10 tips to gain a healthy and radiant glowing skin

Despite popular belief, people are not just born with beautiful skin.  Yes, there is a small genetic component to healthy skin, but most people will need to work at it to get their desired result.  You will need to pamper and treat your skin with these tips for that glowing skin. 

Wearing sunscreen every day is the most important tip, and should be part of your daily routine when it comes to having healthy glowing skin.  Sunscreen helps to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.  The UV rays lead to the formation of free radicals which can cause premature aging. Premature aging occurs when you start seeing fine lines around your eyes and lips and you are too young for that to be happening.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology AAD, wearing a sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 can help reduce the impact of UV rays on your skin.  SPF is the sun protection factor.  Make sure you get one that has broad-spectrum protection from UVA and UVB rays.  This is important because sunscreens do not always protect from both.  UVA rays cause premature aging of your skin and UVB protects against skin cancer.  Clearly, you want to ensure you use a sunscreen that protects against both.  If it doesn't say broad-spectrum protection, don't buy it.

Sunscreen can be worn under your regular makeup, and takes very little time to add to your daily regimen.  You need to get into the habit of applying your sunscreen every day, even if the sun is not out, because UV rays can still come through and affect your skin.  Don't be fooled when you pop your head out the window and see that it is cloudy.  You must still use sunscreen.

Sunscreen is safe to use on children as young as 6 months old.  The sooner you start using sunscreen daily, the more likely that it will grow to become a life-long habit, and that is what you want to instill in your children so they will like the way they look at 30.

You know you should remove your makeup before going to bed, but do you actually follow through every night?  Do It! I cannot stress this tip enough.  You have to discipline yourself to make it a habit to remove your makeup before going to bed. 

Cosmetics can be very oily and leaving it on overnight can clog your pores, leading to breakouts and blackheads.  Remember, you already had the makeup on all day long, so why leave it on for another 7 or 8 hours? 

Since we are on the subject of bedtime, make sure you are getting between 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.  Less than the 7 to 8 hours means you are sleep deprived.  Sleep deprivation puts added stress on your body and causes it to produce an increased level of cortisol.  You do not want to increase the amount of cortisol in your body because it leads to skin inflammations such as psoriasis and acne.  
 
Sleeping will increase the blood flow to your skin to give it a healthy glow when you wake up in the morning, so make sure you are getting in enough zzzzs. Try a few drops of a lavender essential oil to help you relax and sleep better.  You can put a drop on your pillow or sheets and gently massage some into your wrists so you will get a lovely waft of lavender as you drift off to sleep.

Cleaning your makeup brushes is probably a task you put off completing because on the scale of things to accomplish each day, it probably doesn't hit the top 10.  However, cleaning your makeup brushes will remove the bacteria build up that is hiding within those bristles.  That's right.  You read it correctly. Bacteria.  It lives within your makeup brushes.  You do not want to add bacteria to your face because that will lead to breakouts and skin irritations.
 
Another reason to clean your makeup brushes is to ensure the brush continues to apply your makeup smoothly.  If there is a buildup of foundation on the brush, it will not leave you with a flawless face.  Cleaning your brushes will allow them to last longer than if you do not wash them.  Let's face it. Makeup brushes are expensive, so you want them to last.  Clean your brushes every two weeks to keep them in tip top condition. 

Antioxidants have been known to guard your skin against free radicals. Free radicals are unstable atoms that bond together to damage cells leading to premature aging. There are foods you can incorporate into your diet to complement healthy skin.  The Mayo Clinic recommends eating foods rich in antioxidants to achieve healthier skin. 

There are many different foods that you can eat that have antioxidants, and you are bound to find a few that appeal to you. Foods that contain high levels of antioxidants are: apricots, asparagus, broccoli, avocado, blueberries, dark chocolate, kale, mustard and turnip greens, pecans, potatoes, pumpkins, spinach, tomatoes and walnuts. Here is the list of the top three foods with the most antioxidants.

Dark chocolate has many beneficial properties. It can lower blood pressure and reduce inflammation. As far as antioxidants, dark chocolate contains 15 mmol (millimoles) of antioxidants per 100 grams, about 3.5 ounces. In addition to tasting delicious, dark chocolate can contribute to having glowing skin.

Pecans contain 10.6 mmol of antioxidants per 100 grams and provides an excellent souce of protein, healthy fats and minerals.  It also contains vitamin E which is excellent for your skin. Pecans are easy to incorporate into foods you are probably already eating - chop and add to your yogurt or sprinkle on your sweet potatoes before you bake them in the oven.

Blueberries contain 9.2 mmol antioxidants per 100 grams.  Of all the fruits and veggies, blueberries has the highest level of antioxidants and is one of the lowest calorie counts. Blueberries have anti-inflammatory properties and have been shown to lower your risk of heart disease and cancer.  You can buy blueberries fresh, or try the freeze dried blueberries.  Dried blueberries taste great right out of the package or you can use in baking, on ice cream or in smoothies.

As part of your skin and beauty routine, make sure you add in moisturizers. A moisturizer adds hydration to your skin and the moisture helps to keep you skin from drying out.  Moisturizers also include anti-aging ingredients that will give your face a lift.  Below is a list of cream and masks that boost skin glow.

Moisturizers are perfect for dry skin. CeraVe moisturizing cream hydrates the skin and revitalizes the skin's natural protective barrier.  Can be used on the face, neck and anyplace on the body where skin is dry.  Developed by dermatologists, CeraVe is made with MVE Delivery Technology that was designed to release the moisturizing ingredients for 24 hour hydration. CeraVe is a non-greasy formula and is quick absorbing. CeraVe is hypoallergenic and ideal for those with sensitive skin. 

Peter Thomas Roth's Water Drench packs an amazing punch for a cloud cream. This moisturizing cream is light enough to be worn under your makeup. It has an airy texture and is immediately absorbed by your skin. It does not make your skin feel oily and it goes on so smoothly that it allows for a smooth application for your makeup foundation. It is an affordable product and a little goes a long way.

Sisley's Black Rose Cream Mask plumps, smooths and brightens your skin. Mask contains ingredients with anti-aging properties and is infused with rose water.  Apply to your skin and leave on for 15 minutes before washing off. Use twice a week to realize the maximum benefits and see fresh glowing skin.

Achieving healthy, radiant and glowing skin is possible for everyone, but does require some effort.  Remember, most of the tips are fairly easy to accomplish.  Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily, remove your makeup at night, get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night, clean your makeup brushes every two weeks, eat foods that are rich in antioxidants, and develop a skin care regimen that includes a moisturizer and cream face mask once or twice a week. You will be happy with the results, so start today!