We all want our skin to look great. Our skin should be soft and supple and should be absolutely blemish-free. But, sadly, enough great skin is something which most women struggle to achieve. There are many factors that contribute towards great skin such as heredity, lifestyle, and skincare routine and healthy diet.

A healthy diet is required for healthy skin. You need to eat a well balanced meal which is complete with fresh vegetables and fruits. Carrots are full of antioxidants and vitamin A and should be consumed on a regular basis. Blueberries are also good for enhancing your skin quality. Nuts and salmon should definitely be incorporated in your daily diet so that you can get healthy skin.

You must drink plenty of water so that you can keep your system clean and toxin-free. This definitely helps in improving the quality of your skin. You can choose to consume green tea which is very good for skin. It is full of antioxidants and helps to remove toxins. Avoid alcohol consumption as it makes your skin look pale. Consider using olive oil as your cooking oil. It is a healthier option for you and helps you to stay healthy fit. Include carbohydrates in your diet in moderation.

Most people have a habit to use expensive creams and lotions to improve their skin quality. However, most people fail to realize that the change should first come from within. A healthy diet should be simple to follow and should be according to your body requirements. Your diet will help your skin to stay supple and soft. It will also help to prevent your skin from premature aging.

Your hectic daily lifestyle can affect your daily skincare routine to a great extent. Many just don’t take the time they need for basic skincare, but years of neglect will slowly appear. Hence, you should make time for treating your skin so that it retains that youthful glow and remains soft and supple for years to come. Daily routines don’t have to be a chore, but they do require a little discipline if you want to take proper care of your skin. Skin can be affected by internal as well as external factors.

If we are considering external reasons, one of the biggest is over exposure to sunlight. Others include pollution, smoking, drinking, and poor diet. Clear, clean skin demands a balanced diet and a good digestive system to ensure your skin can process toxins effectively and keep acne eruptions and blemishes at bay. Choose suitable cosmetics and soaps that will suit your skin type. Include as many raw vegetables and fruits in your diet as you can to stay healthy. If you follow these good habits, you will definitely see a significant difference in the texture and quality of your skin.

You can also treat your skin externally by whipping up some homemade face packs and masks. A mix of milk and honey will keep your skin clean, soft and supple by introducing natural anti-microbials, and natural skin- softening agents found in lactic acid.  Another way to keep your skin healthy and glowing is by reducing blotches and age spots with a mix of honey and egg white.

For oily skin try combing cocoa (1/3 cup), heavy cream (3 teaspoons), honey (1/4 cup), ripe papaya (1/3 cup) and oatmeal powder (3 teaspoons). It might be tempting to eat the mixture it smells SO good, but save it for your skin!  After you put this mixture on your face let it dry for 10-15 minutes and rinse with warm water. This is very effective for individuals who have oily skin.

For a great, effective homemade cleanser mix milk with cucumber juice. Use a natural oil like jojoba or almond oil to remove stubborn eye makeup.

Stay natural, stay beautiful!

Detoxification is a natural process that involves removal of toxic substances from the body through the bloodstream. The air we breathe and the food we consume are harming us by making us unfit and under nourished. Our food is now filled with pesticides and it is recommnded by experts that a detox diet must be followed at least once a year or more to clean up the body system. This way you can ensure a healthy body and glowing skin.

If you want to have  glowing skin which makes you look glamorous all the time, a balanced diet acts as the perfect recipe. You need to have a balanced diet for a healthy skin and nourish it appropriately. There are various types of requirements which cater to a balanced diet. But you need to approach it in a disciplined way to get the right results. You can certainly get in touch with a professional dietician for this purpose rather than making decisions on your own.

Tip 1: Give Yourself a Dry Brush Exfoliation
A dry brush exfoliation can be done in the morning before you shower. It eliminates dead skin cells and allows the skin to detox (skin is the largest organ of elimination). Dry brush exfoliation also improves lymph and blood circulation and decreases puffiness. An added benefit is that the gentle pressure is calming to the nervous system. To give yourself a dry brush exfoliation, you’ll need a soft, natural bristle brush.

Tip 2: Rev Up Your Digestion
In alternative medicine, good skin is a reflection of a good digestive system. People with skin disorders such as acne, rosacea, and psoriasis often suffer from constipation, imbalanced “good” vs. “bad” bacteria, leaky gut, and other digestive conditions. The two most common sluggish digestion culprits are:

* Culprit #1: Not Enough Water Water bathes cells and eliminates waste products, preventing constipation.

* Culprit #2: Not Enough Fiber Most people lack fiber in their diets – the average person eats only 12 g of fiber a day. In 2002, the National Academy of Sciences Food and Nutrition Board established recommended fiber intakes. For men aged 19-50 years, 38 g fiber is recommended, and for men over 50, 31 g fiber is recommended. For women aged 19 to 50 years, 25 g fiber is recommended, and for women over 50, 21 g fiber is recommended.

* Some suggestions:
1. Add Whole Grains – Choose whole grain products over refined. Have brown rice instead of white or make your own 50:50 combination.
2. An Apple a Day – Have an apple, skin on, as a snack.
3. Eat Cauliflower – Try this delicious Roasted Cauliflower recipe!
4. High-fiber snacks – Snack on nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, such as dates, figs, and prunes.
5. Try a “Prune Power” Smoothie – Prunes are a great source of fiber. Start your day with this tasty Prune Power smoothie.
6. Eat Beans and Legumes – Open a can of your favorite beans or legumes. Rinse them well and add them to your meal.
7. Ground Flaxseeds – For any easy fiber boost, sprinkle ground flaxseeds (available at health food stores) on rice, salads, oatmeal, or any other meal. Store flaxseeds in the fridge.

Tip 3: Invigorate Sluggish Circulation
Do you sit at your desk for hours, only getting up to go to the bathroom? One of the best things you can do for your skin, stress level, and overall health is to get moving! Inactivity may affect skin and promote bloating and puffiness, acne, cellulite, and loss of muscle tone.

* Take a quick break to go outside and walk around the block.
* Book a massage therapy appointment.
* Close your door and stretch.
* Go to the gym.
* Start each morning by stretching.
* Get a skipping rope – raise your heart rate and do some good cardio.

Tip #4: Avoid Excess Sugar
Most people do not realize this but excess sugar is considered one of the main causes of premature aging. The more sugar we eat, the more sugar we have entering our bloodstream. Over time, this can result in a process known as glycation, which is when a glucose (sugar) molecule damages a protein molecule by sticking to it. The new molecules formed are called advanced glycation end-products, or AGEs. AGEs damage collagen in skin, cartilage, and ligaments and promote a loss of elasticity. Wrinkles form and skin begins to sag.

* Try This – It may seem impossible to reduce your sugar intake, but it can be done! A gradual approach works best. In the next week, choose one thing you’re going to do to decrease the amount of sugar you consume. For example, start by cutting the amount of sugar in your daily coffee or tea by half. Every week, find another way you can decrease your sugar intake. Pretty soon, you’ll be surprised at how far you’ve come!

Tip #5: Eat Some Good Fats
Essential fatty acids are simply fats your body cannot live without. They are needed to make cell membranes, hormones, and other body chemicals. Essential fats are thought to keep your heart healthy, fight inflammation, and possibly prevent cancer. They are also particularly important to people with inflammatory conditions such as eczema and acne, and also for people with dry skin. People with essential fat deficiency sometimes notice bumps on the backs of their arms. Here are my suggestions on getting more essential fats:

* Flaxseed and walnut oil – Use flaxeed oil or walnut oil with balsamic vinegar as a salad dressing. Be sure to keep these oils refrigerated. They should not be heated or used for cooking.
* Cold water fish – Sardines are a good source of essential fats. Salmon is another good source, however these salmon accumulate toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (otherwise known as PCBs) in their body fat during the 95 percent of their lives they spend at sea.
* Supplements – Consider fish oil supplements.