Healthy skin enhances your beauty, but the stresses of daily life can leave it looking dry and drained. This article offers six real-world ways to keep your skin looking young, healthy, and beautiful.

Your skin is possibly your most important beauty asset. Although the artful use of cosmetics can provide the finishing touches, but healthy skin is the natural source of attention-getting beauty. Unfortunately, your skin also faces daily battles with pollution, weather, and diet. Left untouched, it most often will become dry, tired-looking, and aged before its time. What can you do to keep your skin looking youthful, despite the challenges it faces every single day?

Be Careful in the Sun

A healthy glow is preferable to a deathly pallor, but at the same time, it’s easy to go too far in your exposure to the sun’s rays. Apart from the apparent dangers of sunburn and peeling, too much sun will have a dehydrating effect on your skin. Over the years, this will lead to premature wrinkles and a leathery texture, which will be almost impossible to reverse.

Because of this, always use sunscreen when outdoors, even if you’re not planning to sunbathe. Remember, reflected light can be nearly as damaging as direct rays when the sunlight is particularly intense. Also, cover up using loose clothing if you plan to be outdoors for any length of time, and wear a sunhat to keep your face safely in the shade.

Stay Moisturized

From hot, dry winds to arid air conditioning, your skin can get parched during the summer months. The winter can be just as harsh when you’re always switching between indoor heating and the frigid outdoors. An excellent moisturizing cream is a valid defense against the dry skin but also pay close attention to your hydration levels. Drink plenty of water and go easy on coffee and alcohol, which have a diuretic effect. Putting on and taking off make-up also dries your skin, so remember to apply moisturizer each night after removing your cosmetics.

Develop an Exfoliation Habit

No matter how often and how carefully you wash, the grime of daily living can quickly build up on your skin, blocking pores and risking outbreaks of acne. Get into the habit of exfoliating regularly to clear your pores and remove dead cells and flakes, leaving your skin feeling softer, smoother, and younger.

Eat Your Way to Better Skin
They say beauty is only skin deep, but your inner health affects your complexion. A nutritious, balanced diet will give your skin the back-up it needs. Here are some foods that are good for rejuvenating your skin.

– Oily fish, such as salmon and tuna, are rich in omega-3 acids, which help keep your skin supple and moisturized.
– Tomatoes are rich in the antioxidant lycopene, which protects against premature wrinkling caused by the sun.
– Nuts and seeds are high in many of the nutrients essential for healthy skin, including vitamin E, vitamin C, zinc, and selenium. A diet containing nuts will help reduce skin inflammation and promote healing.
– Several studies have shown that dark chocolate provides natural protection against ultraviolet light and boosts circulation and hydration.

Natural Oils

Mother nature knows best—essential oils, from natural sources, are excellent at improving the condition of your skin. They act as moisturizers, helping keep your skin supple and reducing lines. Many have natural antibacterial and anti-fungal properties that work against inflammation, rashes, and pimples. There are many kinds of essential oils available, but some of the best for skin care include:

– Aloe Vera—moisturizes, while reducing inflammation and promoting healing.
– Geranium—helps to minimize greasiness, while increasing circulation, making this a perfect oil if
you’re prone to acne outbreaks.
– Lavender—quiets irritation, reduces swelling, and helps soothe insect bites.
– Cypress— a natural astringent for lowering oiliness and reducing excessive blood flow to calm
redness.
– Frankincense—an ancient oil used for improving skin tone and elasticity.

You can use natural oils that are blended with certain moisturizers. Or you can get the oils themselves and create your own blended treatments. This will often be less expensive and allows you to put together the exact formula for your particular skin type.

Pamper Yourself

One of the best ways to rejuvenate your skin is to spend time pampering yourself. A long hot soak in an herbal bath, a massage with essential oils, or a day at a wellness spa will leave you de-stressed and glowing with health.

Your skin is a vital organ that works hard every day to protect you from the environmental rigors of life. If you follow these tips, you will be rewarded with the perfect youthful foundation through which your beauty can shine.