You would be hard pressed to find a woman that doesn’t use some sort of skin cream, serum, or solution of some sort or another — often several at once — and more and more men have skincare regimens as well. The global skincare market is huge and estimated to be 180 billion dollars.
Everyone wants more healthy and youthful skin, but the truth is, that much of what makes you radiate good health and beauty comes from the inside out. Here are some key ways to keep your skin gorgeous regardless of what you smear on it.
1. Hydrate
Drinking enough water is essential for all the body’s systems, organs and cells. If you're not sufficiently hydrated, your skin dries out, has less resilience, and is more prone to wrinkling. Water not only increases elasticity, it also flushes out toxins from the body, which in turn gives you healthy glowing skin.
2. Antioxidants
Pollution and chemicals in our environment are full of free radicals, or molecules that can damage your skin. Antioxidants are naturally occurring phytonutrients, found in fruits and vegetables, that can protect skin from these damaging free radicals. The list of antioxidant-rich foods is long, but some of the most potent are fruits and berries like blueberries, goji berries, and pomegranates. Organic Berry Power™ blends 20+ of the planet’s most antioxidant-rich fruits and berries into a delicious and easy to use powder.
One of the strongest natural antioxidants that science has ever found is astaxanthin. This red pigment molecule found in Haematococcus pluvialis algae, ranges from one hundred to one thousand times stronger than many other well-known antioxidants. SuperPure® Astaxanthin, a certified organic, vegan, and potent form of this powerful compound, promotes healthy skin tone, texture, elasticity, and moisture levels.
Another way to consume your antioxidants is with a cup of tea. Organic Matcha Power® green tea has more than ten times the antioxidants compared to traditional teas and many well-known superfoods, and is a soothing and scrumptious way to protect your skin.
3. Limit Sun Exposure
The ultraviolet (UV) rays within sunlight cause sunburns and damage skin over time. Prolonged exposure to these rays can make skin less elastic, leathery, wrinkled, or blotchy. One of the best ways to keep skin looking beautiful is by limiting sun exposure. Wear protective clothing and sunglasses, use sunscreen (for more sunscreen tips check out Top 5 Sunscreen Mistakes), stay in the shade as much as possible, and avoid direct sunlight especially between 10 am and 4 pm when the sun’s rays are most intense.
4. Vitamin C
There is a high concentration of vitamin C in the epidermis and dermis, which hints to its importance to overall skin health. Vitamin C plays a critical role in collagen formation and is also a powerful antioxidant. Because of this, it helps heal and rejuvenate damaged skin.
Vitamin C-rich foods include dark leafy vegetables - like spinach and kale - also broccoli, citrus fruits, winter squash, peppers among many others. Another way to ensure you’re getting enough of this skin-enhancing vitamin is with Pure Radiance C®. Made from 11 organic berries and fruits, it’s a powerful vitamin C formula that’s easy on the stomach.
5. Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids help protect skin from sun damage by blocking the release of substances that corrode collagen after sun exposure. One type of Omega-3 fatty acid, called EPA, helps manage oil production and hydration of the skin, reduces premature aging, as well as the risk of acne. You can get your omega-3’s from foods such as salmon, flaxseed, walnuts, chia seeds, and seaweed. You can also take a high-quality Omega-3 fatty acid supplement.
6. Zinc
Zinc is needed for the production of both collagen and keratin, important proteins in the skin. To learn more about how zinc benefits your skin, check out our blog Zinc And Skin Health: What You Need To Know.
Food sources of zinc include oysters, poultry, red meat, beans, nuts, shellfish, whole grains, and dairy products. Certain populations are at higher risk for zinc deficiency, like vegetarians, the elderly, and pregnant or lactating women. Zinc Complex™ combines our food-based, fermented zinc with an organic food complex of shiitake mushrooms, vitamin C-rich camu camu berries, and green vegetables and sprouts.
7. Get Enough Sleep
They don’t call it beauty rest for nothing. The body does an enormous amount of work while we’re fast asleep — like increasing blood flow, regenerating skin cells, getting rid of toxins and dead cells, rebuilding collagen, and repairing UV damage. Getting enough Z’s is a key strategy for keeping your skin looking fresh and radiant. Plus, it’s free and available every night!
