The search for the fountain of youth is like a nonstop hamster wheel. Breakthrough treatments are invented every day and old ones discarded as smelly old socks. We use them and believe in them until inevitably a new one comes along with a better argument. Thankfully, good research is also available to inform us and keep us on our toes.
What are we looking for? I, for one, would adore a magic trick that could reverse all my bad decisions, and magically reverse all the consequences I didn’t care about at the time. Like laying out in the sun for hours with just barely SPF sunscreen, if any. Oh, I want it.
We keep our hopes up while we ride the latest magic carpet until it crashes because it doesn’t work immediately as promised, and we go on to look for a better one. Sounds familiar?
I don’t mean to be so skeptical, well, maybe I do, but my skepticism has a purpose. If we look at the blue zones (1), the longevity of their inhabitants doesn’t stem from just one factor. It’s a unique set of elements like the pieces of a puzzle that form a whole. Great results show after years and years of people organically doing something right. Following that line of thought we could apply the principle to change that which we can control.
To understand what we can do for our skin, let’s look at our skin anatomy.
Imagine that our epidermal barrier is like a wall of bricks. This is the outer most superficial layer of our skin, the one that protects us from the outside world and works nonstop to reject microbes, to neutralize the constant environmental attacks, and to prevent dehydration, by regulating TEWL (Trans-Epidermal Water Loss.) These bricks constantly fall, new ones taking their place. This is normal. We need to maintain this protective barrier in optimal condition to keep it balanced. This involves several elements. Some are external, such as our daily skin care routine; and work from the outside in, and others are internal, such as drink and food; and work from the inside out.
A smooth, hydrated, and well-balanced skin barrier will make us glow from the inside.
My theory is that we know in our gut what we have to do, and we can do with a little reminder. We just ignore it because we think there is always tomorrow. But in a sense, there isn’t. Either we take action and care of ourselves, or our skin bricks won’t rejuvenate as efficiently, and this can result in dry crepe-y skin, open pores, and many other signs of premature skin aging.
Our body and mind must be in harmony. This will imbue them with the same purpose. Let’s manifest that as an intent. We will let them feel our determination. Create our own “zone,” and prioritize each one of the factors that we can control until we make them our own. That way we can turn our wish into a decision, and our body will fall in line with our mindset. This is the toughest stage; to make the decision.
As soon as we start, not only will we begin to feel your whole body responding, but we will immediately reap the benefits on our skin.
1. Sleep
Ramp up your sleep hygiene. Try to turn off all screens at least an hour before bed and make a ritual out of it. I suggest doing some breathing exercise to calm your nervous system and prime you for the best sleep of your life. Your “beauty sleep.” It may be difficult at first to get used to this, but the benefits will outweigh the initial discomfort.
My mother passed away at age 89, with her skin unlined, and her cheeks rosy.
Her secret? Sleep. So simple yet… for some, not at all. If you are in this group, pay close attention to #3.
2. Drink Enough H2O
H2O. You may have heard this one before – but drinking water will improve your skin’s health! If you don’t own one already, get yourself a 1-liter reusable water bottle to help you monitor how much water you can drink in a day. When your body receives enough water (2), the cells in every part of your body get hydrated through the blood. Being the largest organ in the body, the skin is programmed to flush toxins and impurities on a cellular level (3). When it’s hydrated, the process functions more effectively and quickly, leaving your skin smooth and vibrant, showing a healthy glowing complexion.
How much water do you actually need to drink in a day?
Registered Dietitian & Holistic Nutritionist, Galit S. Zarco, MS RD LDN (4), shares her professional advice on the topic and recommends calculating your personal amount of daily water intake based on your current weight. Dividing your current weight (in pounds) by two will provide you with the ideal number of ounces per day that your body needs to be sufficiently hydrated. For example, if you weigh 128 lbs., half of that is 64; therefore, focusing on drinking 64 oz of water per day is your number. That is, 8 glasses, 8 oz each. If your calculated number seems too high, Galit Zarco recommends starting with 1 Liter (32 oz) of water and working your way up to your ideal number of ounces. You’ll be an avid water drinker in no time! And your skin will thank you!
Formula: (Your weight (lbs.)/ 2) = __ Ounces of (ideal daily water intake of) (5)
A challenge? Definitely. -tell me about it- But your skin will show the benefits, being the largest organ in the body, as it gets hydrated (6), even while the impurities and toxins get flushed out at the cellular level.
3. Meditate
Start with five minutes a day. Breathe slow and deep and relax your body and your mind. Let them rest for a few minutes. Disconnect.
Some people tell me: “I’ve never meditated in my life.” “I don’t know how.”
But when you were a child and your mind just wandered off enjoying its journey until some pesky adult interrupted your daydreaming… You were, in fact, meditating.
As children, we have no filter in our minds. We let it go at will where it wants to go. We hear each sound, perceive every color, notice every detail, identify each smell, and the most importantly; we let ourselves feel without restraint. That is a lot like what we do when we seek a meditative state. We become aware and acknowledge the universal orchestra.
We don’t have to be in a quiet place with our legs crossed to achieve this. We can be anywhere, -even riding on a car- and meditating at the same time. We accept the surroundings, we take in every nuance of our bodies, every itch, every pain, every feeling. We relax conscientiously, until we let go of our worries, we relinquish all of us to the universe, and quiet our mind for a little while. It calms the mind. This relaxation of mind and body is especially beneficial to those who find it difficult to sleep all night. A few minutes of relaxation will recharge your tired body with energy.
And that takes me to the next:
4. Breathe Deeply
Try to make it a habit to breathe deep and slow every time you remember allowing that wonderful healing oxygen to reach every cell. It will relax both the body and the mind and reduce any signs of stress. We secrete cortisol (7) when we are under stress, a harmful hormone at high levels, particularly when we maintain that state for long (8). This may cause dry skin, wrinkles, and other premature signs of aging (9). Oxygen helps reduce cortisol levels (10) and relaxes our muscles. When you can, stretch a deep breath counting to 8 or even 10 while closing your eyes. Breathe deeply often and calm your mind. It will soon show on your stress-free skin.
5. Stay Active
Incorporate an exercise routine to your day. To achieve this, create small realistic goals: Walk, dance, or do some yoga, get on the elliptical, or go bike riding. If you can, use some resistance bands or light weights to help increase your bone density. Repetition is the key. “Both aerobic and resistance training exercise can provide weight-bearing stimulus to bone, yet research indicates that resistance training may have a more profound site-specific effect than aerobic exercise.” (11) (Layne JE1, Nelson ME).
Listen to some music and in any case, have fun doing it.
6. Eat Healthy
Fruits and salads hydrate us at the cellular level.
Drink warm tea after meals, and it wouldn’t hurt to consult a nutritionist, to get a comprehensive plan for you, to help you manage your own food sensitivities issues. In the end, your skin will be grateful.
7. Use Quality Skin Care
Because the skin is the largest organ you have, use products that match the high level of awareness you manifested when you informed your body and mind of your intent. Read all product labels and educate yourself about the stuff they put in your products. Check that the ingredients are harmless, the brand ethical and transparent.
I recommend incorporating Neroli Magic Moisturizer by Tools of Nature to your skincare routine.
This is a nourishing and rejuvenating face cream formulated with a perfect pH balance, and a subtle and inspiring aroma.
Rich in active plant botanicals and high-performance ingredients, it hydrates, prevents dark spots, leaving your skin soft, and lovely without using harmful synthetics, such as colorants, fragrances, parabens, GMOs, or petroleum.
Neroli Magic Moisturizer is packed in UV violet glass to prevent oxidation.
It is made with infinite love using the powerful tools that nature has given us, combining them in synergistic action and harmony to gift you with numerous benefits, like building blocks.
The goal is to keep the skin barrier balanced and protected, which in turn will make your skin look smoother and fresher, more supple and toned. Apply it after cleansing every morning.
It’s not greasy, so make-up can be applied immediately after.
Tools of Nature, skin care for the soul.
We have enumerated seven essential elements that you can easily implement to have gorgeous skin, without spending thousands of dollars in the process to achieve it. Your skin will thank you as it shows the results.
Follow us here https://linktr.ee/toolsofnature for more interesting skin news!
With love,
Tools of Nature Team
[1] Appel, Lawrence J. “Dietary Patterns and Longevity.” Circulation, vol. 118, no. 3, 15 July 2008, pp. 214–215, https://doi.org/10.1161/circulationaha.108.788497. [2] Benelam, B., and L. Wyness. “Hydration and Health: A Review.” Nutrition Bulletin, vol. 35, no. 1, Mar. 2010, pp. 3–25, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1467-3010.2009.01795.x, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-3010.2009.01795.x. [3]Lahane, Prashant, Jayshree Aher, and Anita Thengade. "Brain-Skin Connection: Stress, Inflammation and Skin Aging." Mathematical Statistician, [4] http://www.eatlivenutrition.com, [5] If you are under the care of a health professional for any reason or condition, please consult with them. This is not medical advice, nor is intended to replace your healthcare provider’s indications. [6] HÄUSSINGER, Dieter. “The Role of Cellular Hydration in the Regulation of Cell Function*.” Biochemical Journal, vol. 313, no. 3, 1 Feb. 1996, pp. 697–710, https://doi.org/10.1042/bj3130697. Accessed 1 May 2020. [7,8] Lahane, Prashant, Jayshree Aher, and Anita Thengade. "Brain-Skin Connection: Stress, Inflammation and Skin Aging." Mathematical Statistician and Engineering Applications 71.4 (2022): 7608-7615, [9] Chen Y, Lyga J. Brain-skin connection: stress, inflammation, and skin aging. Inflamm Allergy Drug Targets. 2014;13(3):177-90. doi: 10.2174/1871528113666140522104422. P, MID: 24853682; PMCID: PMC4082169. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4082169/, [10] Monnazzi, Paola, et al. “Anti-Stress Effect of Yoga-Type Breathing: Modification of Salivary Cortisol, Heart Rate and Blood Pressure Following a Step-Climbing Exercise.” Stress and Health, vol. 18, no. 4, 2002, pp. 195–200, https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.938, [11] Layne JE, Nelson ME. The effects of progressive resistance training on bone density: a review. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 1999 Jan;31(1):25-30. DOI: 10.1097/00005768-199901000-00006. PMID: 9927006.https://europepmc.org/article/med/9927006
Comments