Your mom was right – sometimes beauty really is only skin deep.
The best cleansers, creams and cosmetics only go so far. To get skin looking its best, you have to be willing to make a few lifestyle changes. The good news is that these changes are often relatively inexpensive and lead to better overall health, in addition to helping you look and feel better.
So here are a few reminders of the beauty tips that worked back in Mom’s, Grandma’s and Great Grandma’s day and still work wonders today.
Sleep. Really – whatever else you have to do can wait. Not sleeping well can lead to many health problems, including bad skin. “‘Beauty’ sleep is not just an old wives’ tale. Sleep allows the skin to restore its natural balance and increases the effectiveness of certain skin care ingredients, potentially providing more benefit to your skin,” writes Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi at DoctorOz.com.
Hydrate. Here’s a good rule of thumb. “For most people, that means drinking half your body weight in ounces daily. Lack of moisture is a major culprit in aging skin, dry hair, and poor cellular detoxification,” according to Dr. Lauren Deville, NMD. So, if you weigh 130 lbs., drink 65 ounces of water per day. That’s equivalent to a 2-quart pitcher of water each day.
Eat real food. A skin-healthy diet includes plenty of fruits and vegetables. Go easy on the grains, dairy and sugar, and incorporate enough saturated, monounsaturated and Omega-3 fats. Look for natural antioxidants, which can even be found in dark chocolate.
Image: Eric Danley / Flickr
