Avoiding sugars, fructose, grains, and processed foods: This is perhaps the most important step you can take to improve your overall skin health regardless of the season. If you eliminate all sugars, fructose and grains from your diet for a few weeks there you would likely notice rapid improvement in your complexion. Processed foods, trans fats, processed table salt, and pasteurized dairy products can also have a detrimental impact on your skin.
Avoiding these foods will improve insulin sensitivity, which is important for overall health, including your heart health. Interestingly, recent research2shows that the perceived age of a woman’s face, based on wrinkle measurements and complexion can help predict her risk for high blood pressure and heart disease. Those who looked more youthful, with fewer wrinkles, also had lower blood pressure and reduced risk for heart disease.
A 5-Step Shower Routine for Tackling Dry Skin
Removing excess skin flaking can help reveal more glowing skin underneath. The following routine can help you accomplish that without harsh chemicals:
1. Dry brush your skin prior to getting wet using a body brush. This will help get rid of loose flaky skin
2. Avoid using soap or use the least amount possible, especially in the winter or in dry climates, as that will tend to worsen your dry skin
3. Instead, apply a natural body scrub to exfoliate your skin (also apply this to your skin before getting wet, and choose one that also contains oil to moisturize)
4. Hot showers can worsen dry skin so take the coldest shower you can tolerate
5. After your shower, apply a heavy natural body butter or natural moisturizing oil (not mineral oil or baby oil) to help seal in moisture. As mentioned earlier, organic coconut oil is an ideal choice