I hope you’re still keeping up those New Year’s Resolutions because staying healthy is another great way to love your skin. As I’m sure we have mentioned before, your body is one unit; it all works together and treating it right in one area (such as healthy eating) will have benefits in others (from the inside out). Some common resolutions that can improve your skin include:
Eating Healthy
Fruits & vegetables are full of vitamins, enzymes and antioxidants that are great for the whole body, including the skin. In fact, many of the common ingredients in skin care products are naturally found in a healthy diet; they have just been concentrated for better results in the skin. On the flip-side, many “in moderation” foods, such as sugar & alcohol, have been shown to negatively affect skin.
Exercising Regularly
Exercise has been shown to have a positive effect on skin, keeping it youthful and glowing. Why exactly hitting the gym (or the trail) helps skin look young is not completely understood, but studies suggest it may be due to increased blood flow to the cells, which improves healthy cell function & maintenance, and also stress reduction (stress can negatively affect skin, from increased acne to hair loss).
Quitting smoking
Nicotine causes the blood vessels to the skin narrow, which reduces blood flow to the skin. This, in turn, reduces the amount of oxygen & vital nutrients that the skin cells receive. Many of the other common chemicals in tobacco products damage and breakdown collagen & elastin in the skin. All of this leads to premature skin aging, including wrinkles, fine lines, rough skin texture, and uneven skin tone (gray or yellowish skin). The frequent movements of smoking the cigarette or cigar and squinting to prevent smoke getting into the eyes leads to fine lines around the mouth (called “smoker’s lines”) and crow’s feet.
