27 tricks for naturally glowing skin (no makeup or expensive products required!)

Take 160 mg of soy isoflavones per day or pour soy milk over your cereal. Soy consumption may keep glowing skin healthy by supplying high-quality protein needed for building and maintaining collagen, the material essential to connective tissues, says medical research director, Dr Aaron Tabor. Soy isoflavones may also act as antioxidants to protect collagen from damage caused by free radicals, highly reactive molecules that can weaken or destroy cell membranes. Free radicals can also damage DNA, create age spots and wrinkles, and depress the immune system, increasing the risk of skin cancer. Good sources of soy isoflavones include soy milk (20-35 mg soy isoflavones per serving) and tofu (20-30 mg soy isoflavones per serving).

Find out which are the best foods for younger skin.

There, you’ve just gotten a skin-healthy dose of poly- and monounsaturated fats, particularly omega-3 fatty acids, which studies suggest may affect the amount of sun and ageing damage your skin experiences. Without them, you’ll also show the signs you aren’t eating enough healthy fats, such as dry skin. By extension, make sure olive oil is the primary source of fat in your cooking each and every day, and try to have salmon twice a week or more to support glowing skin.

Try this grilled salmon in ciabatta – it’s delicious and good for your skin.

Because garlic contains antibacterial properties, it may help clear up P. acnes, or the acne-causing bacteria that lurks on your skin. Avoid rubbing the garlic directly onto your acne, as dermatologist, Dr Jeremy A. Brauer, warns that it may result in an irritant or allergic contact dermatitis.

Brew a pot of tea, chill, then store in the fridge and drink throughout the day. Tea, as you probably know, is a great source of antioxidants, molecules that fight the free-radical damage caused by sun exposure and cigarette smoking, which ruins glowing skin. One study published in the journal Photodermatology, Photoimmunology and Photomedicine found that the polyphenols in tea were helpful in preventing UVB-induced skin cancer.

Tea has many benefits, this is what happens to your body when you drink tea every day.

Alcohol, including wine, can act as a vasodilator, meaning it dilates blood vessels, explains Dr Brauer. “This may be most noticeable in facial skin, resulting in a flushed or ruddy appearance,” he says. “Rosacea, however, while not caused by alcohol, can certainly be made worse or flare due to alcohol intake.”

Pop a high-potency multivitamin every day (with your doctor’s okay). Many nutrients are vital to glowing skin, including vitamins C, A, and B. The most reliable way to get them all every day is to eat well, as well as take a daily supplement.

Read on for how to make vitamins and minerals work better for you.

Rich in vitamin C, rose hips (available at chemists) can help keep skin smooth, youthful and glowing. “Rose hip contains the seed of the rose plant, and fresh rose hip is a good source of vitamin C,” says Dr Brauer. “Vitamin C is routinely used in topical products for its antioxidant benefits, as well as improvement in skin tone and texture.”

If you’re gearing up for a day in the sun, steer clear of scented lotions and perfumes. Scented products can lead to blotchy skin when exposed to the sun. “We regularly suggest that patients who are prone to the development of allergies and atopic dermatitis avoid fragrances/opt for fragrance-free detergents, soaps, lotions, etc.,” says Dr Brauer. “Specifically, citrus-based products can result in a condition known as phytophotodermatitis (more commonly seen after being sprayed by lemon or lime juice while out in the sun).”

Anything that gets you sweating is good news for your skin. Sweating is nature’s way of eliminating toxic chemicals that can build up under the skin. Plus, regular exercise maintains healthy circulation and blood flow throughout your body, including your skin. If you’re exercising outdoors, though, remember to wear a sunscreen on your face that protects against UVA and UVB rays or a moisturiser with sunscreen protection.

Before you take up running, check out the pros and cons.

This will provide double protection. The cream helps prevent facial skin damage, dehydration, and wrinkles. Also, try creams containing vitamin E or beta-carotene.

Switch moisturisers every time the seasons change. Your skin needs more moisture in the winter than in the summer. So the same day you bring those jumpers out of storage for the winter, buy a heavier moisturiser. When you trade in the jumpers for shorts, switch to a lighter one.

Is that a new word for you? Humectants attract water when applied to your skin and improve its hydration. Good ones include glycerin, propylene glycol and urea. Also look for skin products that contain alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs), compounds that help reduce wrinkles and improve dry skin, acne and age spots. AHAs, which naturally occur in grapes, apples, citrus and sour milk (think buttermilk or yoghurt), work by speeding up the turnover of old skin cells, making skin look younger.

Men need skin care just as much as their wives and sisters, so they should be using cleansers and moisturisers too. To prevent wrinkles and skin cancer, use a moisturiser containing a sunscreen with an SPF 50 that protects against UVA and UVB rays daily. Also, use a gentle exfoliant weekly and a night-time moisturiser that contains alpha-hydroxy acids to encourage skin regeneration.

Use a single family of skin-care products. If you buy and use lots of different skin-care products, there’s a good chance some contain the same ingredients, thus making them redundant, says beauty therapists Cara DeCenso. And some brands just aren’t very compatible with others, though you’d have no way of knowing that until you already paid for and opened them. You’re more likely to achieve glowing skin if you use products that are designed and formulated to work together. You may have to shell out a little more cash, but experts agree you’ll get better results.

…particularly if you have sensitive skin. Stay away from products with colour, fragrance, or those that produce bubbles or have ‘antibacterial’ on the label, says dermatologist, Dr Andrea Lynn Cambio. These can all irritate your skin.

Read on for ways to prevent make-up allergies.

Add a teaspoon of grape seed oil to your toner. The oil is a source of antioxidants (vitamin C, E) and omega-3 fatty acids, explains Dr Brauer. “While there is not much research or data on the benefits of grapeseed oil itself, we know the benefits of these vitamins and fatty acids in maintaining skin health.”

Sage helps to control oil, peppermint creates a cool tingle and witch hazel helps restore the skin’s protective layer. Combine 120ml of witch hazel with 1 teaspoon each of sage and peppermint leaves and steep for one to three days before applying to your skin.

Skip the long, steamy showers and opt for shorter, cooler sprays. Long, hot showers strip skin of its moisture and wash away protective oils, says Dr Cambio. So limit the length of your showers and keep the water cool.

Deodorant soaps can be drying, whereas added-fat soaps leave an oily, yet beneficial, film on your skin.

While in the shower, gently scrub bumpy or scaly skin with a circular motion to remove dead cells. For extra-smooth skin, sprinkle a few drops of an alpha-hydroxy product on the loofah before scrubbing.

Treat dry, rough, itchy skin with these bath add-ins:

• 230g of sea salt and 450g baking soda. Soak until the water is cool to detoxify your skin and soothe the itch.
• Two cups Epsom salt. In addition to soaking in it, while your skin is still wet, rub handfuls of Epsom salt on the rough areas to exfoliate skin.
• A few bags of your favourite tea. The tea provides antioxidants as well as a delicious scent.
• One cup uncooked oatmeal tied into an old stocking or muslin bag. Oats are not only wonderful for your inner health, but provide a healthy glow on the outside as well, leaving a film on your skin that seals in water.
• Equal parts of apple cider vinegar, wheat germ and sesame oil. Apple cider vinegar is both antibacterial and alkalinising (meaning it helps maintain the proper acid balance), while sesame oil and wheat germ add moisture.
• One cup powdered milk with one tablespoon grapeseed oil. The lactic acid in the milk will exfoliate your skin, and the grapeseed oil will give your skin a powerful dose of antioxidants.

For soft, young-looking hands and feet, slather on moisturising cream and then slip on thin fabric socks and gloves while you sleep.

Finding it hard to doze off? Here’s an essential guide to a deeper sleep.

“A humidifier will provide additional moisture to the indoor air, especially in winter months when heating systems are running, resulting in hot dry air inside in addition to the cold dry air outside,” says Dr Brauer. Providing this moisture will not only ease itchy, dry skin, but you’ll be able to breathe the moist air more easily.

Considering a humidifier? These hand hints will help you choose the most suitable.

They help avoid sleep disturbances or insomnia caused by ambient light. Sleep is critical to your skin’s health because most cell repair and regeneration occurs while you’re getting your Z’s; if you’re not getting enough rest, your skin cannot renew itself.

Avoid these three skin destroyers: smoking, tanning salons and sunbathing. Most doctors agree that all three will age your skin prematurely.

Serious about quitting? These products will help you quit smoking.

“Repetitive rubbing can cause irritation or inflammation that results in post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation, or dark patches around your eyes,” says Dr Brauer. “The skin may also become thickened, or lichenified, with increased skin markings.” Apply compresses instead. The skin on your face is extremely delicate, especially under your eyes. If your eyes itch, apply a cold compress or washcloth to the area, or try a cotton pad moistened with toner or witch hazel.

Because your hands touch so many surfaces, they are a magnet for dirt and germs (as you probably know by now!). Rub your eyes, stroke your chin, cup your cheek, and you’ve transferred everything on your hands to your face – bad news if you want glowing skin. Use headphones or a headset when talking on the phone to keep hands and germs away from your face, too.

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Source: RD.com