Want to get that radiant summer glow?

Start with skin health. Are you in a healthy relationship with your skin? What is your skin trying to tell you? If you’re struggling to achieve naturally beautiful, healthy-looking skin, it may be time to give your relationship some more attention. Show your skin some love with these top 10 tips to achieve naturally healthy, radiant, and beautiful-looking skin. 

Stay hydrated

Did you know you can improve the appearance of your skin with proper hydration? If the outermost layer of your skin doesn’t contain enough water, it loses elasticity and can become dry and flaky. To combat this lack of moisture, dehydrated skin will send signals to the glands to produce more oil. This overproduction of oil will eventually clog pores –– causing uneven, textured, and acne-prone skin. Staying hydrated can help maintain the skin’s optimal functioning and self-renewal, , resulting in less irritation and inflammation, revealing plumper and more radiant-looking skin. Generally, adults should drink at least 5 to 8 glasses of water per day to stay healthy and hydrated. Drinking more water will help keep your skin healthy and radiant from the inside out. 

Eat bright and healthy foods

What we eat directly impacts our overall health. Healthy skin starts from within. Highly processed foods rich in sugar may cause issues like dull, dry, and oily skin. In comparison, a diet that focuses on high-quality lean proteins, fibre, healthy oils and fruits and vegetables is a great way to support the health of your skin. Give your skin a boost with ingredients that are anti-inflammatory, antioxidant-rich, and contain high-quality amino acids which are the building blocks of firm skin. Some examples include: 

• Fatty fish
• Avocados
• Nuts and seeds
• Sweet potatoes
• Red or Yellow Peppers
• Carrots
• Broccoli
• Tomatoes 
• Green tea
• Red Grapes
• Dark chocolate

Exercise regularly

Exercise plays a key role in your pursuit of healthy, radiant, and beautiful-looking skin. When you move your body regularly, you increase the flow of blood and oxygen throughout your organs. Increased blood flow helps nourish your body’s cells (including your skin cells) more efficiently. This leads to improved vitality and more effective cellular repair and replacement. Thirty minutes of exercise each day could improve the quality and appearance of your skin. However, be sure to thoroughly cleanse your skin after you sweat. When you work out, your pores dilate, and sweat expels trapped dirt and oil. If you aren’t properly cleansing after each workout, that unwanted grime could clog your pores. 

Establish a skincare routine

An effective at-home skincare routine is a vital component of your overall skin health. Each product is part of a recipe that specifically targets a concern or goal for your skin. Your skincare routine doesn’t need to be complicated; but it needs to include products with high-quality ingredients and results backed by science. Do you know your skin type? The primary skin types are dry, oily or combination. It’s important to become familiar with your skin so you can effectively equip yourself with the tools you need to address your key skincare concerns. When you meet with a skincare expert or ask for product recommendations from a licensed dermatologist, they’ll make sure each product works in tandem to transform and improve your skin. The recipe for your skincare products is just as important as the order you use them in and the way they interact with each other.

Cleanse daily

Washing your face regularly is an important part of achieving healthy skin that’s free of dirt, dead skin cells, excess oil, and impurities. Your dermatologist can help you establish the kind of cleanser that cleans your skin without stripping it or upsetting your natural moisture barrier. How do you know when you’re over-cleansing? If you notice your skin is feeling tight, dry, or irritated, you may be going overboard with your cleansing routine or you may need to choose a new cleanser. Cleansing your face should never dry out your skin or make it look red or flaky. 

Exfoliate your skin

Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from your face, to allow your skin to regenerate and breathe. When you buff away those dead skin cells you’re left with healthy and radiant skin. Regular exfoliation can:

• Unclog pores
• Prevent acne 
• Improve product efficacy 
• Even skin tone 
• Boost circulation and lymphatic drainage
• Increase cell turnover
• Stimulate collagen production

While it’s important to buff away dead skin cells, you don’t want to strip away too many of your skin’s healthy cells or natural oils. Exfoliate your skin regularly as part of your weekly skincare routine. There are many ways you can effectively exfoliate your skin with serums, masks, peels or chemical exfoliants. Be sure to choose an exfoliation method that compliments your skin type and goals. 

Hydrate and protect

If you want healthy, radiant, and beautiful-looking skin, a moisturizer is an essential part of your skincare routine. Moisturizers help to protect the skin’s barrier from irritation and dryness. They also create a barrier between your skin and the climate, including the cold and dry air that further dries the skin. A moisturizer can smooth the skin’s surface by flattening the “valleys” between the skin contour ridges. It can also make the surface of the skin softer and more pliable. If you aren’t properly moisturizing your skin, your skin may become irritated and inflamed, and you will experience a higher risk of infection and scarring. Picking the right moisturizer depends on your specific skin type and preference for consistency. Choose a moisturizer that protects against UV rays and other environmental stressors while also being blendable and breathable. Be careful not to over-moisturize the skin, as too much moisture will interfere with the skin’s natural hydration resulting in sensitive, dry, and dull-looking skin. Your dermatologist can help you pick a lightweight moisturizer that’s right for your skin.

Embrace sunscreen

Wearing sunscreen is crucial to achieving healthy skin long-term. Apply sunscreen to your face regularly to protect your skin from harmful UV rays, lower your risk of skin cancer, prevent premature aging, and maintain a healthy and even skin tone. Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher all year, even if you spend time indoors. When buying sunscreen, look for one with a broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection. UVA rays can cause fine lines, wrinkles, and pigmentation, while UVB rays are primarily responsible for skin damage and burns. Both types of rays can cause skin cancer. No matter your skin colour or tone, regularly applying sunscreen to your face and other exposed areas will help protect your healthy skin and prevent future damage. 

Try a facial massage

Gently massage your face 2-3 times per week to relax and improve your skin’s health. Facial massage improves blood circulation, tones facial muscles, and relieves tension that can cause fine lines and wrinkles. It can also help soften the skin as it clears impurities through lymphatic drainage. Stimulating the skin in this way can even help to produce collagen and elastin naturally over time. Regular facial massage, combined with a daily skincare regimen, can significantly improve the overall appearance of your skin.

Book a treatment

Consider booking a dermatologist-recommended treatment to effectively enhance the results of your at-home skincare regimen, and improve the health and radiance of your skin. If you’re struggling with stubborn acne scars, a dull complexion, or brown spots, a chemical peel may help. Chemical peels work to exfoliate the damaged, thickened surface of the skin to effectively boost collagen production for firmer, healthier, more radiant-looking skin. If you’re struggling with fine lines, thin skin, scaring, and a dull complexion, you may find improved results with a microneedling treatment. Microneedling creates thousands of coagulative zones in the upper layers of the skin, and the healing process stimulates cellular turnover and the production of collagen and elastin. The result is an improvement in texture, quality, and firmness of the skin. These and other treatments can help transform your skin.

Need more expert advice?

If you aren’t sure what your skin is trying to tell you, or you’re confused about what products or regimens you should follow, our dermatologists can create an individualized skincare plan that will effectively enhance and improve the overall health of your skin. Follow us on social platforms for You deserve skin you love living in.