Holistic Skin Care

It's great to have above average makeup skills but I've always maintained that being beautiful should start from within - literally and figuratively. We all know that having a positive attitude and displaying a genuine smile enhance how the rest of the world sees us, but having healthy and glowing skin also goes a long way. After all, no matter how expensive your cosmetics are, they can't really disguise bad skin.

Here are some tips for holistic skin care and have beautiful skin that starts from within. Please note that this is not meant to replace your skincare regimen, but rather a habit that can complement your current routine.

Sleep. Your entire body goes into repair mode while you snooze. Help your skin cells regenerate and your facial muscles relax by making sure you catch quality sleep. Still feel like you’re not getting enough rest when you wake up in the morning? One of the reasons could be your alarm rousing you in the middle of your deep-sleep stage. To make mornings less of a drag—or if you know you’re only catching a few hours of shuteye—try setting a wake-up time that’s a multiple of 90 minutes. This is the length of the average sleep cycle, so you’re sure to wake up to a beautiful morning.

This, I am guilty of not being following to the letter because this is me:

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Sometimes I wish watching movies and reading books can recharge our bodies the same way as sleep does. Too many books to read and movies to see, too little time! I know lost energy cannot be revived anymore so I just make it up to my body by trying to get as much sleep as I can on weekends. At nights I get too worked up to sleep, I drink a glass of warm milk and I've always found it to work.

Exercise. Even though you know that a good work out is great for your heart, lungs, and mental outlook, chances are you’re still not hitting the gym as much as you should. Here's a little motivation that’ll inspire you to get moving: Regular exercise is also one of the keys to scoring healthy skin. By increasing blood flow, exercise helps nourish skin cells and keeps them vital. It also helps carry away waste products including free radicals from working cells. Think of it as a cleanse for your skin, but from the inside.

This, I am also guilty of not following through. I make sure I take a walk at least fifteen minutes per workday but I always feel that is not enough. I haven't gone to yoga as much as I would like, which sucks because now I know I can't finish my goal of doing a headstand before the end of the year.

GOAL
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I promise I will go back, though. In the meantime, I'm thankful there's a surplus of health and fitness apps from the App Store.

Hydrate. Healthy skin is well-hydrated skin. If you want your complexion to glow, you need to make sure that you’re drinking enough H20 on a daily basis. Want to add a little flavor? Toss in a lemon wedge or a splash of fruit juice—it’s a great substitute for sugary sodas or iced teas.

This, I always make sure I do. Just check out my stash of tumblers and mugs in the office alone:

Kor bottle, Animax tumbler from Mike, Starbucks Singapore tumbler from Nashe, AXN mug from Mike, Elle Girl mug, Hello Kitty Italy mug.
I don't have a favorite because they all came from different people, but can I just say how much I liked my Kor bottle with that tag of my name engraved into it? Sweeeet.

Eat Well. Did you know that the food you eat matters to your skin almost as much as it does to your waistline? This is because your skin uses vitamins and nutrients from food to repair and rebuild damaged skin cells. Make time to plan your meals daily with the help of this Yummy Light Meals recipe book, so you don’t end up going for unhealthy options or fast food.

I think it's awesome that more and more people are becoming more conscious of their food intake and making informed decisions based on what goes in their body.

This Yummy Healthy at Home recipe book contains a lot of easy-to-make healthy recipes. I am no kitchen-whiz but seeing the photos made my mouth water and want to dip my fingers into trying to prepare them.

You may also want to check out The Wholesome Table in BHS Central for organic, healthy, and yummy dishes. Shown in photo is my Wholesome Mojito that contains spirulina, chlorella, honey, and mint. I admit it was a bit disconcerting to drink at first because seeing all that green can make you feel like you're drinking veggies, but this is actually very good! The Wholesome Table team demonstrates that not all healthy food has to taste blah.

Take Vitamin E. This is where the heart of Holistic Skin Care is. As you go about your usual work day, you get exposed to bad and uncontrollable free radicals that damage your cells. The result: tired-looking skin that looks dull, dry, and aging. Help your skin bounce back and recoup easily by adding a daily dose of Vitamin E to your diet. Since this vitamin isn’t produced by the body, taking a powerful Vitamin E supplement like Myra can help. It’s rich in anti-oxidants to help boost your skin from within and also stops skin-damaging free radicals from stealing life from your cells. The best part? It also repairs damaged cells and works hard to protect the healthy ones. With more healthy cells in your body, you’ll be able to have beautiful, glowing and younger-looking skin throughout the years to come.

I always take one capsule every night together with my Vitamin C.

I think we've got everything covered, yes? Just remember, having good skin is better than having all the most expensive concealers and foundations in all the world.