We can all agree that living life to the fullest has its perks.
Whether it’s self-fulfillment for doing things that align with your values, a renewed sense of purpose and passion for pursuing goals, or what you have, life just has a way of making us glow on the inside.
However, this inner glow might not always translate on the outside.
A huge part of going after what you want is hard work, stress, and a lot of sleepless nights and missed meals. More often than not, the daily grind – while deeply energizing – can affect us negatively, especially our skin.
So, how do you make your inner glow show?
Of course, there’s the obvious tip here and there, like seeing a dermatologist or aesthetician. But what can you do that doesn’t require shelling out money you don’t have on expensive treatments?
Here are three tips we learned on Pass the Beauty that begs to be shared!
Ready to radiate from the inside out? Here we go!
Glow Recipe #1: Superfoods for Overall Health
At the risk of sounding cliché, you are what you eat. We cannot put enough emphasis on this.
One of the many things that stood out to us when talking to on-the-go individuals who look like they get facials every week is that their diet consists of dark leafy greens, antioxidant-rich fruits and teas, top-quality proteins, and other nutrient-rich options.
Superfoods are crucial in maintaining a robust immune system and are key in giving you healthy, radiant skin. Lucky for us, foods like oranges, blueberries, papaya, strawberries, kiwi, and sweet potatoes aren’t hard to come by.
The trick here is to start small and stay consistent. Add some of these foods to your morning cereal or blend them together to make a smoothie to-go.
For heavier options, foods high in healthy fats such as nuts, seeds, and avocados are not only tasty, they also keep you full and energized longer.
Glow Recipe #2: Stay Hydrated
Apart from drinking enough water to help our bodies detox and run optimally, there’s another type of water that works wonders for dry, dehydrated, dull skin — coconut water!
Coconut water is touted to have intense hydrating abilities thanks to its high electrolyte content. And even better? It has high vitamin C, potassium, calcium, and magnesium levels.
This means that coconut water can help you fight free radicals that stress out your cells, smooth out wrinkles, fight UV damage, boost cell regeneration, and reduce skin oiliness.
You can also stay hydrated with fresh juices. And we mean real juices and not the ones you buy from the store! Those can pack an insane amount of sugar that goes without saying is not good for you.
Making your own juices and smoothies is a great and efficient way to get tons of nutrients in one healthy serving. A well-balanced shot of fresh, sugar-free juice can help heal damaged skin and maintain its health — resulting in a healthy glow.
Glow Recipe #3: Reinforce With Great Products
No beauty listicle is complete without the help of highly effective and targeted skincare products.
Adult skin renews itself approximately every 27 days. Incorporating a gentle exfoliating product can help slough off the built-up skin cells on the surface and even out your skin tone for that fresh glow.
The key here is to start slow and gentle, starting with once a week and then working your way up. This all depends on your skin’s needs and how much it can tolerate.
For sensitive skin, look for products with lactic acid and mandelic acid. These acids have anti-inflammatory properties, making them the best choice for people who suffer from rosacea.
For more resilient skin, exfoliants like glycolic acid and salicylic acid are great for not only removing dull, built-up skin they also help in managing acne and blackheads.
Of course, when you take something away, you have to add something back. It’s called balance!
No matter how gentle the product, exfoliating your skin can dry it out. One way to replenish lost moisture and bring on that healthy glow is by layering a hydrator and then a moisturizer.
Now, you might be thinking: “Aren’t hydrators and moisturizers the same thing?” Honey, no.
In a nutshell, hydrators help plumps up the skin by drinking up the moisture in the air and infusing it into your skin cells. Moisturizers, on the other hand, are thick oil- or silicone-based creams that trap and lock in that moisture, strengthening your skin’s natural protective barrier in the process.
And that’s a wrap!
Now, before you embark on your crusade for radiant skin, it’s important to remember that everyone’s skin is built differently. What works for others might not work for you, and vice versa.
But not to worry! Patience, consistency, and cautious experimentation will eventually pay off, and you’ll be glowing in no time!