Spring is the time when many give their homes a top-to-bottom buffing. But while many take the time and energy to clean their homes, their most valuable home—their body, remains neglected. Many of the body’s problems could be solved by just drinking water. It’s the easiest way to clean the body.
According to James R Gavin III, MD, PhD, a noted leader in the field of diabetes "Not drinking enough water could be similar to what we see in people who consume a lot of cholesterol.” Gavin, who is also chair of the Partnership for a Healthier America, an initiative to fight childhood obesity also says a lot of cholesterol and fat in the diet may make some people more susceptible to type 2 diabetes. "Insufficient fluid intake may also influence susceptibility to diabetes," Gavin says.
In addition to diabetes, keeping your body properly hydrated plays an important role in the health and appearance of your skin. Drinking water does not “moisturize” your skin. Drinking plenty of water will, however, keep all of the cells in your body in tip-top condition. Your skin benefits from all of your bodily systems functioning at their best.
And with this, as seasons change, our skin is faced with various different challenges. Significant temperature variations can often take a toll on your skin unless you learn to adapt to them. If the winter season proved to be extremely hard for your skin, the spring season might be your chance to start over in a completely different way. “Today, the sun is brighter than it has been anytime in the last four centuries,” explains Drew Shindell, Ph.D., a scientist at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies. “Additionally, the seasons have shifted—spring is longer, summer is longer and fall is longer. This means people are spending more time outdoors. All of these things combined mean seasonless sun protection is crucial.”
As spring time approaches, many of us start making various changes in our routines. Preparing our skin for the new season should be one of them. It’s essential to prepare our skin in order to be able to look our very best at any given moment. Although subtle, a few changes in our skin care rituals can make a great difference in the way our skin looks. Here are a few tips.
If at all possible, start with organic products. Why Organic? Well, we only have one body. It makes sense to care for it wisely. With today's numerous environmental challenges affecting the health and beauty of our environment and our individual health and beauty as well; it is important to select the products we use carefully. Simply stated, organic skincare products are better for your health and the environment. True natural skincare products are made with organic ingredients as nature intended and are produced without mineral oils, parabens, synthetic preservatives, artificial colors and fragrances, GMO botanical sources and otherwise inferior or harmful substances. By shopping for high quality, genuine and natural skincare products made with organic ingredients, this will ensure that you receive wholesome care that is good for your body and your skin.
“Organic is really the only way to go. It is chemical free. Unless you are allergic to a specific ingredient in the product, there is usually no adverse effect. Organic is pure, clean and simple. God has given us everything on this earth to live a wholesome and healthy lifestyle.” Zondra Wilson, founder Blu Skin Care, LLC (www.bluskincare.info)
#1: Stay Hydrated
Your body tends to lose a lot of moisture in the warmer months, which can not only have an adverse effect on your skin, but also on the functions of your whole body. Therefore, it is extremely important that you keep yourself hydrated by drinking water at least 8-10 times a day. Doing so will also make your skin stay moisturized and soft throughout the day.
#2: Exfoliate
Exfoliating regularly is another essential ritual you should not neglect. Choose a gentle exfoliator that will not irritate the skin and make sure not to over do it.
#3: Moisturize
Moisturizing is by far the most important aspect we should take care of. Although moisturizing regularly is just as important during spring as it is during winter, it is generally smarter to use a little less during the warmer months as to not leave your skin feeling greasy. We recommend Blu Skin Care’s 100% Organic Whipped Coconut-Green Tea Moisturizer (www.bluskincare.info). It is light and moisturizes your skin without leaving it feeling greasy and weighed down. This moisturizer is an excellent sunscreen…blocking up to 90% of the sun’s harmful UVB rays.
#4: Increase Your SPF
To ensure your skin is protected from the sun, use a moisturizer with at least SPF 15, which is perfect for everyday use. If you have fairer skin, you may want to use a sunscreen too or opt for a moisturizer with a higher SPF rating. If you know you are going to spend the day in the sun, keep a sunscreen with you and top up every couple of hours, particularly on areas that are more sensitive to the sun like your nose and lips.
#5: Take Care of Your Lips
And speaking about those lips. Although most of us do our best to protect our face from the sun, little is done for our lips. In fact, a survey showed that only about 37% of women who apply sunscreen on their face pay attention to protecting their lips. Lips are especially important to protect since they don’t have any melanin, which means they are more prone to sun damage. Avoid premature aging, excessive sun exposure and wrinkles by investing in a lip balm that has SPF 15 or higher.
#6: Cleanse Your Face Twice a Day
To avoid breakouts and blocked pores and in addition to exfoliating, a good cleansing routine is extremely important to keep the skin purified and balanced. Cleanse every morning before putting on any makeup. At night, remove every inch of your makeup by using makeup removers and then give your skin a thorough cleanse. Add an exfoliator and toner to the night routine to remove dead skin cells from the surface and any other residue that may have been left behind from your facial cleanser.
#7: Give Yourself a Facial Treatment
Kick-start your spring skincare routine by treating yourself to a facial to hydrate, purify and detox your skin. Since there is a wide variety of facial treatments out there, it can be difficult to decide which one to go for. Decide what type of treatment you want such as anti-aging, dryness, tackling redness or just a general service, and go for that.
#8: Use Oil Instead of Night Cream
For skin concerns like dryness, breakouts, anti-aging and redness, avoid using a night cream and making your skin work hard. Instead, go for a lighter facial oil or light moisturizer, which can get the job done without stressing out your skin. Despite the misconception that facial oils and moisturizers make skin look greasy, if applied correctly, they are extremely effective at soothing the skin while providing barrier protection. Before applying the facial oil/moisturizer or just about anything to your face, make sure your hands are clean. Once you have applied the product, avoid touching your face.
#9: Spray On Spring Water
Spring water has natural minerals that will not only make you look dewy, but also calm your skin. When you sweat, you lose a lot of minerals required for a healthy skin. Spritzing on spring water can help you get those minerals back. These facial mists are like Gatorade for your face.
#10: Diet & Exercise
Last but not least, pay attention to your diet and exercise regimen and strive to make better lifestyle choices. This is another aspect that will have an impact on the way your skin looks. Make sure to include plenty of seasonal fruits and vegetables, drink a lot of water and exercise regularly to improve the way your skin looks from within.
If you follow these few and simple steps, it won’t be long before you’re on your way to a better and more luxurious YOU!
By: Zondra Wilson