Is your big day approaching in 2016? If so, now is the time to start your quest for glowing, radiant skin! Six months before is ideal as closer to your big day, there will be lots of other details that need tending too.
Glowing Skin Starts From Within
While this may not be music to your ears, it really is true that your skin is a mirror of your health. Think of your skin as being like a flower….if the soil hasn’t got the right nutrients and isn’t watered regularly, the flower won’t blossom.
Teas, coffees, alcohol, sugar & processed foods cause dull, inflamed, dry skin….no bride wants this for her big day right?!! So keep these to a minimum, increase your water, herbal teas, fresh fruit, veggies(more veggies than fruit) & nuts….not only will you look fresher but you’ll feel better too.
How Is Your Elimination?
In case you’re not sure what I’m talking about here, I’m talking about poo (move over Gillian McKeith)! Naturopathic doctors say we should pass a stool 2-3 times per day. If there’s a backlog (no pun intended) of fecal matter in the gut it can contribute to toxic build-up which may cause inflammatory responses in the skin such as breakouts.
Eating foods rich in insoluble fibre will help to cleanse the colon of leftover faeces and other nasties that may be hanging around. Sources include rye bran, wheat bran, sesame seeds, carrots, onions, walnuts & prunes.
For a little extra assistance, I recommend taking Renew Life Fibre SMART, available in health food stores.
First Skincare Step – Cleansing
Cleansing twice daily is a must for healthy skin. Many clients tell me on their first visit to Wexford Skin Clinic that
(a) they don’t always cleanse at night as they’re too tired
(b) they don’t cleanse in the morning as they don’t see the point if they’ve cleansed at night
If you leave your night-time skincare till your ready for bed well then I don’t blame you for not wanting to do it, you’re too tired! Instead, do it after your evening meal, then it’s done and you can just fall into bed later.
During the night our skin, just like our body, is repairing itself. Therefore, it can produce a lot of oil and debris. Splashing water on your skin cannot break down oil (have you ever tried washing-up the dinner plates after the Sunday roast with just water?).
Use a mild cleanser that won’t strip or irritate the skin. Our brides love the Image Vital C Cleanser as it hydrates and brightens while it cleanses. If you’ve been using wipes……STOP!!!!
Step Two
Most of us moisturise, right……in fact 8 out of 10 British women moisturise daily! But do you use a serum? Serums have the highest concentrations of active ingredients in skincare. Pick an anti-oxidant rich serum such as our Image Vital C ACE Serum and watch your skin glow!
Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)…..
Sunscreen is so important there was even a song about it! Remember the title above….or am I Just showing my age!
While it may be tempting to try to get a tan on beds or even a foreign holiday beforeyour wedding, UV damage creates pigmentation which makes us look older and lose our glowing, radiant skin. Even in our cold January days, UVA is as strong as it is in July, so make sure to apply a broad-spectrum SPF daily to ensure luminous skin on your special day.
Exfoliate!
As our skin matures….at the age of 25 (let’s not mention that again), it slows down, it gets a bit tired, which in turn can leave us with dry, dead skin cells sitting on the surface causing our skin to feel dry and look dull.
we need to give our skin a kick in the behind and get it’s renewal process moving efficiently, by exfoliating off those dead skin cells. At our Skin Fitness Assessment, we recommend which type of exfoliation is best for your skin type.
Workouts!
So our skin’s diet is optimal if you’re following the above steps, therefore it’s time for your skins’ exercise regime. Many brides leave it till a couple of months before their wedding to start facials without doing the above groundwork first. If you want your skin to look its best on your wedding day, get your homecare right first… just think how silly it would be to go to the gym regularly and then head to McDonalds for your dinner…you get the jist?!!
At our Skin Fitness Assessment, we will design a nutrition and exercise programme tailored to your skins needs.
For more information on any of the above, you can contact me on 087-2508772 or info@wexfordskinclinic.ie
****Remember your skin is for life, not just for your wedding…be the best version of yourself always****