How a Healthy and Balanced Lifestyle Can Give You Glowing Skin

Healthy, beautiful skin is an achievable goal at almost any age. No matter where you're on life's journey, your skin needs certain things to maintain firmness, hydration, structure, and elasticity. Skincare products are just one part of the equation. Keep reading to learn how balanced lifestyle choices can impact the condition of your skin.

Hydrate Both Inside and Out

Our bodies contain between 55% and 60% water. This essential building block of life is mostly found in the bloodstream, but you'll also find it in all the vital organs — skin included, composed of around 65% water by itself. Skin must hold onto existing hydration to stay healthy, which means applying moisturizer daily.

Face creams with niacinamide help keep moisture in, but they also do some other amazing things. Derived from vitamin B3, niacinamide ramps up the production of healthy skin fats known as ceramides. It also reduces sebum production by our skin's oil glands and combats inflammation resulting from acne. 

While you're faithfully applying moisturizer on your face, be sure to drink plenty of fluids each day. Replenishing your body's water supply aids proper circulation and allows your cells to drink in what they need. 

Don't Forget To Get Your Beauty Sleep

A good night's sleep is critical for maintaining a balanced lifestyle. Sleep's restorative properties are indisputable. As you get your 40 winks, your body produces hormones that orchestrate cellular repair. They also regulate how much energy your body uses energy.

Meanwhile, your blood pressure and heart rate decrease as your breathing slows down. Together, the regulation of these processes allows skin and other cells to rejuvenate.

Nutrition & Your Skin

A balanced lifestyle is important for optimal health, and this includes maintaining healthy skin. Your skin requires certain nutritional building blocks to repair, rejuvenate and grow. Antioxidants and amino acids are among the most critical, helping to build important components like collagen and elastin. 

Antioxidants also help prevent damage from free radicals, atoms that steal electrons and can break down cellular structure. Dark leafy greens, whole grains, colorful produce, and lean proteins are all good sources of skin-friendly nutrients.

Collagen, keratin, and other amino acids are also vital to healthy hair. Excess hair loss can point to underlying issues such as stress and illness, but these can be rectified. Some supplements contain collagen for hair growth, which may help generate new strands during the active growth phase. 

A Balanced Lifestyle Includes NOT Smoking

Smoking is bad for your health, and not just for the havoc it wreaks on your lungs. Smoke contains harmful skin-damaging compounds like carbon monoxide. At the same time, it can also speed up the formation of wrinkles and fine lines.

Many resources are available that can help you kick the habit.

Sunscreen Is Your Friend

Besides cigarette and vape smoke, UV radiation from the sun is another environmental hazard that damages the skin. UV radiation causes DNA to mutate, leading to issues like fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and skin carcinomas.

Don't forget to slather on the sunblock — and in the meantime, include an azelaic acid cream in your routine. As a mild chemical exfoliant, azelaic acid targets inflammation, redness, and hyperpigmentation while being gentle enough for daily use. 

Body and skin health are closely tied together. Balanced lifestyle practices benefit you on the outside as well as within. 

How do you help your skin and live a balanced lifestyle?