Comfortable in Your own Skin?

Your skin is one of the most important organs of your body – it regulates your body temperature, it supplies oxygen and nutrients to other parts of your body, it excretes unwanted materials and it protects you.
Skin is also key to your image as it is what people see when they meet you and feel when they touch you. A healthy skin makes you appear radiant and well kempt and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune to improve the appearance of your skin regardless of your age or ethnic group.

One
Drink lots of water regularly as the better hydrated you are the more supple and healthy your skin will be.

Two
Always cleanse your face before you go to bed – to remove make-up, general grime and impurities. Make up blocks pores and can lead to infections. Cleansing thoroughly will help to keep skin clear and free of spots, blackheads and acne as well as toned. If your skin is oily then use natural products like witch hazel to tone affected areas; if your skin is normal to dry then opt to tone with much gentler rosewater, or freshly sliced cucumber.

Three
Don’t smoke. Smoking seriously damages and ages the appearance of your skin. It causes restricted blood fl ow to your skin cells which causes it to wrinkle and sag. Women who smoke twenty or more cigarettes a day over long periods look much older than their non-smoking counterparts and, of course, stand a greater risk of contracting cancer, heart conditions and many other illnesses. A no-brainer.

Four
Make a point of getting at least seven hours of sleep a night and as much as eight whenever you can. When you are tired your skin looks washed out. Be sure too to get lots of fresh air whenever you can – regularly taking brisk walks improves your blood circulation and brings a glow to your cheeks.

Five
Eat a healthy diet avoiding all that junk food, fatty food, and heavily processed foods. Instead increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables which will have a dramatically positive affect on your appearance as well as on your general health. If you are suffering from acne or constant skin irritations consider whether you may be suffering from allergies to certain foods. Cut out dairy and meat, eliminate hot, spicy foods, ditch the sugary foods and drinks, say no to alcohol, and eat more natural grains, fruits and vegetables. This is often enough to see off acne and bring about a much healthier looking and feeling skin.

Six
Avoid using harsh cleansers on your face at all costs. Read all labels and be sure to find the gentlest products with the most natural ingredients – or make your own. Tailor making your own skin care products will save you money too. Cucumber makes a great natural toner. Ordinarily milk makes a great cleanser – rinse with water after use. Oatmeal makes an excellent exfoliant. Read up, get creative, and formulate inexpensive treats for your skin

Seven
Moisturise your skin. Whilst most of the moisture your skin needs is delivered to it via your intake of water be sure to find a natural moisturiser that properly suits your skin type. Used as a light barrier it will protect your skin from chafi ng, damage caused by the environments you experience – be it wind, rain and sun, central heating, polluted air etc.. There are many natural aloe based products available or grow your own aloe and use its gel regularly to soothe and moisturise your skin. Try adding a few drops of olive oil or coconut oil to your bath water and gently rubbing the oil onto seriously dry skin patches. These oils will also treat dry and damaged hair – use sparingly and leave in the hair for a few hours under a turban or shower hat – then shampoo as usual.

Eight
Be sure that you are eating a balanced diet which is rich in vitamins and minerals. If your skin and/or hair are dull and lifeless, perhaps after an illness, a period of relentless stress or a new baby, then consider taking a supplement to improve your skin and hair condition. You can expect to notice a difference in 30 days or so.

Nine
Always use sun protection as UV rays wreak absolute havoc with your skin causing premature aging and heightening the risk of skin cancer. If you must appear to the world four shades darker (more orange) than nature intended then use dye based self-tanning formulae as well as an SPF 30 protectant on your face. Seriously reconsider your attitude to tanning – avoid sun beds as they are known to be unsafe - it is also being suggested that many of the self tanning products on the market contain ingredients which are potentially harmful. Nothing looks worse than over the top fake tan anyway so why bother?

Ten
Dry skin brushing and other forms of natural exfoliation are a good way to improve blood circulation to the skin and help in the shedding of dead skin cells. Do take it gently at first and avoid the harsh chemical products on the market. A simple salt scrub for the body and a natural product containing small “beads” for the face are usually all you will ever need. If your skin is very sensitive then stick to using a small muslin bag containing oatmeal. If in doubt test a small area before you try something new.

Eleven
Remember, a healthy skin should be the aim of all of us regardless of age and no amount of miracle treatments or premium priced products can counteract aging or reverse the damage we have already inflicted on our skin. You can, of course, camoufl age the damage already caused, but the best defence is a simple heart felt smile as it will instantly brighten your face. Those that smile frequently attract all manner of compliments!

Twelve
You can have the most naturally beautiful face and skin but it will age at an incredible speed if you are a constant worrier, niggler or cynic, or if you party hard, burn the candle at both ends, smoke, drink too much, or take drugs. None of these states results in true happiness either so if any of these “symptoms” seem familiar to you then look beyond the superfi cial and seek more meaning in your life…