The 80’s were all about bold makeup and fashion choices. Shoulder pads were in, hair was big and eyeshadow was colorful. In the 90’s, lips were full and dark, eyebrows were pencil thin and hair was sleek, shiny and long. Recent decades have seen contouring, shimmering cheeks and full brows, but no matter which makeup trends come and go, naturally glowing skin has always been in fashion.

Skin is the body’s largest organ, it protects us from the elements for our entire lives, cools us down when we’re hot, warms us up when we’re cold, and it’s our only point of contact with the outside world. We rely on it for social communication through our facial expressions, and we navigate our environments through touch and feel, yet beyond the basic wash, cleanse and moisturize routine, most of us don’t give skincare a second thought.

We all know that genetics play a role in skin health. Some people have seemingly ageless skin, while others are predisposed to dry or oily patches, and more serious and painful skin conditions like acne and eczema. Whether you’ve been blessed with a smooth and youthful complexion, or if you suffer from skin conditions like those we mentioned above, taking care of your diet, lifestyle and your skincare routine will have a huge impact on your skin’s overall appearance and health well into old age.

While wrinkles, fine lines and discoloration are a natural part of the aging process, there is plenty you can do to prevent premature aging of your body’s largest organ including supplements like Pure Vitality Ageless Vitality and Vibrant Vitality which work from the inside out, nourishing skin, hair and nails for a natural, youthful glow as well as promoting deep and lasting skin health.

Choose All Natural Skincare

Choosing the right skin care and makeup is more difficult than you may think. There are thousands of products on the market, full of hard to pronounce substances that you may need a degree in chemical engineering to fully understand. Because of your skin’s unique ability to absorb products and chemicals into your body and potentially into your bloodstream, it’s important to be aware of what’s actually in the lotions, oils and soaps that you use. Some estimates suggest that the body could absorb as much as five pounds of cosmetic chemicals every year! That’s a lot of lotion!

As a good rule of thumb, you should look for the same things in your skincare products that you look for in your diet. Say no to processed ingredients, chemicals, artificial colors and fragrances. If you can’t understand what it is, there’s a good chance that it isn’t actually doing your skin any lasting good and at worst it could actually be causing damage in the long run.

Avoid preservatives like parabens including methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben. Because parabens can mimic hormones in the body, they have been linked to (1) breast cancer, early puberty and even fertility issues in men.

Another common ingredient to watch for is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or SLS. This compound is what causes many cleansing products like shampoos and body washes to foam. SLS has also been linked to (2) cancer, neurotoxicity, skin irritation and endocrine disruption.

On top of the more serious health risks, non-organic compounds and petroleum-based gels may clog your pores which can actually lead to the premature aging that you’re trying to avoid, leaving you at more risk of acne and breakouts, all of which causes you to use more product and results in a vicious cycle.

For the long-term health of your skin, learn to decipher ingredient lists and stop the cycle. Stick to plant-based products and better yet, where possible, make your own!

Remove Makeup

Makeup can be your best friend, it covers blemishes, lends blotchy skin a clean, even tone and enhances your most attractive features while minimizing your flaws. However, like most friendships, you’ll get along a lot better with makeup if you take a break from it once in a while. We can’t overemphasize the importance of removing makeup before you go to sleep for clear and naturally glowing skin. Your skin needs to breathe, and leaving makeup on overnight clogs pores and leads to blemishes and blackheads.

Use a natural makeup remover as part of your bedtime routine, or head to the kitchen and put a few drops of organic olive oil onto a cotton pad. Gently massage the oil onto your face to remove your makeup and rinse with water. Voila! Clean, moisturized skin.

While this may sound like a recipe for pimples, oil cleansing can actually dissolve the excess oil in your pores. You may have to experiment a little to find the natural oil that works best with your skin type. If olive oil is causing breakouts try sunflower, safflower, avocado or coconut oil for an effective, all natural makeup remover.

Exfoliate

There’s a reason we associate glowing skin with youth. Your skin actively renews itself multiple times throughout your life and that process of renewal slows down as you age. Babies skin completely renews itself in as quickly as two weeks, meaning it’s always quite literally brand new. Teenage skin turns around in about 3 weeks, once you hit your 20s it can take a month for the process to complete, and after 50 it slows down to somewhere between 45-90 days.

There is good news however! Proper exfoliation once or twice per week can help brighten your complexion by sloughing away dead skin, promoting new growth and reducing skin discoloration, fine lines and wrinkles.

Before you scrub remember a few simple rules. Because your skin renews itself overnight, always exfoliate in the morning and be sure your skin is clean and makeup free. Avoid scrubs with harsh granules in them as rough edges can actually cause skin damage. Over exfoliation may cause your skin to overcompensate by producing more oil which causes breakouts so be gentle and remember, you only need to exfoliate once or twice per week to achieve lasting results. As always, look for natural products or make your own with a little oatmeal and olive oil.

Use Sunscreen

No matter how much you love soaking in those summer rays and developing a natural tan, the experts all agree that too much sun causes irreparable damage to the skin. Prolonged exposure to the sun’s heat will dry your complexion, causing premature aging and deep wrinkles over time, and the ultraviolet rays of the sun can actually cause permanent changes to your skin’s structure.

Aside from the painful and temporary sunburn that we are all familiar with after a long day at the beach, too much sun exposure can cause skin problems like actinic keratosis. This is a small bump on the surface of the skin that is rough to the touch and may look pink, red or brown. An actinic keratosis does not disappear on its own and may indicate a heightened risk of skin cancer. If you believe you have actinic keratosis it’s important that you visit a dermatologist.

In addition, UV radiation from the sun damages the structure of your skin, causing everything from premature aging to ruptured blood vessels. Repeated sun exposure and sunburns significantly increase the risk of developing malignant melanoma and other kinds of skin cancer. People with fair skin are at a greater risk of skin damage because they have less melanin in their skin which naturally helps to deflect UV radiation.

Don’t skip the sunscreen! The powerful UV rays of the sun can damage your skin even if it’s cloudy or cold outside. Be sure to use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Look for the words “noncomedogenic” or “nonacnegenic” on the label which ensures that it won’t block your pores and cause pimples and breakouts.

If you just can’t bear the thought of summer without a tan, there are plenty of natural sunless tanning products on the market and whatever you do, don’t use a sunbed.

Diet and Supplements

As important as it is to protect the surface of your skin from chemical ingredients and sun damage, if you want truly healthy skin, you need nourish it from the inside out. A healthy, balanced diet will feed your skin the key nutrients it needs to regenerate and stay soft and blemish free for a lifetime.

Skin healthy foods include antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables which help to protect your skin from the everyday damage caused by free radicals in the atmosphere and the effects of pollution and sun damage that create wrinkles and age spots. Aim for 5 portions of fruits and veggies per day and look for dark leafy greens like spinach and kale as well as carrots, sweet potato and pumpkin.

Don’t Forget Your Vitamins!

Vitamin C is not only a super-antioxidant, it’s also needed to produce collagen which is responsible for your skin’s strength and elasticity. Blackcurrants, blueberries, oranges and papaya are all great sources of vitamin C and as an added bonus, this essential vitamin will support your immune system too. Vitamin E supports healthy skin growth and can be found in avocado, pine nuts and sunflower and corn oils.

Studies (3) also suggest that a diet rich in selenium may protect against skin cancer, sun damage and age spots. Selenium can be found in Brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, eggs and tuna as well as tomatoes and broccoli.

It can be difficult to make sure that you’re getting all of the nutrition your body needs for healthy glowing skin from diet alone. If packing all of these ingredients into your everyday routine sounds like a challenge, we recommend taking daily supplements like Pure Vitality Ageless Vitality and Vibrant Vitality which are formulated by experts to contain all the nutrition your body needs for glowing skin, glossy hair and strong nails in one convenient tablet.

Hydration

The skin is your largest organ, and just like other organs in your body such as your heart, or your liver, your skin is made up of cells. Water accounts for roughly 70% of cell mass and so it stands to reason that without water, your organs cannot function at their best. Proper hydration increases skin elasticity and replenishes skin tissue. Drinking enough water also helps your body to flush out the toxins that can cause your skin to look dull and lacklustre and it can even combat skin disorders like psoriasis and eczema.

Be sure you’re drinking at least 8 glasses of water per day, and remember that you’ll need to stay more hydrated if you’ve been out in the sun, or exercising. It’s not just drinking water that can help your skin, bathing in cold water can help too! A cold water bath can reduce skin redness and splashing cold water on your face tightens pores and may reduce the appearance of acne.

Get Your Beauty Sleep

Sleeping well is vitally important for your overall mental and physical health, and that includes the health of your skin. If you’re suffering from lack of sleep, you may experience an increase in stress hormones which can worsen existing skin conditions like acne or psoriasis. Lack of sleep also interferes with your body’s ability to produce collagen and hyaluronic acid which give your skin its elasticity and that coveted youthful glow.

If you’re having trouble sleeping, avoid stimulating activities before bedtime like watching television or browsing on social media. Make your bedroom a gadget-free zone and if you need to keep your mind occupied while you wind down from the day, try reading instead. Pair this with a calming tea like chamomile or valerian root and you’ll be counting sheep in no time.

In order to achieve long-lasting, naturally glowing skin for a lifetime, remember our list of simple do’s and don’ts. Avoid treating your skin with harsh chemical ingredients and choose natural skincare instead. Don’t go to sleep with your makeup on and exfoliate once or twice per week with a gentle scrub to slough off dead skin and leave your face looking fresh. Stay out of the sun and remember to use sunscreen even on cloudy or cold days. Drink plenty of water and be sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep per night. Most importantly, remember that healthy skin comes from the inside out, eat a diet that’s rich in antioxidants, vitamins C, E, and selenium and try powerful skin replenishing supplements like Pure Vitality Ageless Vitality and Vibrant Vitality which have been professionally blended by experts to support healthy, naturally glowing skin.

Pure Vitality

Pure Vitality a natural supplement company based in an isolated village nestled against the snow-capped Southern Alps of New Zealand. We research health conditions thoroughly to discover the underlying root causes, find the most effective natural remedies, target the root causes rather than use a Band-Aid approach, use a multi-prong approach to fix the root causes from many directions and use high potency ingredients at scientifically supported amounts.

References:

(1) https://www.livestrong.com/article/160857-what-facial-skin-products-do-not-contain-parabens/

(2) https://www.livestrong.com/article/174367-dangers-of-sodium-lauryl-sulfate/

(3) https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/eat-your-way-fabulous-skin

https://food.ndtv.com/beauty/face-care-tips-10-dos-and-donts-to-get-beautiful-skin-naturally-1217782

https://www.dermstore.com/blog/how-to-get-glowing-skin/

https://draxe.com/natural-skin-care/

https://draxe.com/hyperpigmentation/

https://draxe.com/home-remedies-for-acne/

https://www.aad.org/public/kids/skin

http://www.herbhedgerow.co.uk/can-cosmetics-be-absorbed-into-your-bloodstream/

https://www.mercola.com/