Excited, happy or stressed, it’s your face that always gives you away. Ever wondered how to get a radiant and glowing skin? Well here is the answer! I’ve rounded up expert skin care tips for keeping blemishes at bay and enhancing your natural beauty. Whether you have time for an intensive skincare routine or not, pamper yourself by getting to grips with the basics. Hashtag winning!

 

1. The Golden Rule

Do: Please please please, make sure to always remove your make up before bed. I know we all want to look fleeky for our dreamland adventures between the sheets, but the stress is not worth it! First off, its gonna be long getting the imprint of your make up off the pillow and bed sheets. and Most importantly your skin needs to breath overnight. Makeup prevents this process, as leaving it on overnight clogs the pores which may cause blemishes and/or blackheads.  If you don’t have makeup remover, get your creative hat on and make it work with some Olive oil on a cotton pad and gently massage the oil onto your face to get rid of the makeup and dirt.

Don’t forget to exfoliate your skin to remove the layers of dead skin to achieve a more healthy glow and brighter skin. You should exfoliate at least once a week.

 

2. Beauty Sleep

Do: My favourite tip of them all! Get your beauty sleep for at least 8 hours every night. If you don’t sleep for enough time, your skin will start to look tired, just like you; as it sags and gets bags. Its literally not worth the stress, so GOODNIGHT X

“Don’t forget to wash and moisturise your face before going to bed”. This was what my mother always taught me, and I haven’t faired badly. I am teaching the same to my daughters, and now to you x

 

3.You are What You Eat

Do: Keep a note of what you put on your plate. Opt for fresh fruits, greens, sufficient protein and vitamins. Treat your skin with respect it deserves and optimise your nutrition by eating antioxidant-rich fruit and vegetables, healthy fats from oily fish and nuts, and a varied and balanced diet. This should give optimal levels of the nutrients that are crucial for radiant skin, including beta carotene, vitamins C and E, zinc and selenium.

Don’t comfort eat! Face your demons and stay away from the 100th trip to the fridge boo! That extra slice of comfort is not your friend (Trust me, I learnt the hard way!)

4. Drink Water And Mind Your Business!

Do: Hydrate yourself with that H2O daily. Make it a goal of yours to drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day. It can be difficult, especially if you have a particularly sweet tooth, because unfortunately it can feel like water tastes like nothing. As stupid as that sound, I know it makes sense to those that don’t have the best relationship with H2O. If this is you flavour your water with fruits of your choice (I like cucumber, lemon and mint). It’s also a good idea to eat fruits and vegetables that have a high water content such as watermelon, cucumber, orange, strawberry and grapefruits

Don’t Ignore the benefits of minding your business! It helps prevent stress in the morning, maintains relationships and naturally works in not making you a busy body. Your skin will thank you for it. Hashtag Sips Tea

5. Sweat It Out!

Do: Exercise regularly. Running, jogging and yoga will give your body the necessary blood circulation. Scientific research also shows thats exercise  speeds up the cleansing process of your entire body. You will notice a glow on your face after working out. Racing against time? Just take a brisk walk, even if it is 10 minutes, literally when it comes to our bodies, every little helps!

Don’t Skip skin care before and after a workout. E.g. Before working out, apply a toner to help minimise oil production. After working out exfoliate then apply a moisturiser to the skin.

6. Sun Kissed Skin

Enjoy the outdoors as much as you can. When natural sunlight hits the skin it triggers the body’s production of vitamin D. Vitamin D is also known as “the sunshine vitamin.” It is a crucial ingredient for overall health; protects against inflammation, lowers high blood pressure, helps muscles and improves brain function. It is also the perfect way to boost your emotional wellbeing and mood.

Don’t forget to wear protective sun screen to protect your skin. Yes even you are darker skinned, because just because we cant see the damage being done as easily as on lighter complexions, doesn’t mean that its not happening. So save yourself the heartache and baste up!

 

7. Goodbye Acne- Hello Fine Girl No Pimple

Do: Wash your face with warm water, at least twice a day (preferably in the morning, and before bed), and gently massage your face in circular motions.  After cleansing, pat dry and apply a moisturising lotion

Don’t pop pimples  because it can lead to more swelling, redness, and even scarring. Feel a pimple is on its way? I would recommend Just cleaning the area with rose water, and placing a chilled green tea bag for 10 minutes. Also, if you wear glasses or sunglasses, make sure you clean them frequently to keep oil from clogging the pores around your eyes and nose.

8. Spa Day Everyday?

Do: Have a regular skin care routine. I am blessed to have a Brother who works in a Beauty department store so he always shows me the latest fancy face masks and skin care products on the market. So I do save those for our girls pamper nights in! (try that by the way, it is so worth it, and you would be amazed the tea that gets served). I also stock up on the more affordable skin care products from my local beauty store to use on a day to day basis. If money is really tight, them over ripe fruits hanging on for dear life in your fruit basket work magic.

Don’t forget to pamper yourself because you are a diamond! A gentle facial massage with oils could work wonders. After 20 minutes, what do you have? Beautiful skin and a relaxed you.

9. Healthy Habits

Do: Take out time for yourself, and try to avoid stress as much as possible. Have you ever noticed that when you are stressed, you tend to break out more? This is because stress causes your body to produce cortisol and other hormones, making the skin more oily. Practice stress management techniques like breathing exercises and meditation. The more you meditate, the more you radiate.

Don’t, neglect your jawline and facial muscles, your selfies will thank you for it. For just 2 minutes a day, perform a facial exercise. An exercise that works wonders is to look up towards the ceiling and pout. It stretches out the muscles making the skin more firm. “Full time fabulous and Forever 21”, why not?

10. Smile- It’s Selfie Time

Your smile! While we spend so much time and energy on honing our bodies and looks, we forget to express our inner joy and happiness. “Keeping a smile on your face will help maintain the tone of your facial muscles and skin. Psychologists have found that even if you’re in bad mood, you can instantly lift your spirits by simulating (not fake, but choose to engage in)  a genuine smile.

IMPORTANT – Don’t pretend to be smiling if you are troubled inside. Seek help from a loved one or a qualified professional.

 

Please comment and share if you found it useful.

 

Stay fabulous x