Beautiful hair, skin, and nails are more than just a confidence booster, they're often a reflection of your overall health. Your skin is your largest and fastest growing organ, with constantly regenerating cells, which are affected by your internal health. This means internal health issues often manifest on the skin in the form of acne, eczema, and psoriasis. Our skin is intimately connected to internal health, and our bodies will eventually try to purge inflammation and toxins through our skin. Skin health must be approached both superficially and from within with a combination of a healthy diet, exercise, and proper skin and hair care. Here are 5 beauty-boosting tips that can help give you gorgeous hair, skin, and nails that you’ll want to flaunt!
5. Use Sunscreen
Although this one isn’t a secret, many people skip the sunscreen in favor of a bronzed glow. You may like your skin to look sunkissed, but today’s tan is tomorrow’s age spots and wrinkles. Applying sunscreen with an SPF of 50 or above every day is one of the most effective ways to protect your skin and keep it looking youthful and vibrant. UV protection is not just for the hot summer months, harmful rays are present every day, rain or shine, regardless of the season. It’s not only sun exposure that can damage your skin, but overexposure to smoke, toxins in the air, and chlorinated water can lead to dull skin, hair and nails. Extreme cold can also lead to cracked, dry hands, lips, and cuticles. Your best bet for overall skin protection is to combine sunscreen with protective moisturizers, all year round, to ensure your skin is protected from all of the harmful environmental elements, not just the summer rays.
4. Take Your Vitamins
There are many supplements on the market that work to support strong hair, skin, and nails. Some of the most effective ones are biotin and saw palmetto. Biotin is a B vitamin that helps strengthen brittle nails, supports strong and healthy hair growth, and promotes healthy skin. Studies suggest saw palmetto may be useful in preventing thinning hair due to its antiandrogenic properties. Vitamin C is also essential to healthy skin as it plays a vital role in collagen synthesis, and helps protect your skin from UV rays. Consider a multivitamin (especially if you are over 30). Taking a daily supplement can give you a vitamin boost and ensure you’re getting all the vitamins you need for radiant skin and luminous hair.
3. Get Your Beauty Sleep
Make time for sleep and nap when you can. If you’re busy, chances are your schedule has you rising early and hitting the hay late at night. Burning the candle at both ends and missing out on precious z’s can affect your hormones, and how you function, look and feel throughout the day. Give yourself a bedtime, turn off your devices, and wind down tech-free an hour before bed. Sleep is essential in repairing cells, which is so important to skin and hair health, and keeping your skin looking vibrant!
2. Moisturize!
A good moisturizer goes a long way in protecting your skin and keeping it glowing! Try an antioxidant serum at night and under sunscreen to protect your skin from free radical damage. Antioxidants can help prevent oxidative damage during the day, repair existing damage during the night. Ingredients to look for include vitamin C, vitamin E, caffeine, and green tea. If it’s antiaging you’re after, using a serum and/or moisturizer that contains retinol is a proven way to promote collagen growth for younger-looking skin. Moisturizing isn’t just important for your skin, it’s also important that you choose hair and nail products that don’t strip nutrients and naturals oils away, and limit heat and chemical processing and treatments. Protecting hair and nails from chemicals and heat will help prevent dry, brittle nails, and damaged hair.
1. Hydrate & Snack Well
Staying hydrated with lots of water will plump your skin and give it a more radiant appearance. Snacks rich in nutrients and vitamins (and low in refined sugar) will also help improve your skin, hair, and nails from the inside out. Fruit is always a great sack as it contains tons of water, fiber and it’s packed with vitamins and nutrients. Almonds are also a smart snack as they are packed with hormone-balancing magnesium, as well as vitamin E. Antioxidant-packed green tea also works wonders for your skin because it contains vitamins B and E, which are essential in maintaining healthy skin, as well as a high concentration of EGCG, which helps prevent UV damage, and inflammation, giving you smoother, even-toned skin.