5 steps to glowing skin

Healthy glowing skin

If your skin is looking a little tired, it may not be as hydrated as it should be. Dry, dehydrated skin is a common problem. And it can trigger the development of one or two fine lines, even before you reach your 30s.

To get your glow back, start by following the classic three-step skincare routine of cleansing, toning and moisturising. The following can also help make lacklustre skin look refreshed:

  1. Be gentle  Your skin does an amazing job, so take good care of it. If yours is a bit on the dry side, treat it gently by…
  • Taking warm showers instead of long hot baths
  • Avoiding products that contain ingredients such as perfumes and colourants
  • Not using soap (use a gentler soap substitute instead)
  • Wearing clothes made of natural fibres whenever possible (cotton and silk, for instance)
  • Using a non-bio washing powder or liquid that’s free from dyes or perfumes
  1. Eat right  Eating healthily is essential for keeping your skin looking and feeling good. Try adding the following nutrients to your diet:
  • Antioxidants: foods such as brightly coloured fruit and veg may help slow down the early signs of ageing, including dry skin and wrinkles. You can boost your Antioxidant intake with a supplement. Vive’s Antioxidant capsules contain antioxidant vitamins C and E, together with selenium (a mineral with antioxidant properties).
  • Vitamins: eat citrus fruit, red peppers, broccoli and other greens for a boost of vitamin C, which may help protect skin from the sun; vitamin E is also sun protective, so eat plenty of nuts, seeds and green veg; also have more vitamin A foods such as spinach, red peppers, watercress, mangoes and tomatoes to prevent flaky skin.
  • Oils : Omega 3 essential fatty acids found in oily fish may help moisturise your skin from within and stop it from getting too dry. If you don’t eat enough oily fish or if you want to boost your omega 3 intake try a high quality Omega-3 supplement.
  1. Tackle toxins If you smoke, now may be the time to quit. As well as having known links with cancer, lung and heart disease, smoking also has a negative impact on skin health as it can affect your skin’s strength and elasticity.

Meanwhile drinking too much alcohol not only dehydrates your body generally, but it can also deprive your skin of vitamins and other nutrients. Keep your skin healthy by drinking a maximum of 14 units of alcohol a week (see Drinkaware for more details).

  1. Exfoliate once a week On average your skin creates a new top layer every 28 days through shedding dead cells. But those dead cells can build up and lead to dullness and dry patches. To remove them, use a gentle exfoliator on your face just once a week – look for a non-abrasive product that won’t irritate your skin. And when you take a bath or shower, use a loofah or exfoliating mitt to exfoliate the rest of your body.

Many skincare experts also recommend dry skin brushing to improve the appearance of body skin. This allegedly helps stimulate blood flow and boosts circulation. Brush your skin gently in circular movements using a bath brush before you bathe or shower.

  1. Use protection You probably use sunscreen when you’re on holiday or when the UV levels are high at home. But shielding your skin from the sun’s damaging rays on a daily basis from early April to late October is thought to be the number one strategy for avoiding premature ageing.

If you spend a lot of time outdoors you may also want to consider using sunscreen all year round. As a general guide, use a sunscreen with SPF30 or higher during the summer and SPF15 when the sun isn’t strong (try a moisturiser with built-in SPF if you prefer fewer product layers).