11 Daily Habits for Naturally Glowing Skin
JAMES COLQUHOUN
It’s the small things that add up to make big changes to how we feel! Try out these 11 simple steps to build happier and healthier skin.
1. Move It, Move It!
Our skin receives all the healing nutrients it needs through our blood supply. Every time you exercise, you are increasing this beautiful, nourishing blood supply to your skin! You’ve heard it before and you’ll probably hear it again but it’s absolutely vital that we move our body on a daily basis. Your complexion will thank you for it!
2. Eat Plenty Of Healthy Fats
Our skin requires healthy fats to reduce inflammation and build healthy cells. Include plenty of nuts, seeds, avocado, tahini, chia, and cold-pressed oils into your daily diet. And if you aren’t vegetarian, a couple of serves of fish each week will be helpful, too.
3. Anti-Aging Antioxidants
Free radicals are a big contributing factor towards aging. You can help to combat their aging action by eating a diet that is rich in antioxidants; therefore, include plenty of brightly colored fruits and vegetables on your plate each day!
4. A Vitamin That Makes You ‘C’ Real Beauty Benefits!
Vitamin C is essential for collagen production. Ie the ‘cement’ that keeps our skin supple, firm and free from wrinkles. Eat plenty of fruit, vegetables, and fresh vegetable juices to get a good daily dose. Good food sources of Vitamin C include kiwifruit, strawberries, citrus fruit, papaya, broccoli and more!
5. Don’t Pick On Yourself
While this advice rings true at any time, it is particularly helpful if you experience acne or pimple. Squeezing zits increases the spread of bacteria that exacerbate acne (hence, more acne!) and can also cause scarring. Tempting though it may be, keep your fingers off your face and your breakout is bound to heal faster.
6. Snooze Makeup-Free
This habit might be tricky to keep - especially after a late night - but sleeping in your makeup is bad news for your skin. Makeup clogs your pores and if you’re using non-organic brands, this also allows extra time for toxic substances to seep into your bloodstream. Cleanse your face before hitting the hay - those extra 5 minutes are worth it!
7. Give Gratitude During Your Beauty Rituals
It can be tempting to find fault and search for flaws in the reflection that gazes back at us. Instead of criticizing your face during daily beauty routines, try to use this time to give thanks for your own unique beauty.
8. Get Plenty Of Sleep
There’s a reason why it’s called ‘Beauty Sleep’ ;-) Your body performs all kind of healing, detoxifying and replenishing work while you’re getting your zzz’s. Research is showing we need more than most people getting - try for a minimum of 8 hours each night!
9. Count On Copper For A Vital Glow
Copper plays an important role in collagen synthesis and is also an integral part of the pigment which dyes our eyes, skin, and hair. Eat plenty of copper-rich foods such as seaweed, nuts, legumes, organ meats (organic only) and cacao to prevent premature aging.
10. Get Plenty Of Zinc
Zinc works 24/7 to heal and repair any damage to your skin. It heals wounds, tidies up tissue injury and may even help to clear up acne. Consume foods such as pumpkin seeds/pepitas, seafood (wild caught, sustainable) and raw cacao to get a regular hit of zinc!
11. Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that also functions as an antioxidant in the body. It can help to protect your skin against free radical and sun damage. If your skin is dry or damaged, Vitamin E can help to restore nourishment. Good food sources of Vitamin E include nuts, seeds, avocado and oily fish (wild caught).
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James Colquhoun is the filmmaker behind Food Matters, Hungry For Change, and Transcendence Seasons 1 & 2 and founder of Food Matters and FMTV. Along with Laurentine ten Bosch, James founded the Food Matters community following the release of the 2008 documentary, giving people the tools (films, books, articles, and guided programs) to take charge of their own health. From here, FMTV was born! It was designed as a place where you can access vital information by watching all of your favorite inspiring documentaries, expert interviews, & recipe videos in one place, and in early 2020 FMTV found it's new home on Gaia.