Guest Post: Rachel Xavier
Sadly, there’s no quick fix to get blemish-free skin. But nothing will zap away your wrinkles like a good diet and healthy lifestyle.
Perhaps you’re not hitting your skin goals and needs some reasons as to why it’s all going wrong? If you’re in some desperate need of tips to help you achieve that skin you deserve you’re in the right place! This list will help all skin criminals kick some nasty habits and never commit these sinful skin crimes again!
A dire iron deficiency
Pale, dull skin with dark circles around the eyes are warning signs that you’re perhaps iron deficient (anaemic). This causes a reduced oxygen flow which can leave skin looking pale and somewhat gloomy.
Find yourself slathering on the concealer every morning? Perhaps it’s due to the lack of iron in your diet as it will make under your eyes dark and puffy piling years on you. This happens due to poor oxygenation of bodily tissues and this shows up in the more visible bluish veins under the eyes.
Anaemia is commonly associated with vegetarians and vegans as red meat, poultry and seafood are fabulous sources of iron. However, it can be found in many other foods such as beans, dark leafy greens, dried raisins, and dried apricots.
Boosting your vitamin C intake will also help the body to absorb iron and stimulate collagen production- essential for young and glowing skin.
A devilish sweet tooth
Everywhere we go nowadays there are stores overflowing with tasty delights from heavenly cheesecakes to our favourite Chinese takeaway- yes even your savoury meals are chock-a-block with extra sugar.
When sugar enters the bloodstream, it attaches to proteins creating molecules called advanced glycation end products. Over time, these pesky end products ruin proteins including elastin and collagen- the two skin pillars of youth. If those structures are damaged say hello to more fine lines and wrinkles.
Never fear! This problem can easily be eradicated by swapping sweets with fruits, making your own sauces and cutting out nasty sodas which can contain 39 grams of sugar in one can!
A tan away from old leathery skin
We live in a culture obsessed with that perfect cinnamon tan which gives us a faux healthy glow. But is it doing more harm than good? Although some vitamin D from natural sunlight is excellent for us, laying in the sun for hours on end unprotected is damn right detrimental to the skin.
The dream of a beautifully bronzed face and body can be achieved by slathering on sun cream. It merely protects the skin from the harmful rays of UV and hydrates it- you’ll still develop a lovely suntan.
Ageing from the sun is referred to as photo-ageing and is one of the primary causes of premature ageing- women as young as 20 are seeing the wear and tear sun causes. Wrinkles appear early, age spots pop up and skin feels desert dry. So remember to apply that sun cream and moisturise, moisturise, moisturise!
Another alternate way to tan is to fake it till you make it. There are hundreds of wash-off tan products that work perfectly well and they don’t come with any wrinkles!
One cheeseburger a day and the wrinkles will stay
We are what we eat. If your food is deep-fried, your skin will look deep-fried! The modern Western diet is taking its toll on our skin but with a bit of motivation, we can get our butts back into gear. Eating too much of the wrong stuff and too little of the good stuff will mean premature signs of ageing.
Empty calories in burgers, pizza and doughnuts will just harm our skin and bodies as they really lack in essential vitamins and minerals. Replace those takeaways with nutrient-dense and antioxidant-rich foods and you’ll achieve a youthful appearance- no problem!
So opt for fish, chicken, wholemeal carbs and plenty of fruits and veggies. Your skin will forgive you and start to work its magic revealing gorgeous, healthy skin. But of course, treating yourself is always allowed!
Chemical cosmetics
We are all guilty of looking for a speedy solution to get rid of our woeful wrinkles. There are so many products out there claiming to answer quite literally all of our prayers but how do we know if they really work?
Reading about ingredients, going through customer reviews, binge-watching testimonials and making use of free trails/coupons are a fab way to find out if a skincare product is really worth your hard-earned buck. Check out this Ebook for more info on steps you can take to guarantee radiant skin and get to know the best ingredients!
Some cosmetics contain seriously harsh chemicals, they belong in a chemical lab, not on your face! However, there are many products out there which work wonders so do your homework and you’ll be fine!
Stress is written all over the face
Stress is so hard to avoid and overcome but unfortunately, it’s one of the major factors which contribute to ageing. When we’re under stress, all the vitamins and minerals skip the skin and go straight to the vital organs such as the heart, brain, and lungs.
The skin is more or less neglected making it appear lacklustre and may cause other problems such as acne (yes even in your older years!). Once the skin is deprived of vitamins, elastin and collagen (our best friends) weaken which causes the skin to sag and wrinkle.
Fluid balance is also destabilized due to stress so the skin can become dehydrated which will make it dry and accentuate existing fine lines and wrinkles.
On top of that, the facial expressions which you make from stress will cause and deepen wrinkles.
Although you may never be able to be completely stress-free, there are so many ways to lessen the load.
Exercise should be your number one priority as research after research has flat-out proven that it helps with anxiety, stress, and even depression. One favourite among women right now is Zumba! It’s a super fun workout and you really have to focus on the moves leaving little time for your mind to wander on to other things. The music is distracting and the buzz from getting the moves right helps build confidence- the key to looking and feeling youthful.
Eating correctly, socialising and hobbies are also great ways to just forget and clear your mind.
So there you have it! Hopefully, these articles highlighted some skin sins you may be committing and some tips on how to do your skin some justice.
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