How to Improve Your Skin from Within

While there is plenty of focus on eating right for better skin, a further improved complexion can be achieved through a variety of other methods too. Granted we’d all like to believe that applying the latest anti-ageing miracle broth with some exotic form of rare sea plankton to our skin will take ten years off but there’s more to it. Sure, the latest potions from the worlds’ most innovative beauty brands do assist with skin quality, as do time-honoured well vetted ingredients for that matter but these must be combined with an arsenal from within for maximal results.

Worry not, for below you won’t find a list of unfamiliar, difficult to find fruit and vegetables compiled into elaborate, misery-inducing recipes. Moreover, a short list of easy to address lifestyle choices that might just make all the difference for an improved visage.

Hydrate

Better hydration is key to improving overall health and your skin. The result is more moisture and radiance for better elasticity and colour, and the flushing of any unwanted toxins. Hydrated skin not only looks better than dehydrated skin but it also helps to delay the first signs of ageing. Drink 2-3 litres a day and no, it doesn’t have to be water- think green tea or suchlike but no sugary soft drinks.

We recently discovered Dot by Joseph Joseph, £9 – a water bottle with hydration counting lid which displays a new dot each time you refill so you can easily keep count of the number of bottles you drink.

De-Stress

Stress can leave you feeling run down, with the beginnings of permanent wrinkles or frown lines and cause acne owing to stress increasing the body’s production of hormones such as cortisol, which can make skin oilier and decrease its ability to fight off acne-causing bacteria. Aim to reduce stress by facing problems head on and raise your mood with positive plan of attack. An immediate, easy and healthy way to destress is exercise.

Sleep

While the modern gentleman might see sleep as an opportunity missed- it’s essential for younger and healthier looking skin. Those of you who get less than 7 hours a night might start to see a tired and dull appearance with dark circles developing under the eyes. Give your body and skins’ repair mechanisms time to reinvigorate skin during the night hours.

For a skin improving bonus you might also want to consider an anti-ageing silk pillowcase, £79 from Slip which won’t draw moisture from your face, hair and scalp like cotton.

Eat

While I promised no food lists and recipes eating better is clearly important. I still refuse to preach an impossible to adhere to rainbow (fruits and vegetables) diet but try and up your intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins where possible. The ‘rainbow’ contains potent antioxidants to assist with protecting your skin from cellular damage caused by free radicals, and vitamin C for a healthy immune system, radiant skin, and healing of blemishes. And lastly vitamin E, ingested via healthy fats (avocados, fish, nuts and seeds) which proffers a raft of environmental defenders.

Stop Smoking

Unsurprisingly, don’t smoke. Okay, the odd cigar here and then I’ll forgive you for but smoking does make skin look older and contributes to wrinkles. The reason being, smoking narrows the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin, which decreases blood flow and makes skin paler. This also depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients that are important to skin health. Smoking also damages collagen and elastin – the fibres that give your skin strength and elasticity. Also, it’s 2018, smoking just isn’t cool (anymore).

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1, 2, 3 – A Simple Skincare Routine

Cleanse right. Buy a skin cleanser suitable for your skin type- otherwise, you could be doing more harm than good. An appropriate and well made cleanser will ensure your skin is throughly cleansed, a good base for applying moisturiser, but without over-drying or stripping your skin of those hard earned nutrients you fought so hard to ingest to begin with.

Try Grown Alchemist’s Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser, £26 – it’s formulated to soothe and hydrate with sensitive skin in mind, so it won’t leave you red-faced or feeling dry. It’ll also work to minimise pores and reduce signs of ageing.

Now you’ve got the within handled, I have a few simple tips for your grooming routine. Sun protection is first- use a daily moisturiser with added SPF. For those of you currently using a daily moisturiser (you all should be), just switch it for one with added SPF- it’s an easy step which defends against UV radiation the culprit in age and sun damage that dermatologists call photo-ageing. Try Anthony’s Day Cream SPF 30, £34 – a quick-absorbing, lightweight SPF moisturiser designed to nourish skin while protecting it from damaging UVA/UVB rays.

Supplement. If you struggle to follow a strict dietary programme, then you should be trying harder- I jest. Why not add a skin-focused supplement to assist in your plight? For those of you who gym-hard, take a look at Proverb’s Skin Resistance Training Supplement, £45 – crafted with Vitamin C for collagen support, Vitamin D for muscle support and Zinc for protein synthesis.

And for those of you looking for more of a general wellness vitamin which supports not only skin function but also immune health, take a look at ‘Explore’ by BEAR, £50 – ideal for today’s modern-day, hectic gentleman.