.
Ideally, you should cleanse your face twice daily – once in the morning and again before bed. This is especially important if you wear make-up. Use a moisturising cleanser that will gently cleanse without drying your skin, and choose one that is suitable for your skin type. After cleansing, apply a small amount of soothing moisturiser. This will help rehydrate your skin and avoid it looking dull.
Tip: Keep your skincare and cleansing regime as simple as possible. The simpler it is, the more likely you're going to stick with it.
Apply sunscreen for skin protection
After cleansing, make sure you give your skin the protection it needs. One of the easiest and best tricks for glowing skin is wearing sunscreen protection – one with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 30 or higher.
Some think sunscreen is just for summertime or holidays – but it has lots of benefits even on cloudy days. A sunscreen with an SPF of 30 shields our skin from 97 per cent of harmful UVB rays.
If you have sensitive skin, try a mineral-based formula with broad spectrum SPF 50. This protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
Good-quality sunscreen offers plenty of benefits:
- Slows down signs of premature ageing, helping you look younger for longer
- Reduces sunspots
- Protects your skin from sunburn
- Can lower the risk of skin cancer
- Helps you enjoy a healthy glow to your skin.
Exfoliate your skin gently
The beauty benefits of exfoliation are well-known. It removes dead cells from the top layer of the skin and leaves it looking fresh and smooth. However, if we don’t exfoliate gently and carefully, we can end up with red and sore skin.
There are two types of exfoliation: manual and chemical.
Manual exfoliation
This is when we physically scrub the skin with a gritty substance and buff away the dead cells. You can use skin products like scrubs and grains to exfoliate the skin manually.
Chemical exfoliation
Chemical exfoliation uses chemicals such as Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs). These are water-soluble acids like citric acid. However, these could leave your skin more sensitive to the sun.
Stay hydrated for natural glowing skin
Staying hydrated is crucial to natural glowing skin. Even the best moisturiser can only do so much if we overlook the importance of getting enough fluids into our body.
Water is the all-important ingredient for prolonging the healthy glow of the skin. It hydrates and plumps up the skin cells, flushes out toxins, and makes the skin glow and look younger. Water also maintains your skin’s elasticity, helping to reduce wrinkles.
Doctors, dermatologists, and beauty experts all agree that we should drink plenty of water every day. Around eight glasses a day is a good target to aim for.
Treat yourself
Our skin can often be a reflection of how well we’re looking after ourselves. We all know about the ‘happy glow’ that follows positive emotions. To get that natural glow, it helps to let go of the daily stressors and give ourselves permission to unwind and relax.
There are a number of things that can help us get into that relaxed and rested mindset.
Get plenty of beauty sleep
Self-care is more than just scented candles and bubble baths. It starts with good rest. Make sure to turn off all distractions and go to bed early.
A good night’s sleep can bring big benefits for our skin. During sleep, our skin makes new collagen. This leads to plumper skin and a healthy glow. When we skimp on sleep, our skin can look dull and lifeless.
Enjoy a massage
A facial massage is not just a great way to relax but also an effective way to get a healthy glow. It will help stimulate blood flow, which evidence suggests can improve the overall appearance of your skin. Applying a restorative serum can also calm and soothe our skin, helping to create that natural glow.
Exercise for glowing skin
It's hardly news that exercise is good for everything from cardiac fitness to happiness, but the benefits go much deeper. A regular workout can actually promote healthy skin by boosting blood circulation.
It’s best to work out in a cool environment if possible and if you do decide to go for a run or walk outdoors, be sure to wear sunscreen.