A Healthy Glow: A Guide To A More Flawless You

In a world so highly focused on beauty we are judged on our appearance more than anything. Why wear loads of makeup if you don’t have to? What is the difference between a $30 skincare product and a $500 product and do they really work? Well, have you ever heard the saying that a true artist does not need expensive products and can create a masterpiece with bare essentials? That is true for skin care as well; you can bring out the best without breaking the bank. Most consumers spend so much time purchasing miracle creams for their face and tend to neglect their body. Follow this easy guide to achieving your most flawless face and body.

1. Exfoliate your skin: Yes, that’s right. Especially being of a darker skin tone, it is essential to exfoliate the dead skin that can give an ‘ashy’ look to your skin. I like to stay away from products with ‘beads’. If you must use this type of cleanser, the only one that you should be using is a cleanser that has man-made beads. The man-made beads are round and don’t scratch the surface of your skin, while most products contain a crushed form of nut shells that are way too abrasive. One of the most popular products is Origins: Modern Friction. This product contains rice starch to slough off the dead skin cells, lemon oil to act as an illuminator, and aloe to sooth the skin. And a little goes a long way; use this product on dry skin for the best results. Another option is a facial brush available at various cosmetic counters. It’s under $20 and you can use it with any of your favourite cleansers. This brush gently and effectively removes the top layer of dead skin cells (which contain a build up of dirt and acid). Be careful not to brush too hard, turning the skin red; wet the brush with luke-warm water, and apply the cleanser to the top of the bristles. Work on your face in a circular motion avoiding the skin around the eyes. This brush is gentle enough to use every morning and night, and the bristles are so soft that it won’t even allow you to irritate the skin. Remember to use it gently, that is when it will be most effective. For the body, you can use exfoliating mittens or an exfoliating towel. Work in a circular motion focusing on tougher areas like the elbows, knees, and soles of the feet. Make sure to thoroughly cleanse these tools after each and every use.

2. Use a gentle cleanser: A mild cleanser is non-irritating, non-greasy, unscented, and able to remove some excess skin oils as well as cosmetics. An ideal form of a mild cleanser is Specto Jel, Spectro Derm, and Cetaphil. These formulas are available in gel forms that remove make-up all in one shot. With so many products on the market today, it’s up to you to find the best one for your skin. To avoid irritations, make sure to scan the ingredients for surfactants, fragrances, and preservatives. Anionic surfactants containing carboxylate, sulfonate, and sodium based ions are potent irritants. Look for a cleanser that says ‘hypo allergenic’ and ‘non-comedogenic’. The job of a cleanser is to remove sweat, dirt, bacteria, pollution, smoke, excess oil, and dead skin cells. An ideal cleanser does this without irritating, damaging, or disturbing the skin and the natural ph balance.

3. Apply Sunscreen everyday: A good sunscreen acts as a barrier to reflect and absorb UV rays. Choose a SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of higher than 15. This sunscreen should be broad spectrum, providing protection against UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays cause sunburns while UVA rays penetrate deeper layers of the skin, causing pre-mature aging and contributing to the development of skin cancers. When the skin is exfoliated, it needs to be protected as it is more sensitive to the sun-so make sunscreen a part of your daily regiment and use it 365 days a year. Mexoryl TM SX has been used in L’Oreal sun care products, such as Ombrelle, and has been mentioned as the most effective and stable broad spectrum protection available. However, sometimes these products can be a bit on the heavy side. You can also try something more lightweight like Peter Thomas Roth Ultra Lite Oil-Free Sunblock (available in SPF 20 and 30) or La Roche Posay Anthelios SPF 30. Although there are some costly sunscreens on the market, there’s only a handful which are recommended time and time again. Ombrelle is highly effective and inexpensive.

4. Brighten your Skin: How can you get the J Lo Glow? A skin brightening serum or gel can easily minimize sun damage by evening out your complexion. Natural ingredients are vital; choose a hydro-quinone-free formula like Peter Thomas Roth: Potent Botanical Skin Brightening Gel Complex or Shiseido: White Lucent Concentrated Anti-Spot Treatment. These products contain vitamin C combined with natural plant extracts to target dullness. These gentle formulas are to be used morning and night. Make sure to use a good sunscreen when using any kind of brightening formula, as they do make your skin more sensitive to the sun. A subtle, shimmery luminizer can also do the trick. Try using a bronzer with tiny particles of shimmer to create a natural glow without visible ‘sparkles’. One of my personal favourites is Laura Mercier: Pressed Powder in ‘Shimmer’, Laura Mercier: Golden Mosaic Shimmer Bloc, and LORAC: Bronzer. This powder is applied with a brush, just lightly dust over the bridge of your nose, cheekbones, forehead, and chin.

5. Drink water: Get healthy skin by drinking enough water daily. Water moisturizes your skin from the inside out, and it’s essential to maintain suppleness and prevent dehydration. If you absolutely can not get yourself to drink water, have tried and failed, there is a solution. So, you’re making the health conscious decision of switching from pop, coffee, and tea to a healthier alternative? Well…GNC carries Alacer Emer’gen C, which is a fizzy drink mix available in many flavours. I recommend the Lite mix. This drink mix is low in sugar/calories, packed with Vitamin C, and high in amino acids. Although they are in single servings, you don’t need to add the entire pack; and this is an energy booster! Crystal Light is also another good additive, just be sure to add only ¼ teaspoon per 500 ml (this will prevent a sugar overload). If this is still too much to handle, just add organic lemon juice, it should add a kick to plain water. For an on-the-go beverage, Propel is also a good choice, low in sugar and recommended by many health fanatics (including myself). One of the most posh bottled waters on the market is Vitamin Water by Glaceau and Borba. Both of these beverages are packed with your daily source of minerals and vitamins, and this new innovative drink gets an A+ in my book. And one more thing, don’t reuse that same filthy water bottle over and over again; you’re just doing your body a disservice with bacteria/toxins. Buy a water bottle that is meant for re-use. How much water should you actually drink? Just as a guide, you can divide your total body weight by 2, whatever the answer, that’s how many ounces of water is your recommended daily intake. Just keep in mind that intake should increase with physical activity.

6. Eat Healthy and Exercise: What you put in your body is what you see physically. A tired, dull physical appearance is a direct translation of poor diet and no exercise. Being in my late 20’s, after an 8 hour work day and school, I am not fatigued and it’s because I watch what I eat. Learn to make healthy choices at home, school, work, and when going out. If you must indulge on an occasional sweet tooth, just remember the ‘half time’ rule. Just eat half. Eat foods that are high in anti-oxidants and switch your coffee/tea cravings to green tea. A cup of green tea after lunch is ideal. It’s known for its many health benefits such as boosting your immune system, stimulating your metabolism, destroying free radicals that cause aging, and it helps to prevent cancer. Physical activity is part of a well balanced lifestyle. A good weightlifting program combined with cardiovascular activity will get your body into shape and keep your energy up throughout the day. Change your workout routine every 6 to 8 weeks to shock your body and prevent the workout plateau/blues. Switch it up so you don’t get bored; try taking a class at your local gym like yoga, dance or water aerobics. The Grouse-Grind is an excellent way to get in shape, but is more suitable for an advanced fitness fanatic. Just remember, 80% of what your mid section looks like is solely reflective on what you’re eating. So make the right choice and plan your meals ahead of time so you’re not eating fast food.

7. Limit your Alcohol intake: Even though the martini has become a world renowned phenomenon amongst a ‘girl’s night out’, it is definitely evil when it comes to sugar content. Enjoy a glass of your favourite wine, not the entire bottle. During my visit to the Big Apple, the Sex in the City tour would just not be the same without a complimentary Cosmo. So, is it all in our heads? Do we really think that a casual drink is necessary for an enjoyable evening out? I think NOT. I have gladly omitted alcohol out of my diet and switched to a less detrimental liquid potion, and that is sparkling water. Next time you’re out with the urge, ask your server for sparkling water such as Pellegrino, Perrier, or fine water such as ‘10 Thousand BC’ , ‘1 Litre’.

8. Detox: Eliminate and neutralize built-up toxins from your skin and body once a year. Dry skin-brushing is recommended to stimulate lymph and blood circulation for the removal of impurities under the skin’s surface. This removes dead skin cells and encourages new cell growth. All you need is a body brush with natural bristles, and it costs less than $10. A sauna is an excellent way to remove toxins from the skin, but make sure you are well hydrated before heading inside and avoid heavy meals at least two hours before to avoid feeling faint. You can use a sauna after any type of physical activity. The body cleanse is most gratifying and it removes internal toxic build up, harmful parasites, removes heavy metals, and pollution. So, head to your local health food store and choose a detox program that is right for you.

9. Get Your Beauty Sleep: Wake up to a more vibrant you by getting enough sleep. The quality of sleep is what’s important, and a good night’s sleep will have you waking up feeling refreshed and ready to conquer your day. To feel entirely rested, our brain must pass through five stages of sleep. The last one being REM, where intense dreaming occurs. The average range of sleep an adult requires is between 6-10 hours. Too little or erratic sleeping patterns can take a toll on your health and can cause your body to arise in a state of high alert, increasing stress hormones, and other physiological concerns like weight gain around the mid section. Try using a silk eye mask to block out light and prepare your body for sleep. Another solution is a glass of milk. Milk contains a naturally occurring protein called alpha-lactalbumin, which alerts the brain its time to sleep. Studies have also shown that the use of aromatherapy with lavender essential oil help to slow down the nervous system and reduce anxiety. Try using Escents: Lavender Provence Aroma Mist, or any lavender based essential oil/linen spray from your local health food store.