Macro and micro rules for healthy, radiant, glowing skin

Fresh, healthy and radiant skin can be yours - naturally! Here’s how to DIY your way to skin that glows with good health.

As the old saying goes; beauty is only skin deep. But there’s a lot more to skin than beauty. Your skin is the first line of defence against a barrage of environmental assaults - pollutants, pollen, dust, UV rays, viruses and bacteria. It’s also the largest organ in your body; like your heart, lungs, kidneys and liver, it deserves the utmost respect.

Before we get into the micro-details about how to get your skin glowing, here are the four not-negotiable macro rules:

Avoid UV rays to avoid wrinkles

One of the easiest to defend your skin from the ravages of time is to wear a broad spectrum sunscreen every day from an early age. Also, stay away from the tanning machine and steer towards the shade when you’re out and about. When it’s sunny, always wear sunglasses - squinting is a great way to develop lots of fine lines around your eyes.

Stop smoking to look younger

Cigarette smoke causes oxidative stress, which affects the supply of blood to skin. Heavy smokers can look decades older than their actual age. Facial wrinkles and furrows, slack jawlines, uneven skin tone, saggy eyelids and dry, coarse skin are all side-effects of smoking. You can protect yourself by quitting. And if you’re thinking about taking it up, consider how it will screw you up internally, externally and financially.

Eat like an athlete to keep your skin in top form

The best-looking skin is fed from within with plenty of water, masses of fresh fruit and vegetables, lean protein and good fats. Like a top athlete, you have to think hard about everything that goes into your mouth. Will it assist good health? Or will it

Lose the stress for better sleep

To renew and repair, your skin needs sleep. And to sleep well, you need to stress less. Take time in the evening to step away from screens, so that you can make your way quickly to the land of nod.

Micro-rules for glowing skin

If you can handle the big four, outlined above, you’re ready for the micro-rules of glowing skin. As they say, beauty is in the details.

1. 1. Change moisturisers with the seasons. In winter, your skin needs more hydration, so switch to a heavier moisturiser when autumn arrives.
2.  2. Avoid fragrances. As pleasant as some products may smell, their scent is usually a cocktail of compounds that can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.  
3. 3. Sleep in your gloves. A brilliant way to deeply moisturise hands and feet is to gently massage them with a rich emollient, then cover with thin gloves and socks. You’ll wake up with baby soft skin.
4. 4. Hit the green tea. Green tea is packed with antioxidants, which are great for skin and general health. You can drink it cold or hot - make up a big jug in the morning and drink throughout the day.
5. 5. Darken your room. It’s hard to sleep in a room with too much light. Install blockout shades or curtains to upgrade your shut-eye.
6. 6. Get your sweat on. 30 minutes a day, you have to push play! Sweating is the body’s natural way of expelling toxins. It also reduces stress and creates healthy blood flow throughout the body.
7. 7. Eat garlic; it’s not just for repelling vampires. Garlic boosts immunity and has anti-inflammatory properties. [1]
8. 8. Have tepid showers. Hot water can strip the skin of the protective layers of oils, so opt for shorter, cooler showers. 
9. 9. Treat your décolletage as if it’s your face. Your neck and chest can be the first areas to show signs of aging. Moisturising these areas with a rich cream and applying sunscreen helps to keep them youthful.
10. 10. Add water to the air. It sounds strange, but a humidifier in your room can ease the symptoms of dry, itchy skin, which makes you look prematurely old.  
11. 11. Keep it simple. If you have sensitive skin, avoid complicated skin care with dozens of ingredients and chemicals. Stick to a wholesome regime of natural products, such as Okana’s four ingredient mango and apricot cleanser.
12. 12. Add some soy. Adding soy products to your diet may support healthy skin. Cooked appropriately (without too much oil), it is a low calorie food that will help your body build collagen, which is vital for skin firmness and youth. Tofu and soy milk are easy to add to any diet and much better for the environment than animal-based products, so try soy milk in your coffee or cereal. 
13. 13. Learn your AHA’s. Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) are compounds that help reduce wrinkles and brighten the skin. These handy acids occur naturally in apples, citrus and grapes, speeding up the turnover of old skin cells. Okana’s all-natural apple juice foaming cleanser harnesses the power of AHAs. 
14. 14. Stay dry and clean. Fungal infections can wreak havoc on the skin. After showering, dry yourself thoroughly. If you struggle to keep certain areas dry, such as between your toes and under your breasts, apply a little cornflour to prevent outbreaks.
15. 15. Get brushing. A loofah or body brush is a great way to invigorate your body in the morning. Gentle, regular removal of dead skin cells by exfoliation helps speed up the body’s natural processes without damaging the skin. For the delicate skin on your face, try this gentle bamboo bead face scrub, which is made with finely ground bamboo powder. 
16. 16. Get all your vitamins. A daily multivitamin will give you a bit of everything that you might be missing, such as zinc, which is important for healthy skin.
17. 17. Don’t touch! Touching your face can do more than spread viruses. Everything that gets on your hands will end up on your face if you touch it frequently. Frequent face touching can contribute to acne and fungal problems.
18. 18. Try aloe after the sun. Aloe vera is brilliant on sunburned skin. It can also be rubbed straight into areas of dry skin or made into a face mask by mixing with rose water and honey.
19. 19. Omega up. Essential fatty acids are vital for many bodily functions, including skin health. Eat Omega-rich foods, such as salmon, and dress your salads with extra virgin olive oil or hemp oil.

[1] https://health.clevelandclinic.org/6-surprising-ways-garlic-boosts-your-health/