The one outfit we can never take off is our skin. It’s also the number one thing that can belie, admit, or condemn our age. Is it any wonder there are billions upon billions of articles about skin, skin care, and countless books dealing with the secrets of younger looking skin?
The simple truth is, however, the so-called secrets are just good old-fashioned common sense. They’re actually the sort of things we should be doing anyway for our physical health, mental health, and emotional well-being. That’s the beautiful thing about so many health and beauty secrets… when you follow the secret course for one area, you reap benefits in the other areas. Living a healthy lifestyle really is the secret to having it all.
What follows are the essential things you must do to have younger, healthier-looking, and radiant skin. Good skin care isn’t just about throwing on sunblock and slathering on lotion. There’s a lot more to it than that!
Eat Right. Foods for Younger Looking and Healthier Skin
- Avoid fast food and fried foods.
- Avoid soft drinks – diet and regular.
- Avoid processed meat.
- Drink more water. Drink lots more water!
- Eat more oranges and other sources of Vitamin C. If wrinkles are the Joker, the Riddler, and Cat Woman, Vitamin C is Batman. Vitamin C is known to be a wrinkle fighter, so make certain it’s something you include in your daily routine. Oranges, Orange Juice, lemons, limes, cucumbers, and grapefruit are all excellent choices. Trade in soft drinks for juice and you’ll be doing your skin a huge favor. Or throw cucumber slices (or fruit) into your water, then eat them after the water’s gone. From Real Age: (Vitamin C) helps keep collagen — the supportive protein fibers that stop skin from sagging — strong and resilient. (Flimsy collagen means lines and wrinkles.) Since collagen breakdown really picks up in your mid-30s, eat citrus early and often to head off aging.
- Drink lots of green tea. All tea is great for your skin and health – antioxidants are plentiful in tea and we all know how important they are for our health (head to toe). There is a particularly potent antioxidant known as EGCG that’s found in all tea, but green tea has the most. EGCG does all kinds of beautiful things for your skin, so lift your cup (or glass) of green tea and offer a toast to younger looking skin!
- Cucumber is mentioned above, but it’s worth a second mention. It’s that great for your skin! Cucumbers have vitamin C and caffeic acid. These two antioxidants, when applied to the skin, help fight off wrinkles, sun damage, and more. Vitamin C boosts collagen and elastin, which keeps skin looking young, and caffeic acid protects cells from UV radiation. Add cucumbers to salads, smoothies, appetizer trays, and glasses of water. In the south, we’re very fond of combining cucumbers and onions and creating a go-to summer salad everyone flips for. Take 1 sliced cucumber1/2 c. sliced onion, 1/2 cup salad oil, 1 tbsp. sugar, and 1/2 c. vinegar. Combine the ingredients and allow them to sit in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Another great way to serve cucumbers? “Finger sandwiches!” Cut the crust off of a couple of slices of bread. Spread cream cheese on one slice of bread, add a layer of sliced tomatoes and (optional) sprinkle on a little fresh dill. Top with another slice of crust-less bread. Serve as is or cut into fourths.
- When it comes to younger-looking and healthier skin, Vitamin A is one of the most important vitamins to aim for. Eat more spinach, turnip greens, and broccoli… think dark green and leafy. Without enough Vitamin A, skin becomes rough and dry.
- Cold water fish are great for skin care thanks to age-fighting omega-3 fatty acids and the restorative powers of protein. Eat fish such as salmon, trout, tuna, sardines, Atlantic mackerel, and Pacific herring a couple of times a week.
- Tomatoes are also great for your skin – as well as heart health.
Exercise for Healthier and Younger-Looking Skin
Exercise isn’t just great for your over-all health, it’s essential for healthy-looking and glowing skin. Aim for 30 minutes of activity most days of the week to keep your skin resilient and beautiful.
If the weather’s nice, take a walk outdoors. Fresh air, combined with exercise, gives you a natural, beautiful glow that cosmetic companies can only dream of. When your blood rushes throughout your body, you’ll take on a radiance that lasts for hours.
One of the best investments I’ve ever made was a treadmill. A treadmill allows you to get a great workout, even in the middle of winter! Not only do you blast calories, you give yourself a healthy glow that’s as youthful as it is beautiful.
Don’t Worry, Be Happy
Happiness isn’t just healthy, it’s a beautifier. Finding ways to be happy (even happier than you are) will give you a lift from the inside-out. You’ll smile more and stress less – both of which are excellent for your emotional health and physical health. When you’re healthy and happy, it shows on your face.
If there are particular things you’re stressing about, find ways to deal with them. Handle situations rather than stress over them. Stress shows on your face, whether you realize it or not.
Get Plenty of Rest for Younger Looking Skin
Why do you think Sleeping Beauty was so beautiful?! She’s an extreme case, but the phrase “beauty rest” is more than just a catchy phrase or old wives tale. Beauty rest is one of the most important things you can do for your appearance. If you want to look younger, healthier, and more attractive, one of the first things you should ask yourself is, “How much sleep do I get each night?” For optimum health (body, mind, and skin), aim for 8 hours each night.
If you have trouble getting a full 8 hours, aim for a nap several afternoons a week. Our bodies begin to kind of wind down 8 hours after we get out of bed. For most of us, that’s around 2 or 3 o’clock. Whenever you’re able to steal a nap around this time, kick your shoes off, cover up, and go for it! To keep from sleeping too long, and thereby disrupting your nighttime sleep, set an alarm for 30 minutes. Your cat nap will feel so refreshing, you’ll find yourself scheduling them more often.
Stop Smoking for Younger Looking Skin
Smoking is terrible for your skin! Not only is it harmful to your lungs and heart, it wreaks havoc on your face. If you need help kicking the habit, please get it as soon as possible.
A Word About Sun Worshiping
First of all, tanning beds aren’t off the hook. It doesn’t matter if you bake your skin under the sun or in a pressure cooker…. you’re irreversibly damaging your skin. I’m not saying a little sunshine is a bad idea. Far from it! Sun-kissed skin is beautiful, plus we need the Vitamin D that comes from sunlight. However, baking your skin to the point of leather is ridiculous – and, to be perfectly honest – not very attractive.
Why so many people in our society think that skin looks more attractive orange or burnt sienna is beyond me. Natural beauty is the most beautiful – and that means natural skin and natural coloring. It’s a trend that I personally hope ends really soon.
So, you see, a lot of the secrets that surround younger-looking and healthier skin are just good, plain common sense. Eat healthy, get enough sleep, don’t stress, be happy, and pamper your skin. Happiness and health both show on the outside as well as the inside – so if you want to look your best, aim for happiness and good health first and foremost. Everything else will follow!
lovely says
You were right in order to achieve a younger looking its better to be good inside and outside. Thanks for sharing your ideas. It really give a great impact.