Healthy, glowing skin is one of the main elements of a person’s beauty. The condition of your skin speaks a lot about your lifestyle and skin care habits. Environmental factors like pollution and ultraviolet rays, as well as bad habits like smoking and drinking alcohol are also primary factors that cause skin damage. Diet and water intake also play a key role in maintaining your skin’s appearance, but that’s a topic for another day.
In case you are looking for a good hydrating mask, click on the link to find out the best ones.
[toc]
Plenty of products out there with outrageous price tags promise reversing skin damage for clear and glowing skin. Did you know, however, that you could achieve the same results right at your home, with ingredients you already have, for pennies on the dollar? We researched the internet’s favorite home remedies for healthy, glowing skin and collected them here – next time you need a quick skin-glow fix, you don’t need to look any further.
Turmeric
Read: The 10 Scientific Health Benefits of Turmeric
Why: Turmeric isn’t just great for food, it works wonders on your skin as well. It contains cucurmin, which is a strong antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory properties, and helps rid your skin of harmful toxins that can damage it. It has skin-lightening properties to reduce the appearance of blemishes and scars. In addition, it also promotes collagen production, which results in glowing, elastic skin.
How: Mix some turmeric powder with water or milk to form a paste. Apply the mixture to your face and neck and leave it on for about 20 minutes before rinsing it off with lukewarm water.
How often: Once or twice a week.
Coconut Oil
Read: 30 Health Benefits of Coconut Oil
Why: Coconut oil is very rich in antioxidants. It has antibacterial and antifungal properties which help maintain clear skin. It traps moisture in the skin to keep it soft and hydrated, and nourishes it with essential fatty acids.
How: Warm up some coconut oil and gently massage it into your face and neck for a few minutes. You can also add sugar occasionally (once or twice weekly) and use it as an exfoliant scrub.
How often: During the day or every night before bed.
Lemon
Why: Lemon has been known to improve skin appearance for centuries, and is one of the top ingredients to maintain glow on the face. The citric acid in lemon helps keep skin clear and acne-free by removing dead cells. Lemons’ bleaching properties helps even out the skin tone and improve skin complexion.
How: Cut a lemon in half, squeeze gently to get the juices flowing, and run the fruit all over the face, avoiding the eyes. Alternatively, you can s queeze lemon juice into a bowl with some honey and then apply. Keep it on your face for 10 minutes and rinse. Moisturize afterwards. For exfoliation, add sugar to the lemon and use as a scrub.
How often: Once a week.
Read: 12 Life-saving Health Benefits of Honey
Why: Honey is excellent for keeping skin moisturized, which is important for clear, glowing skin. Honey also possesses antibacterial properties to prevent skin infection.
How: Apply honey directly on the skin and leave on until it dries on your skin (about 15-20 minutes) before rinsing off with lukewarm water.
How often: Every day or every alternate day.
Aloe Vera
Why: Aloe vera’s anti-inflammatory and nourishing properties rejuvenates the skin to keep it looking young and fresh. It is a natural moisturizer and also promotes growth of new skin cells.
How: Apply raw aloe vera gel directly onto the skin with a cotton ball. Once dry, rinse off with water. You can also make a mask with a mixture of aloe vera, turmeric, honey and milk and apply it to your face for 20 minutes before rinsing.
How often: Daily
Baking Soda
Why: Surprised? Don’t be. Baking soda is a natural exfoliator. It has anti-inflammatory and healing properties, and also neutralizes the skin’s pH.
How: Mix 1tsp of baking soda, 1tsp olive oil and ½ tsp honey and massage onto skin. Leave on for 10 minutes then rinse off. Moisturize afterwards.
How often: Once weekly
Papaya
Why: Ripe papaya has exfoliating agents which scrape off dead skin cells, helping maintain skin radiance. It is anti-aging and also great for ridding the skin of acne-causing dirt and oil.
How: Mash some ripe papaya and mix with a bit of sandalwood powder and honey. Apply and leave it on for 20 minutes before rinsing with cool water.
How often: Once weekly
Read: 16 Wonderful Health Benefits of Cucumber
Why: Cucumber is a natural moisturizer. It nourishes and rejuvenates the skin, as well as removes dead skin cells, giving your face that just-left-the-spa kind of glow.
How: Add some yogurt to grated cucumber and apply it to your face. Keep it on until dry (around 10 minutes) and rinse with cool water. Place a slice of cucumber on each of your eyes if you have any kind of face pack on for added benefit.
How often: Several times a week
Walnut
Why: Walnut is a great ingredient for bringing out the skin’s flow due to its antioxidant characteristics. In powder form, walnut can be used as an exfoliator.
How: Mix walnut powder with some plain yoghurt or rose water to make a thick paste. Apply to the face and neck, and rinse off once dry.
How often: Once weekly
Olive Oil
Why: Olive oil hydrates the skin and gives it a natural shine. It also has antioxidant agents with removes impurities and maintains skin health.
How: Massage a few drops of olive oil onto the skin in gentle, circular motions. Dip a towel onto warm water, remove excess water and keep it on the face for 30 seconds. Wipe face and remove.
How often: Every night before bed.
Mint
Why: Mint soothes the skin, maintaining its radiance. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that heal and fight off skin infections.
How: Mix some mint powder with yoghurt and sandalwood powder. Use this as a mask and keep on until dry.
How often: Once weekly
Cod Liver Oil
Why: Cod liver oil is rich in vitamin A, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acid and DHA, which all contribute to nourishing the skin and keeping it radiant.
How: Cut open cod liver oil capsules and apply the oil inside to your face. Massage it thoroughly and rinse off with water after 10 minutes.
How often: Daily
Rose Water
Why: Rose water rejuvenates the skin, stimulating blood circulation and brightening it as a result. It also naturally balances the skin’s pH.
How: Dip a cotton ball into some rose water and apply it on your skin. No need to rinse.
How often: Twice daily.
Saffron
Why: Saffron naturally maintains the skin’s health and glow. It protects against ultraviolet rays and keeps impurities away through its antioxidants.
How: Soak a few saffron strands in 1 tbsp honey for 2 minutes, then apply this mixture onto your face. Leave on for 15 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water.
How often: Thrice weekly.
Banana
Why: Bananas are rich in vitamins and minerals which moisturize and nourish the skin. It also helps diminish the appearance of blemishes.
How: Mash a ripe banana on its own or with 1 tsp of milk. Apply and leave the mixture on the skin for 15 minutes, then rise with water.
How often: Once or twice weekly
Orange Peel
Why: Orange is rich in vitamin C and citrus, which refreshes the skin and has great anti-acne properties on its way to glowing skin.
How: Process orange peel with rose water well, and apply the paste. Leave on for 15 minutes and rinse with cool water.
How often: Twice weekly.
Dos & Don’ts for Achieving Healthy, Glowing Skin
DO:
- Follow a good skin care regime
- Drink plenty of water promotes healthy skin
- Improve your diet – cut the fats and replace them with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables
- Exercise 2-3 times a week
- Get 6-8 hours of sleep a night
- Moisturize and tone every day
- Exfoliate weekly to remove old dead skin cells
DON’T:
- Leave makeup on your skin for extended periods of time
- Smoke or drink alcohol
- Do drugs
- Tire yourself out
- Stress
- Expose your skin to direct sunlight for a long period of time
- Shower with hot water
More Tips for Glowing Skin:
- Regular and proper cleansing routine
- Exfoliating with a mild scrub twice a week
- Protect skin with a good sunscreen lotion
- Avoid using chemicals and stick to natural skin care products
- Do not use old skin care products
- Do not share cosmetics to avoid contamination
- Remove all traces of makeup before bed to avoid clogging pores
- Use rose water as a natural toner
Recommended Products for Healthy, Glowing Skin
[ezcol_1half]
[/ezcol_1half]
[ezcol_1half_end]
[/ezcol_1half_end]
[ezcol_1half]
[/ezcol_1half]
[ezcol_1half_end]
[/ezcol_1half_end]