Ever
since Eve took that first bite of the apple, the human race has been
obsessed with beauty. The truth is we begin the aging process just as
soon as we pop out of the womb. Every day of our lives our bodies slough
off and regenerate new cells. The speed at which that process takes
place when we are children is vastly different as we get older.
Every day we are bombarded daily with commercial messages and beauty
tips that attempt to lure us into believing that the most recent miracle
drug or jar of cream is just what you need to fight off the ravages of
Mother Nature.
The best route to natural beauty and healthy skin is to take care of
what you have. Sounds simple, right? The truth is that your skin takes a
beating from the environment every single day.
Here are some of our favorite beauty tips for keeping your skin fresh and healthy:
1. Stay hydrated and do it with plenty of water!
That does not mean soda, caffeine or any other type of liquid, even if
it is low cal. Soda (even diet soda) has a high concentration of sodium.
Sodium retains fluids. You need fluid that will hydrate and flush your
body free of toxins. Make sure you are drinking at least 8 glasses a
day!
2. Protect your skin from harmful ultra violet (UV) rays.
We all love the sun. We love being in it and we love having a beautiful
tan. The truth is that a reasonable amount of sun exposure is healthy
and even vital for adequate vitamin D synthesis. The problem is that you
can poison yourself with too much sunshine. UV rays cause skin cancer
and if that isn’t bad enough it causes your skin to age faster than it
should, contributing to unsightly wrinkles. If you must play in the sun,
make certain you are using an adequate sun screen. Don’t leave home
without it!
3. Eat healthy.
Knowing
how and what to eat, can make a huge difference in how you feel.
Improper eating habits can cause depression, weight gain, illness and an
overall lethargy. The best thing you can do for your skin is to avoid
eating sugar and foods you are intolerant to.
Avoid foods you are intolerant to as they can contribute to skin issues
such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. The most common foods contributing
to skin issues are gluten, dairy and eggs. For more info on food
intolerances and skin issues, see The Virgin Diet by JJ Virgin.
Additionally, maintaining a healthy weight is critical because weight
gain causes your skin to stretch. As you get older, it loses it’s
elasticity and you’re left with sagging skin.
4. Keep your skin clean.
- Skin does not require scrubbing. You will do more harm than good if you do.
- Use a gentle cleanser.
- Avoid harsh chemicals.
- Avoid parabens.
5. Don’t worry, be happy.
A happy outlook appears to trigger the release of endorphins. Endorphins
relax the cardiovascular system and cytokines which alert the immune
system to pay attention in detecting abnormalities like cancer cells.
Listen carefully to yourself. If you have put yourself down since
childhood, over a lifetime, negative subliminal messages can take their
toll.
To help with low self-esteem, spend one week writing down the phrases
you typically use in your self-talk. Chances are you will find that you
repeat a dozen or so phrases over and over again that reinforce that
negative image. If you know about them, you can change them. Outer
beauty and inner joy go hand in hand. Create a list of new and improved
self-talk phrases.
Here are a few quick tips for increasing joy, hope and optimism that will work no matter what your age:
- Make a list of at least 10 great things that happen to you every day.
- Laugh a lot. You’ll heal your body and your mind.
- Discover a new challenge each month.
- Try meditating for just five minutes each day.
6. Sex and Sleep!
Sex with a loving and committed partner can make you glow ~ improving your skin health as well as emotional health!
Sleep is also a major part of allowing your skin to keep up with the demands of modern life. Opt for 7 – 9 hours per night!
Is beauty really skin deep?
The answer is yes and no. It’s a paradox, isn’t it? True beauty begins
from the inside out. Don’t you wish there was some way to wriggle your
nose and regain that soft skin you had as a child? Well, until someone
comes up with the true fountain of youth we are stuck with what we have.
Just remember that getting older doesn’t have to mean getting old!
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