How to look your best for valentines - two weeks to beautiful skin

On a quest for healthier skin? Then there are two main factors you may want to consider. What you are putting into your body and what you're putting on it. As scientific studies show, the best way to achieve and maintain healthy glowing skin is to take a holistic approach.

Therefore, knowing the impact of internal and external factors on our skin will help you achieve your desired results. The skin is essentially a reflection of overall body health, so treating skin issues by looking at the primary root cause is important. 

Ensuring your body gets the essential nutrients, fatty acids and vitamins it needs will lend to healthier, happier skin. Feeding your skin with products that also contain essential nutrients can only have positive results. 

Healthy skin begins within - gut health

Growing evidence suggests the link between having a healthy gut and healthy skin. Our gut provides a lot of protection against unwanted bacteria and irritants. 

The first place affected by an invasion of undesirable bacteria in the skin. Omega 3 fatty acids help support a healthy gut by promoting good bacteria that keep the unwanted ones away. Therefore they make a great addition to your diet or skincare regime. 

Omega fatty acids are essential in maintaining healthy skin and are a critical component in building cell walls. Strong cell walls are crucial for the skin cells that form a barrier to the outside world. They act to keep moisture in and irritants out.

Finding a way to include omega-rich foods or products into your daily routine benefits your body and skin in various ways. 

• Omegas help to keep your skin cell hydrated. This can help prevent accelerated skin ageing caused by too much sun. 
• Proper levels of omegas can boost the body's ability to withstand UV radiation. It's not a replacement for sun cream, but it does help keep your skin protected while delivering a daily dose of vitamin D.
• Omegas play a crucial role in managing inflammation in the body. This may be one reason why Acne is often observed in people with lower omega 3 in their diet. 
• It may help decrease symptoms of stress, such as red, flaky, itchy skin.

Clean skin from the within - The role of antioxidants

Maintaining a healthy gut is crucial to ensuring that your body functions at maximum capacity. It also helps with reducing inflammation, which is considered to be at the root of most diseases.

Berries are a great addition to your diet if you're looking for foods which are very high antioxidant content. Try eating plenty of those valentine favourites, strawberries. 

Blueberries, in particular, are a powerhouse of antioxidants, acting as cardiovascular restricted, which can reduce redness in the skin. 

So, drinking a smoothie in the morning with antioxidant-rich berries can help with that healthy glow. Avocados are also packed with a whole class of antioxidant carotenoids, a group of antioxidants that pack a punch to free radicals and help prevent our skin from becoming damaged by environmental factors. 

Skinfood

Food can make a big difference to skin and health, and some foods are effortless to incorporate into your diet throughout the day. Cooking from scratch as much as possible will give maximum benefit as processed foods do not deliver the nutrients needed to keep both gut and skin healthy.

Remember when your mum said to eat your vegetables, well here's why you should have listened. 

• Carrots: are full of carotenoids, which are the precursor of retinoic acid, an essential element for skin health. 
• Tomatoes: are full of all sorts of skin-loving ingredients and chemicals. The main one being vitamin C, but they also have lycopene present. Eating one a day is excellent for skin health. 
• Vitamin C: is essential for collagen assembly for neurotransmitters in our brains. 
• Olive oil: helps in terms of its Vitamin E consumption, but also helps the absorption of other nutrients from other foods, 
• Avocado: delivers lots of goodness, including vitamin A and carotenoids like lutein. Avocados also contain fatty acids. 

Valentine ready skin in just two weeks

You may think it is impossible to rejuvenate your skin in just two weeks in time for that valentine night surprise. But if you increase your water intake and eat clean, healthy food, maintain a good daily skincare routine. You will notice results and visible improvement in your skin.

 Try using organic products that contain plenty of vitamin C, antioxidants and omega essential fatty acids. Clean your face in the morning with a good cleanser, then add a moisturiser. Our Light Hydrating Moisturiser is full of the vital nutrients you need to protect the skin barrier against free radicals and rejuvenate your skin. 

If your skin is feeling very hydrated or just a bit weary, try our Regenerating Collagen Moisturiser. Let your skin soak in the all-natural goodness of this smooth, creamy moisturiser's vitamins and nutrients. Then apply a little Luxury Facial Oil to supercharge your skin with extra vitamins. Your skin will feel revitalised, regenerated and renewed.