Let’s talk about two secrets - things that people don't think of when they are looking to promote healthier skin in their lives. Two R’s that, when done properly, can help promote a healthy, youthful glow: Recreation and Rest.
Recreation is any form of exercise that gets your blood moving and your skin sweating. Exercise gets the heart rate up and your blood pumping, helping to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the skin. This supports collagen production and skin cell turnover (keeping new skin cells surfacing). Sweating also acts like a purifying mask, helping to clean out your pores. And finally, exercise can reduce stress, and stress can aggravate aging skin as well as acne.
But it’s also possible to DAMAGE your skin while you exercise. Here’s some cardinal rules to make sure you get the most bang out of your buck while you bust a move!
ALWAYS start with a fresh face. A face full of makeup is likely to get more clogged and congested as you start to sweat.
ALWAYS wash your face/shower after your workout. All that gunk that sweated out of your pores will absorb right back in (along with evaporated sweat) if you don’t clean it off immediately.
NEVER touch your face during a workout - especially if you’re at a public gym. You never know what contaminants or potential infections you might be transmitting to your skin!
NEVER exercise outside without a sunscreen on - UV damage is one of the leading causes in skin aging.
Now let’s talk about Rest. Getting 7-9 hours of sleep per night is one of the most powerful beauty recipes out there. Sleep is when your full body, including your skin, regenerates and restores itself. Let’s talk specifically about what happens to your skin at night while you sleep:
increased blood flow, delivering vital nutrients to the skin
increased ability to retain moisture
increased ability to self-heal; skin cell regeneration
increased production of collagen
Over time, getting enough sleep can dramatically affect how you age. In fact, studies have shown that even ONE night of poor sleep can cause:
hanging eyelids
swollen eyes
darker undereye circles
paler skin
more wrinkles and fine lines
more droopy corners of the mouth
Here’s a few tips to maximize your beauty sleep:
ALWAYS wash your face before you go to sleep. Failure to do this can age your skin up to 11 days, not to mention cause acne.
ALWAYS use a thick moisturizer at night while you sleep. Even those with oily skin can benefit from a more emollient moisturizer during the night (when the skin has extra abilities to absorb moisture). This is a smart way to make sure your skin gets the moisture it needs without needing to slather it on during the day.
NEVER sleep on a dirty or itchy pillowcase. If your pillowcase hasn’t been washed in weeks, it may be contributing to acne and even rash. The best pillowcases for your skin health are satin or silk to reduce crow’s feet and other fine lines.
NEVER sleep on your tummy. Back and side sleeping put the least amount of stress on your skin at night. And at 7-9 hours every a day, that choice can really add up!
Keep these secrets in mind, and pair them with some other great skin-healthy habits. Glowing skin awaits!
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