Sep 22, 2015

How To : Healthy Glowing Skin All Year Round

One of the key indicators for healthy skin is glowing radiant skin. In most parts of the world, the fall  and winter months are quickly approaching and that means that it is going to get cold. Putting our love for these two seasons aside, let's admit that they are notorious for leaving the skin dry and dull as the temperature dips for the worst.

So I know what you're thinking: how nice would it be to have radiant glowing skin despite the harsh autumn and winter months!

I'm here to tell all you ladies out there that it can be done!


Here are three ways you can achieve that summer glow all year round:

1. Glowing Skin Comes From Within


I'm a big believer that healthy skin starts with a good skincare routine. Whether you have been blessed with great skin or not-so-great skin, nurturing it with great love and care really does make a big impact to your outward appearance. Your skincare routine should target your skin's needs while still be simple enough to execute on the busy days.

I've been aware that products that promises 'radiance' and 'glow' are getting immensely popular these days. The high-end market is getting saturated with such products. Dior's Dream Skin and Estee Lauder's Nutritious Radiant Vitality Range have shared immense success in this region. Yet many are unaware that they often overcharge for something you could buy for much less.

So I have had the pleasure of reading the mechanisms behind some Clé de Peau products that promises to do just that. You will find out that the radiant skin is actually really simple to achieve.


Here's how those products work:


1. They have chemical exfoliants to smoothen your skin to even skin's texture
Basically, one of the key measures to the level of radiance and glow of your skin is the ability to reflect off light. When the texture of your skin is more even and smooth, your skin would be able to reflect off even more light, giving the appearance of radiant glowing skin!

Here's an analogy: visualise the surface of an apple versus an orange


To achieve the same result for less: incorporate chemical exfoliants like AHAs to your daily skincare routine.

What is AHAs?


2. They lighten your skin slightly

It's not rare to find a tad of whitening agents like niacinamide in these products. Having the skin a shade lighter does give the effect of a brighter looking skin.


To achieve the same result for less:
a simple homemade yogurt mask is incredibly easy and effective due to the natural bleaching agent. Simply mix it with a little oatmeal and apply to face for 15 mins.

The full recipe and benefits of the DIY mask can be found here.


3. It contains vitamin C

This is no surprise to those who have read my previous posts on the simple humble vitamin C. It is such a game changer to the level of glow in your skin and it is no wonder that such products are full of it!

Sadly, stable vitamin C products are generally more pricey but still something definitely worth considering because of 5 benefits we have discussed previously.


2. Let's Talk Make-up

source: www.saboskirt.com

source: http://aniamilczarczyk.com/

This is my favourite look of all time. It's just a neutral look with a wash of highlight and bronzer through the cheekbones and the lids accompanied with a nude lip.


Simple yet incredibly flattering. 


My current favourite products to achieve such a look includes: 
Highlight:
MAC Mineralise Skinfinish - Soft & Gentle

Bronzer:
Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel - Bronzing base

Contour:
Sleek Contour Kit - Light

Lips:
Revlon Matte Balm - 205 Elusive
Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate - 32


3. Good health for good skin!

Your skin can be a reflection of the state of your health. You know how your skin just looks blotchy and dull when you're ill and in need of sleep? Yeah, exactly that.

I believe these three components to be important in sustaining good health.


1. Exercise 

Beyond keeping in shape, incorporating some level of exercise in your schedule is great to release happy endorphins, maintain the physical state of your heart and keeps conditions like cardiovascular diseases at bay!

I do try to hit the gym at least twice a week and clock a few miles on the treadmill as much as I can. I also play tennis regularly which helps a lot. I do personally feel the difference when I am physically active and when I'm not. Do give it a go and tell me what you think! 



2. Sleep

I have to be honest, this is an area I struggle with the most and I'm sure most of you can relate to this as well. When work piles up and deadlines draw near, having enough shut eye may seem to much of a luxury to afford. Yet the fact remains that we need at least 6-8 hours of rest each night. 
It's a lot to ask for, trust me I know. Regardless, let us strive for it in the name of memory consolidation, mental health and for keeping certain diseases at bay!

3. DietI really believe that a well-nourished diet shows through. When we're talking about glowing skin, two things comes to mind - vitamins and minerals! I love food rich in vitamin A, C and E for regulating cell turnover rate as well as it's antioxidant properties. They include the everyday tomatoes and carrots to the more exotic grapefruits and papayas!

More recently, I have been in love with omega-3 fatty acids. They are crucial in maintaining the cell membrane in your cells, sustaining cardiovascular health and they are a well known anti-inflammatory agent! This could tone down any angry outbreaks and slow down the process of aging which has been argued to be associated to inflammation. According to a 2005 study from the Journal of Lipid Research, studies suggests that they could potentially block out UV-induced enzymes that could break down collagen increasing the rate of the aging process we all fear and dread. 

The possibilities are endless with the omega-3 fatty acids and I love it!

Incorporating it into our diet may be a tad problematic because having a salmon steak for dinner every other day is just not practical for the most of us, which is why I like superfoods like chia seeds as a simple yet effective way of incorporating it into my daily diet. 

It does not have to be boring either! Those residing in the US are in luck with sites like ALOHA to help  incorporate quality superfoods into your diet - fuss-free while still maintaining full-on flavour. I particularly like this recipe from ALOHA, where they incorporated the humble chia seeds and chocolate protein powder into a pudding.


Oh yes you heard me right.

Yummy and delicious but not so sinful chocolate pudding. 



This is especially great for ladies like me who just dislike the taste and texture of protein shakes. It is undeniably great to have for those physically active to aid the repair of those sore muscles after a good workout. 


Here's the recipe: 


5 Ingredient Chocolate Protein TEE-A (Chia) Pudding

This is a treat that you really can not feel guilty about. Omega-3s, protein, vitamins, minerals, fruits, vegetables, and no refined sugar! I enjoy cooking with ALOHA Tea because it functions just like water and adds a delicious taste, without any added calories, sugar, or unnatural ingredients. Enjoy as a healthy breakfast or a satisfying dessert!

Ingredients

1/4 cup raw chia seeds


1 cup ALOHA Beauty Tea

1 serving ALOHA Chocolate Protein

1 packet ALOHA Daily Good Chocolate

3 tablespoons ALOHA Coconut

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

Strawberry for garnish, if desired

Preparation

Brew one bag of ALOHA Beauty Tea in 1 1/4 cup of water for ten to 15 minutes. Remove the bag and pour one cup of brewed tea into a small bowl or large glass. Add the chia seed and let them soak for an hour.

Add the ALOHA Chocolate ProteinALOHA Daily Good ChocolateALOHA Coconut, and the cinnamon and vanilla if desired. Combine lightly. Blend the mixture in a food processor until it reaches your desired consistency. The chia takes a little while to breakdown evenly—I blended mine for about three minutes, stopping to mix it up with a spoon.

Spoon into a small dish, glass, or bowl. Top with a strawberry if you are feeling fancy.


Now this is just one of of the many recipes that they have, do check the rest of them out because they are all so creative while still maintaining a standard of health that we should all strive to have .
So one may not necessarily need to have the ALOHA food item to complete the recipe which is great. Should you wish to hop on the superfood ride, just know that there are sites like these available to help you gather all these superfoods from one place. Where majority of such food items are quality, fuss-free and best of all sin-free!

They need to have start international shipping soon because it is such an asset to have!


So I really do hope with these tips, you can now better achieve that healthy glow even as the colder months approaches. Do share with me what are your favourite ways to do so in the comment box down below, and of course share this post with those who could use the extra boost too.


Cheers to getting our glow on!

-C