Glowing gorgeous skin for summer

It is coming into the busy social time of the year and we all want to be looking our best with gorgeous skin.

As the largest organ in the body, our skin is hugely impacted by our diet and lifestyle choices.  Certain foods we eat, or lack thereof, can accelerate visible signs of ageing and leave our skin looking dull and lifeless.  The good news is the choices we make to improve the health of our skin are the same as those that will help us to achieve our optimal weight, health and longevity.

For gorgeous glowing skin there are 4 areas of focus:
1. Diet
Ensure you eat a diet rich in omega 3, raw fruit and vegetables, nuts and wholegrains.
Avoid foods that spike insulin levels such as sugar, white flour and starchy carbohydrates.  These can induce inflammation which can irritate any condition including the way the skin ages.  Alcohol and caffeine dehydrate the skin so try to minimise or eliminate these from your diet.  

It is no secret that drinking 2-3 litres of water daily is one of the best things you can do for beautiful skin.  It will flush your system and hydrate your skin, helping to keep it soft, smooth and supple.

2. Skincare regime
Skin absorbs much of what we apply, so using products free from harmful chemicals is beneficial for our overall health and wellbeing.  Select products which contain pure and natural ingredients.

Deliver the benefits of everyday nutrients to your skin with potent levels of vitamins A, B1, B2 and D, present in products such as avocado oil.  This remarkable oil helps feed your skin and contains antioxidant properties to collect and neutralize the free radicals that can contribute to premature ageing.

Exfoliate your skin on a bi-weekly basis.  This is a good way to help slough off or remove dead skin cells.  Results will be a fresher visage.

3. Lifestyle
At the surface of the skin are millions of cells that die off each day due to environmental influences, dry skin and sun damage.  Sleep is the only regenerative cycle that can truly undo the effects of the day.  Without enough sleep the skin is unable to rebuild those dead and dying cells and this is when ageing occurs.  Ensure you get 7-8 hours sleep every night.

Exercise increases blood flow to the skin and allows sweat glands to increase their functions and rid the toxins.  Sweating helps to unclog pores - which may also help prevent breakouts and improve your overall complexion.

There is no doubt that over-exposure to the sun accelerates the visible signs of ageing.  The sun's ultraviolet (UV) light damages elastin, the fibres in the skin.  When these fibres breakdown, the skin begins to sag. 

4. Boosting skin with supplementation
Collagen is the main structural component of your skin and as we age, our bodies naturally produce less.  This results in the visible ageing of the skin.  You can help support your collagen production through supplementation.  The Pro-Col Collagen is a fantastic product, tried and tested by many of the Hardy's team.  Another excellent skin combination is Ageless Beauty from Radiance which contains a number of essential nutrients for the skin.  Talk with one of your local Hardy's consultants to find out what products are best for you to improve the health of your skin and slow the visible signs of ageing.