How to get gorgeous summer skin

In this, the final journal of our skin health for summer series, we're delving into how to get gorgeous summer skin without investing in topical creams and potions.

You’ve probably heard it before…. your skin is your body’s largest organ - it plays a powerful role in your overall health. Think of it as your personal shield, your first line of defence against UV rays, environmental toxins, bacteria, and daily wear and tear.

But your skin doesn’t just protect you, it also reflects what’s going on inside. Stress, poor nutrition, and lack of sleep? Your skin will likely be the first to let you know.

The good news? You don’t need an expensive “miracle” cream to bring your skin back to life. Glowing, healthy skin starts from within, and your diet is the perfect place to begin.

Here are some tips on how to nourish your skin from the inside out ….

Eat carotenoid-containing foods regularly. These include foods like carrots, orange sweet potato, tomatoes, cantaloupe and red peppers

Add more antioxidant rich foods to your diet. See our blog HERE for more information on these foods.

Supplement as needed. Some of the top supplements for glowing skin include, collagen, fish oil, turmeric (curcumin), Biotin (vitamin B7), Vitamin A, C and E. And in some cases a multivitamin (however it is never a replacement for a good diet) (3)

Avoid sunscreens containing chemicals. The chemicals to watch out for in your sunscreens include – Oxybenzone, Octinoxate (Octyl methoxycinnamate), Homosalate, Octisalate, Methylisothiazolinone, Retinol, Retinyl palmitate, Retinyl Acetate, Retinyl Linoleate, Vitamin A. And avoid all sunscreens that spray.

Apply sunblock’s that use inorganic compounds such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Check the EWG website for more information

Take preventative measures. Shade under trees and umbrellas, wear hats and sunglasses, and avoid lying in the sun in peak hours.

Hydrate! This is really important and has a direct influence on our skin. Room temperature water as a side note is easier on your digestive system than ice. In Ayurveda medicine, icy drinks hamper our ‘digestive fire’ 

Get good restorative sleep. For some tips on how to do this, read our article HERE. Sleep is essential for balancing cortisol (too much cortisol will negatively impact your ‘glow’).

A few excellent practices that wouldn’t seem to be linked to your skin glowing include meditation and grounding. Meditation helps to balance out stress hormones, find out more in this article. Grounding has shown to restore blood flow, an excellent practice to include daily (1,2)

Laugh! A great stress buster and a way to increase endorphins (feel happy hormones) as well as improve circulation.

References 1.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4378297/#:~:text=health%20and%20disease.-,Summary%20of%20findings%20to%20date,of%20Environmental%20and%20Public%20Health.

2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10105020/

3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10820017/