With all the fun in the sun that comes with summer, it’s important to keep up with your health and your skin care routine so that you’ll continue to look and feel your best. Here are 10 quick, easy, and vital tips to help keep you healthy from sunup till sundown.
- Rise and shine. First thing in the morning, wash and moisturize your face. Having a good morning skin care routine is important for happy, healthy skin. Make sure to dab on a bit of sunscreen to protect against sun damage from ultraviolet rays.
- Drink early. Once you hit the kitchen, start your day with a cup of warm lemon water. With this habit you are immediately providing your body with much-needed hydration and a bit of immune-system-boosting vitamin C. Moreover, warm lemon aids in digestion and helps flush toxins from your body.
- Fill up with fiber. Grab a high-fiber breakfast, such as oatmeal and/or a smoothie. Fiber can help control how your body breaks down carbohydrates and absorbs sugar. This can give you sustained energy and reduce blood sugar spikes that can wreak havoc on healthy skin.
- Move it. Include exercise in your daily routine. A brisk 20-minute walk each day can improve your circulation, increase your metabolism, and help to reduce stress. Summer is also a perfect time to change up your exercise options. Try water aerobics, for example. Simply walking or running in the pool provides a good workout. The water’s resistance helps strengthen muscles while reducing stress on joints.
- Listen to your mother. At meal times, remember to fill your plate with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. The USDA recommends five servings a day. Incorporating a variety of colors into your diet will provide you with a multitude of vitamins and minerals that will help combat signs of aging, promote healthy skin, and keep your body strong.
- Drink often. Think: water, water, water. Hydration is key to healthy cells and organs—and healthy skin. Make sure you are staying hydrated throughout the day—even if you have to find ways to sneak water into your diet.
- Escape. Grab a good summertime book. Our bodies need time to rest and relax. When our systems are stressed, our bodies produce cortisol—a hormone that helps us handle a threat or perceived threat. Too much cortisol, however, breaks down skin-firming collagen.
- Snack smart. Keep healthy snacks on hand. Eating high-protein foods—such as a handful of raw almonds—will help you to keep blood sugar levels consistent throughout the day. Also, add in a few antioxidant-rich berries to boost your body’s cellular health, which will result in younger-looking, healthy skin.
- Clean up before you lie down. Wash your face and moisturize at night. The day’s accumulation of perspiration, pollution, and makeup can clog pores and make skin look dull and dry.
- Bump up your bedtime. It is so important to get enough rest. When we sleep, our bodies can recover and repair. To help your body prepare for a good night’s rest, do not look at electronic devices for an hour before you are ready to fall asleep. Studies have shown that reading an electronic device before bed makes it harder to fall asleep, results in less time in the important phases of deep REM sleep necessary for good health, and causes more restless sleep.
