Nourish your Skin

1. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

Your skin is your body’s largest organ, protecting your internal organs from the toxins of the outside world. Providing it with enough water to flush out those toxins is key to its health. The National Academy of Medicine recommends that adults drink 91-125 ounces of fluids per day, and recent studies show that drinking a combination of fluids like water, milk, and orange juice with food works best. Hydrated skin also plumps up and shows fewer wrinkles!

2. Make sleep a priority

When we sleep, levels of the stress hormone cortisol drop while cell reproduction and collagen production increase. Our skin is literally being repaired while we snooze. Individual sleep needs vary, but 7-9 hours is generally recommended for most adults. Silk or high-thread-count sheets create less friction, which is gentler on the face.

3. Eat clean

Nourish your skin from within by eating foods that help protect from UV rays and provide the right vitamins, minerals, and fats. Avocados, carrots, broccoli, red grapes, olive oil, eggplant, cacao nibs, tempeh, strawberries, and tea are among the most recommended. A colorful plate should be your goal.

4. Use natural skincare products

Everyone has their own individual body chemistry, and it may take some time to find the perfect skin care products for you. With so many options, just look for natural cleansers, moisturizers, and sunscreens that are free of parabens, phthalates, sulfates, silicones, and formaldehyde, as well as mineral oil and artificial fragrance.

5. Do yoga

Truth be told, any exercise you love increases blood flow and lowers stress, which is good for your skin. A regular yoga practice does that and so much more. Taking time to quiet your mind is an effective way to release the stress hormone, while the breathwork brings increased oxygen flow. Inversions that get your heart above your head like downward dog and forward folds, sun salutation flows, and twists that help detoxify the body combine to help you age more gracefully.

By Heidi Drake; All Rights Reserved @2019