5 Natural Ways to Get Glowing Skin

Written by Admin Hourglass Academy on the Tuesday September 14, 2021

Keeping on top of our skin health tends to rank highly in terms of priorities for most women. The desire to achieve that illusive ‘glow’ is a big motivation – which attracts many of us. If only for the compliments!

But looking after your skin has many more benefits than merely giving you a fresh-faced, younger look that you’ll love showing off.

Why Should You Look After Your Skin?

Firstly, a good morning routine of cleansing and exfoliating every day does help you shrug off residual fatigue, leaving you feeling invigorated and ready for the day.

Healthier skin is also linked to faster healing as it regenerates quicker so can reduce the risk of infections from cuts and scrapes. Because your skin is on the front-line of keeping outside germs and bacteria from permeating through to your body, making sure any cracks are properly sealed is a must. By maintaining strong, healthy skin you can seal those cracks quicker and are likely to be less susceptible to illness from harmful elements and therefore less prone to getting sick.

Another big reason to take care of your skin is to prevent the risk of skin cancer from sun damage. This is why many reputable beauty products – especially for your face, such as foundations and moisturizers – have a UV blocker built in so you don’t have to worry about constantly applying sunscreen.

But with such busy lives, it can be difficult to keep on top of your skin health all the time. So, we’ve put together our top 5 ways – plus some other helpful tips – to help revitalize your skin naturally – and achieve that natural glow!

#1 – Cleanse, Cleanse, Cleanse!

Whether you wear make up or not, your skin – especially on your face – is exposed to all sorts of elements throughout the day. From adverse weather to the build up of sweat particles, your skin can end up pretty dirty, so it’s important you make sure you’re cleansing regularly.

Cleansing daily – either in the morning, evening or even both – can ensure dirt, excess oil, pollution and unwanted skin cells are being removed. This is beneficial for many reasons, like preventing unnecessary breakouts caused by bacteria penetrating the skin, to reducing aging by removing old skin cells. It also helps to maintain PH levels which can boost hydration and enhance your skincare products’ effectiveness as they will not have to fight through thick layers of dirt – cleansing has a whole range of benefits that will help your skin glow[1].

If you’re stretched for time, once a day is sufficient. But we recommend cleansing twice a day to optimize your results.

#2 – Exfoliate

Like cleansing, exfoliation has a whole host of benefits. Because your skin naturally sheds dead skin cells every 30 days or so, by exfoliating you can ensure those skin cells aren’t clogging up your pores, reducing breakouts whist preventing dry, flaky patches. By exfoliating regularly, your skin will be brighter and with enhanced absorption of skin care products too[2].

Exfoliating has also been linked to increased collagen production. As a woman, you’ve probably come across collagen before, as it features in many skincare products for a number of reasons. This protein is linked to glowing, youthful skin as it promotes skin elasticity, which prevents sagging and helps fill in the appearance of wrinkles[3]. It has also been associated with other benefits including joint pain relief[4], boosted muscle growth after exercise[5], better heart health by providing structure to your arteries[6], increased metabolism for enhanced weight loss[7], stimulated hair and nail growth[8] and can even help improve your mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety[9].

You can exfoliate physically and chemically. The physical exfoliation requires manual scrubbing using the likes of body brushes, loofahs, exfoliating mitts or cleansing scrubs. The chemical method uses chemicals such as hydroxy acids like citric acid found in citric fruits, lactic acid from milk and pickled vegetables and malic acid[10] from apples which work to peel away the surface of your skin so new skin can generate easier.

#3 – Stay Hydrated

We all should hold hydration as a priority when it comes to our health in general. Staying hydrated can help boost everything from weight loss to mood, exercise performance, energy levels and nutrient absorption. But having enough water in your body can also have a brightening effect on your skin too.

As your skin is your body’s biggest organ and water helps full functionality of all organs, if you’re dehydrated, your skin cells will not work properly. Lack of hydration can show itself as dry, tight, flaky skin, meaning it is less resilient and more prone to wrinkling[11]. It also leaves more opportunity for infections as cells won’t regenerate as quickly as it should. Water also helps flush out toxins which could contribute towards clearer, brighter skin in general.

Skin clinicians suggest women should drink around 9 glasses of water a day to keep hydrated[12], however it can vary from person to person. Generally, if you’ve noticed your skin looking a little cracked and dry, get yourself a glass of water. You can also lock in more moisture by applying moisturizer as soon as you get out of the shower or bath. For the best results, apply onto skin whilst it’s still damp.

#4 – Top-Up on Antioxidants

As you probably know, antioxidants are your body’s most premium form of defense against free radicals. In basic terms, free radicals can do some serious damage to your health if left to multiply too much and have been linked to various illnesses – from diabetes to heart disease and cancer[13]. Further to this, antioxidants help support almost every aspect of functionality in your body – including healthy skin development and maintenance.

Certain antioxidants like carotenoids found in vitamin C and anthocyanin have been linked with delaying signs of aging by increasing collagen production and, thus, your skin’s elasticity[14]. They also have anti-inflammatory properties[15] and could protect your skin from UV damage caused by the sun[16], as well as pollution and environmental toxins too.

Here are some of the best antioxidant-rich foods we recommend to help get your skin glowing:

Red Bell Pepper – packed with carotenoids, the plant pigment antioxidant which gives it its vibrant color
Papaya – this also contains an enzyme called papain which is known for its exfoliating qualities and could therefore help your body shed dead skin cells too[17]!
Watercress
Blueberries – known for having age-defying antioxidants like anthocyanin
Broccoli
Grapes
Spinach
Nuts – choose vitamin E-rich nuts like walnuts and pecans
Avocado
Sweet Potatoes

These are just a few – but don’t worry if these don’t quite fit your palate because there are a whole host of other sources you can choose from. Antioxidants can be found at their highest in the most colorful of fruit and vegetables, so when it comes to deciding which are the best, the more vibrant and richer the shade, the better!

Try swapping soda and coffee for fresh juices and coconut water[18] which are also jammed with antioxidants too and watch your skin improve even more!

#5 – Omega-3

Omega-3 fatty acids don’t exactly sound all that appealing however all 3 types of omega-3 – ALA, EPA and DHA – could be your ticket to strong, supple and moisturized skin. The essential nutrients help regulate your skin’s oil production and balance hydration[19], which can counteract rough, dry skin by giving you that moisture you’ve been looking for, whilst reducing acne too[20]. DHA is responsible for supporting a healthy cell membrane, resulting in soft, moist and wrinkle-free skin[21] plus EPA is key to protecting your skin against sun damage by blocking collagen reduction after sun exposure[22].

Benefits for Omega-3 don’t stop there, though. Menstrual pain relief[23], cancer prevention[24], enhanced heart health[25], depression and anxiety reduction[26] and better eye health[27] are only some of the advantages you could enjoy by including omega-3 into your diet.

Here are our top Omega-3 sources[28]:

Seafood like anchovies, mackerel, halibut, oysters, salmon, sardine and tuna
Eggs
Milk / Soy Milk
Nuts and grains like pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, flaxseed, pasta, peanut butter and cereals
Vegetables like brussels sprouts, kale, spinach, broccoli and cauliflower
Oils like soybean, cod liver oil, flaxseed oil and canola oil

Summary

So, there you have it. As you can see, it’s not that difficult to cultivate healthy – and glowing – skin. By swapping out certain dietary inclusions for more skin-brightening options and adjusting your daily routine a little you could see big changes in your skin. And gleaming, youthful skin could be just around the corner!

Other ways to boost your skin’s sheen include:

Coconut Oil – which has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and healing properties[29]
Aloe Vera – this skin-boosting plant can stimulate new cell growth and has healing properties. It’s also a fantastic moisturizer which, if applied after cleansing daily, could give your skin that healthy glow you’ve been craving[30].
Get Moisturizing – find a moisturizer you love and apply as often as you can. The best time is right after a shower or bath whilst you’re still wet, so you can lock in the most moisture.
Use Sunscreen Daily – even if it’s not particularly sunny, sun damage is still possible so make sure you’re protected every day by choosing beauty products like foundation and moisturizer which incorporate sunscreen to the value of at least SPF 15.
Choose Hourglass Fit – although not specifically made for your skin health, your skin could really benefit from integrating this supplement into your diet – along with many other benefits too!

Don’t forget, Hourglass Fit is also made up of vitamins and minerals that can support glowing, healthy skin. B vitamins, for instance, have been researched to contribute towards the production of healthy new skin cells[31], reducing signs of skin aging by filling in wrinkles and inflammation. 5-HTP has also been used to help tighten the skin and aid suppleness too[32].

Hourglass Fit is packed with nutrients to primarily help you achieve ultimate body confidence through gentle yet effective figure shaping – but it’s so much more than your average fat burner supplement. Scientifically researched and engineered specifically for the female anatomy, the premium formula supports every aspect of your body to optimize results – with mood elevators and nutrients that’ll take care of your health too!