The skin is our largest organ, and it’s the only organ we can see from the outside, which is why it makes perfect sense that what is happening on the inside is reflected through our skin.
This is one of the methods our bodies use to communicate it’s state of health.
Taking good care of your complexion is an act of caring for your whole self and your health.
As it turns out, so many things we do for one aspect of our health have positive effects all over. So whether you’re thinking primarily about your heart, your brain, your weight management, reducing your stress levels or having the best complexion possible, the same actions apply to all of these!
This is exactly what is meant by taking a Holistic Approach to your health – it’s actually the most simple things that reap the most benefits when they become habits.
Best habits in a nutshell:
Consistency in your Skincare routine
Sunscreen
Sleep for health & beauty
Hydration inside & out
Nourish with Antioxidants inside & out
Smile, Laugh, Sweat
Meditation & Visualization
Stress Management
MORNING HABITS:
Begin the day with a big glass of water – extra points for hot water with lemon!
The warm water stimulates the digestive system and metabolism, and the lemon is alkalizing and detoxifying. Drink a glass of water before every meal.
Throughout the day, drink water or herbal tea.
MEDITATION
Take a few moments for quiet, deep breathing. This practice stabilizes the mind, oxygenates the cells and sets you up for more calm & ease throughout the day.
Meditation is the MOST POWERFUL Anti-aging technique because it establishes awareness at the level of an Ageless Body and Timeless mind. Awareness never ages. It transcends time and when we expand our awareness, we transcend time, too.” ~ Deepak Chopra
COOL SHOWER– at least for your face!
Ideally, we would all be taking a cold shower and waking up our vascular system, jumpstarting our brain and getting all senses on alert! But if you’re not quite ready for this step, you’re not alone! I am here with you. I do, however, recommend splashing your face with cold water – invigorating and cleansing!
EXERCISE
A little goes a long way, so make it anything sustainable for you! A few stretches on your yoga mat or even in your kitchen while heating your water, put on a favorite song and have a morning dance party in your living room, a walk around the block before you hit the road – something to get your blood pumping and your body moving!
“When your body moves, your brain grooves” – Jim Kwik
WEAR SUNSCREEN
This is one of the best daily habits to have to keep skin looking youthful and preventing signs of premature aging and skin cancer.
Look for a physical block, which means you are looking for the ingredients Zinc Oxide & Titanium Dioxide. These ingredients block the sun’s damaging rays, prevent them from penetrating the skin tissue and breaking it down, causing a whole host of unsightly issues.
MIDDAY HABITS:
We need a lot of antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, vitamins & minerals, micro & macronutrients.
For nourishment during the day, focus on leafy greens, veggies, nuts, seeds & fruits – a big salad is a great way to keep energy going all day and keeps skin
Take a break and walk around the block if you can.
Clear your mind, get some fresh air, boost your circulation.
EVENING HABITS
Cleansing your skin every single evening before sleep. It’s imperative to gently remove the layer that collects on the surface of the skin every day. Oil, sweat, makeup, dirt, dust, pollution in the air – all stick to our face as we walk through the world every day.
Nighttime, while we are sleeping, is the body’s chance to heal, rejuvenate, clean house, so to speak. Cleansing the skin gives the skin the optimal chance to do this work as we rest.
Use a specialty serum: there are specific ingredients that help with your specific concerns and conditions. Lightening, redness reducing, oil control, blemish healing are a few concerns that a serum can treat while you sleep!
Night creme: when you begin to see signs of aging, which typically begins in the decade between 30-40, introduce a good quality Retinol creme into your evening routine.
Retinol is an ingredient to be used only at night, never in the morning. Retinol is a tried and true ingredient used in varying strengths to keep the momentum in your skin’s cellular turnover, stimulate collagen production and improve the texture of your skin.
Regular Gentle Exfoliation
This can be a gentle scrub or an enzyme masque, depending on your skin type, condition & concerns. Make this a habit and your skin will stay smooth, fresh & bright.
SLEEP
Sleep is the time when our bodies get to work on rejuvenating & recharging as we rest.
Sleep reduces inflammation & improves skin conditions like Acne and even eczema & psoriasis.
Sleep reduces stress levels and the stress hormone cortisol.
Sleep reduces the risk and symptoms of depression.
Sleep cleanses the plaque buildup on our brains that accumulates during the day. Lack of sleep can cause the plaque to harden, which makes it harder for the lymphatic function to remove it on a regular basis. This plaque buildup is an indicator of higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Sleep keeps your heart healthy and reduces the risk of heart attack & stroke. Sleep improves memory,
Sleep regulates mood and makes it possible to move through the day in a happy state of mind.
Golden slumbers fill your eyes…Smiles await you when you rise… ~ The Beatles