Skin health: trends, vitamins, tips

10 Top Skincare Tips For Healthier Skin

1. Look after yourself

Finding the motivation to change a routine is not easy. We often find we eat the same foods, do the same workouts, and stick to the same old skincare regime – and still wonder why we are not reaping the health benefits we once were.

As temperatures soar in the summer and we spend more time outdoors, it is essential not to neglect our summer skincare regime and adapt it if necessary to suit the warmer weather.

As we ditch our winter coats and jumpers favouring more skin-exposing gear, we must remain mindful and ensure our skin health does not take a back seat.

And it is not just sun damage that we need to watch out for. Our skin can become dry through swimming, air conditioning and dehydration, and we are also more susceptible to insect bites and stings.

2. SPF & UVA is your friend

Wearing sun cream with a high sun protection factor (SPF & UVA) is essential in keeping your skin healthy and helping to protect yourself from the sun's harmful rays.

Not only is sunburn excruciating, but exposure to UV rays increases the risk of developing skin cancer.

Make sure to apply a high factor sun cream often while you are in the sun or immediately after swimming.

3. You can keep your hat on

If you cannot keep in the shade when the sun is at its strongest (between 10 am and 3 pm) - wear a hat. A wide-brimmed hat is best for adding an extra layer of protection to sheltering your face from the sun.

4. Up your intake of H₂O

We all know it is essential to stay hydrated throughout the day - but it is even more vital during the summer as your chances of suffering from dehydration are higher in the heat.

5. Resist the urge to scratch

With more of our body exposed, there is a larger area for insects to feast on. But no matter how tempting it may be to scratch any bites - do not do it! Scratching only makes bug bites worse by letting in germs and bacteria - and it can even cause scarring. Instead, invest in insect bite cream or try gently patting the area with a cool, damp flannel to soothe the urge to itch.

6. Feed your face

If you look after yourself from the inside, it is going to show on the outside.

Foods high in good fats like avocado, oily fish, olive oil and walnuts will help, as will upping your intake of fruit and vegetables to get the vitamins and minerals you need.

But if you feel you are struggling to achieve a healthy diet, could you top up your resources with an omega-3 or multivitamin supplement?

7. Rinse off

Nothing feels better than taking a dip in a pool during a hot summer's day. But while swimming is great for your body, it is not so good for your skin.

And remember, apply your sunscreen if you are heading back out!

8. Mixing up mealtimes

Do you find yourself serving up the same meals week after week? You are not alone. For many of us, time, decision-fatigue, and wanting to keep our calorie intake impact what we consume. But eating a healthy, balanced diet does not have to be restrictive, and one of the best ways to add variety to your meals is to experiment with ingredients you have not used before.

• A straightforward way to do this is to eat seasonally to create dishes that are full of flavour.

• In May, for instance, enjoy fresh and flavoursome asparagus and home-grown new potatoes.

• Look online for new recipes and inspiration.

9. Exercising outdoors

If you regularly exercise in your local gym or at home, why not try taking your workout outside? Not only will you get fresh air, but there is also the bonus of topping up your vitamin D levels when the sun comes out.

So, with lighter mornings and longer days, spring marks the perfect time to take your workout routine outside. If, however, you find it difficult to motivate yourself away from the gym, you could look for your nearest boot camp.

10. Skincare regime

Skin can be an indicator of how healthy you are. During the colder months, our complexion is subject to tightness, dryness, and flaking.

Central heating plays havoc with our moisture levels; while the cold winds can leave us red and chapped, our skin needs protection and nourishment.

Drinking water can help your skin stay hydrated, preventing it from drying out.

How To Nourish Your Skin From The Inside

From religious skincare regimes, slathering on the moisturiser or treating yourself to regular facials, looking after your skin is super important in helping you look glowing, radiant, and healthy.

But did you know that it doesn't just come down to expensive creams and fancy treatments

What you put inside your body is just as important as what goes on the outside.

Although it is always best to eat a healthy diet, there are also several multivitamins and minerals available to buy to top your levels up if you are struggling to reach your five-a-day too.

What Vitamins Are Best For My Skin?

It is vital to look after your skin all year round, but extra care needs to be taken to protect skin against dehydration and the sun's harmful UV rays during the hotter months.

And, with more of our bodies exposed in shorts and T-shirts, not only should we ensure we apply sun cream, but it is also essential we look after our skin.

By eating a wide range of skin-nourishing nutrients found in a healthy, balanced diet –combined with drinking water - your skin can be its best this summer.

Vitamin A

A healthy diet including cheese, eggs, carrots, sweet potato, and mango that contain vitamin A contributes to maintaining normal, healthy skin.

Vitamin A is also known as retinol or beta-carotene. Retinol is the form of Vitamin A that is found in meat sources, and beta-carotene is plant-sourced. Beta-carotene is converted into retinol within the body. Vitamin A is an antioxidant that helps protect the skin' from oxidative stress. Sun exposure can increase oxidative stress.

Vitamin C

This wondrous nutrient found in fruits and vegetables like oranges and tomatoes. It contributes to the normal formation of collagen for the normal function of the skin.

Vitamin E

Fast forward a few hundred years to the 20th century, and cosmetic companies started to use vitamin E in their skincare. Recognised as an important fat-soluble antioxidant, it still plays a key role in skin care management today.

Its antioxidising properties of vitamin E help protect the skin against harmful free radicals. Free radicals can cause the appearance of ageing. Vitamin E can be found in plant oils, nuts, and seeds .

When applied topically, it acts as an emollient - nourishing and moisturising the skin, particularly when it gets dried out due to the warm weather. And, it helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles too.

Just think of your diet as part of your everyday beauty regime to ensure you get the recommended daily amounts of vitamins and minerals for your skin. You can top up your diet with a multivitamin and mineral tablet - including zinc which has been shown to help maintain healthy nails, skin, and hair.

The Seven Seas Perfect 7 range offers benefits for your skin with the inclusion of vitamin E, vitamin A and vitamin C.

So which foods are a good choice for looking after your skin and why?

Oranges

Rich in Vitamin C, oranges are often hailed as skin superfood because of vitamin C. Also known as L-ascorbic acid, the vitamin cannot be naturally synthesised in the body, so we must get enough of it through our diet.

Carrots

Carrots, along with other vegetables and fruits, including butternut squash, sweet potato, mangoes, and papayas, are rich in Vitamin A in the form of beta carotene. This vitamin is essential in helping to maintain healthy skin. When preparing fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin A, they mustn't be overlooked as it may reduce their Vitamin A content⁴.

Almonds

Nuts, such as almonds, are the richest sources of Vitamin E. It's essential to try and include these in your diet as it is an antioxidant that protects the skin from oxidative stress⁵.

Skin health Trends That Have Stood The Test Of Time

As the skin is the largest organ in our body, it can act as a window into a person's overall wellbeing.

Skincare, therefore, plays an essential role in millions of people's daily beauty routines, with people alike on a continual quest to get brighter, softer, healthier, and younger-looking skin.

But the trend for a youthful complexion is not a new one and has been around for centuries. So, while the skincare industry grows, with new products and formulas being created to decrease fine lines and wrinkles, minimise dark spots, and rejuvenate the appearance of the skin, some old-age skincare secrets, including natural alternatives, have not been forgotten.

Plant extracts

The use of plant extracts and herbs originated in ancient times, with the earliest records showing the Egyptians turning to nature to beautify their appearance. They used a mixture of honey combined with crushed lotus flowers and plant oils to help fade scars, protect them from the sun and ward off flies.

Natural toner

If we roll back the decades, we can see the Chinese have been using rice water as a natural way to tone their skin. They also adopted facial massage techniques, which they believed improved circulation.

Ancient Greek ingredients

Always looking for new ways to improve health - from their nutrition to the appearance of skin - the Ancient Greeks experimented with local and natural ingredients to create new skincare products.

• Greek yoghurt was used to soothe skin and combat sunburn. Due to its thick and creamy texture, calcium, high-protein, and low sugar content, it is a key part of a healthy balanced diet these days.

• Another Greek favourite was olive oil. Due to the abundance of olive trees in the country, health enthusiasts used nutrient-dense olives as a moisturiser. Years later, Marilyn Monroe was said to cover her face with olive oil to get glowing skin.