Expert Advice | How To Make Your Skin Glow

One of the most common requests I receive from my clients is ‘how do I get my skin to glow?’

There are many different factors which contribute to a glowing complexion. As a holistic practitioner, I take a variety of factors into consideration, when studying my patient’s skin. Diet, lifestyle and environment all play an integral part when it comes he quality of our skin. Of course, there’s always a multitude of products and treatments on the market which claim to work wonders on our skin – but with so much on offer, it can often be difficult to understand exactly what is the right course of action to take.  

My approach is to keep things simple and effective.

If we consider diet, then it’s important to remember that a well-balanced, varied diet is essential. It goes without saying, we should enjoy as much fresh food as possible and avoid anything processed or artificial. That said, whilst fat was once considered the 'enemy', recent research suggests that sugar is the real culprit in our diets - both from a skincare and dietary perspective.

To put it simply, excessive amounts of sugar cause accelerated skin ageing and a dullness to the skin, not to mention the possibility of congestion and subsequent breakouts. Some fat is important for a radiant complexion. We need essential fatty acids - in particular, omega 3 and 6 in our diet to help regulate out skin cells to keep them functioning to their full potential. Sources of good fat for the skin include avocado, walnuts, seeds and salmon. For those on-the-go, an oral supplement can also be helpful! Personally, I cannot recommend the soft-gel vitamins by MyProtein enough, though you can find plenty of great alternatives at your local health food shop.

There is no doubt that lifestyle contributes to the look of our skin. As we all know, even the most cunning makeup products are hard stretched to disguise the effects of too little sleep, too much sun, alcohol, caffeine or cigarettes. As we get older, and our skin composition becomes more delicate, the effects of unhealthy lifestyle habits become visible faster.

Sleep is the time when our skin cells regenerate. Not getting adequate sleep limits the amount of cellular repair that takes place, and can subsequently lead to dullness. Alcohol and caffeine both dehydrate the skin, and dehydration is one of the biggest external causes of skin ageing - in particular the superficial (light) lines and wrinkles that appear on the surface of the skin. Drinking plenty of water is vital in order to combat this, in order to limit the amount of free radical damage our skin is exposed to.

Once you’ve taken the time to hydrate and nurture your body from the inside out, you should notice a significant change to the quality of your skin. From there on out – ensuring you take a religious approach to your skincare routine (the knowledgeable team here at The Skin Investment Clinic will be able to advise you which treatments to take and products to use) will ensure break-outs and patchy, dull skin complaints are kept at bay. Investing in a good moisturising product, tailored for your skin type will keep your skin looking fresh and naturally radiant. This is especially important during the winter months, when our skin becomes dry and wind-damaged. As a rule of thumb, I usually recommend my clients wait 30 minutes after moisturising to apply their makeup for the day, to allow the product to fully sink in and work its magic.