Despite escaping the torment of adolescent acne, many adults find their thirties to be the time they struggle with skin woes the most. In an effort to keep my skin flawless, I have adopted some habits to make achieving healthy skin a cinch. Coincidentally these tips will also help you live a more naturally healthy life. Here are some tips to incorporate into your healthy lifestyle for glowing skin.

Clean Cleansers

One of the biggest mistakes I have made is frantically buying skin care products and cleansers in an effort to deal with breakouts. The problem is many cleansers can only perpetuate skin problems with their harsh chemicals or skin addictive ingredients. I propose using only water or mild cleansers like Witch Hazel to wash your face, but if you insist on using a product make sure it is Ph BALANCED. Without pH balance, cleansers will dry out your skin and cause irritation. Also only use fragrance free products for skin care. And finally forget toners, if your cleanser is pH balanced, you want need it and it will only serve to irritate your skin.

Eat Foods That Make Your Skin Happy

One of the single most important factors in skin care is what we eat. Here are the key food staples that will make your skin happy. I highlighted (underlined) my favorites from each group below.

Skin Happy Foods:

• Selenium
  • (Brazil nuts, button mushrooms, shrimp, lamb, and fish like snapper, cod, halibut, tuna, salmon, cooked beef, light turkey, oysters, sardines, crab, and whole-wheat pasta)
• Antioxidants
  • (Berries, tomatoes, apricots, beets, squash, spinach, sweet potatoes, tangerines, peppers, and beans)
• CoQ10
  • (Salmon and tuna, poultry, organ meats like liver, and whole grains)
• Vitamin A
  • (Orange, carrot, or slice of cantaloupe, leafy greens, eggs, and low-fat dairy foods)
• Vitamin C
  • (Red bell peppers, citrus fruits, papayas, kiwis, broccoli, greens, and brussels sprouts)
• Vitamin E
  • (Vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, olives, spinach, asparagus, olives, and leafy greens)
• Essential Fatty Acids
  • (Olive and canola oils, flaxseeds, walnuts, and cold-water fish like salmon, sardines, and mackerel)

Learn more at WebMD

Stress Less (Self Care)

Stress can catastrophically cause skin problems. Hence one of the most important things that you can do for your skin is manage stress. When we experience overwhelming stress our bodies produce stress hormones like cortisol that increase the skin’s production of oil and the skin becomes more sensitive to irritants. EverydayHealth.com even states, “Stress can worsen pre-existing conditions including rosacea, psoriasis, and acne, as well as dehydrate the skin, permitting allergens, bacteria, and pollutants to irritate it.” Here are some healthy ways to reduce stress in your life:

• Get enough sleep consistently
• Work out (Gym, Yoga, Running, Hiking, etc)
• Meditate (Guided Meditation Demo)
• Talk to a therapist (Finding a Therapist for You)

Whatever you choose to manage stress, the most important factor is to stay consistent in your routine. Managing stress requires a daily effort to take care of yourself and works best when include self care into our daily life times.

Hope this helps in your journey towards glowing FLAWLESS Skin

Therapist Tiffany Shelton