5 Ways To Naturally Enhance Your Complexion

We all want naturally glowing and sun-kissed skin. And it’s simple, go to the tanning bed and apply self-tanner every night for a week. You also want to have a clear complexion? No problem! Apply moisturizer, and acne cream, and face serum twice a day and detox your skin every night with a mint julep facial mask. And for that airbrushed look? Simply apply foundation and spend at least an hour contouring your makeup, but only after you wash your face with exfoliating face wash and apply primer…ENOUGH. Who has time for all of this?

It’s time to put an end to the strict beauty regimes and harsh treatments to try to enhance your complexion. Put down the makeup brushes, get rid of all those harsh facial treatments, and give your skin a breather! Here are 5 foolproof ways to naturally enhance your beauty without the use of expensive products, harsh chemicals, or time-consuming routines:

1. Get Your Zzz’s

Everyday Health reports that not receiving enough sleep accelerates the aging process. During the deep phases of sleep, your body works to repair damaged skin cells. Without adequate sleep daily skin breakdowns with accumulate resulting in noticeable signs of aging. Your body’s hydration rebalances during sleep. Not receiving enough sleep can result in a poor water balance that causes those unattractive undereye circles and puffy bags under your eyes.

2. Drink Plenty of Water

Not only is it important to drink plenty of water to keep your metabolism functioning at a healthy rate, staying hydrated will also work wonders for your skin. Water keeps your skin looking good by locking in moisture, providing an essential flow of healthy vitamins and minerals. It also keeps your skin looking wrinkle-free and defends against potential breakouts by decreasing the concentration of oil in your skin.

3. Exercise

We tend to only focus on the physical benefits of exercise. However, WebMD reports that anything that promotes healthy circulation is also great for your skin! Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to skin cells while working to remove waste products, cleansing your skin from the inside. Exercising is also a great way to relieve stress. By decreasing levels of stress, you are less likely to have skin conditions that are commonly exacerbated by stress, such as acne and eczema.   

4. Eat Healthy

Jessica Wu, MD, a dermatologist and author of Feed Your Face, reports that “What you eat can affect your hormone balance, cause acne, and create or lessen inflammation, which is associated with skin aging.” In other words, if you’re eating fast food every day and wondering why your skin is super oily and covered in acne, it may be time for a major diet change. Instead of eating tons of unhealthy trans and saturated fats that are found in fried foods, supply your skin with essential fatty acids such as omega-3s and omega-6s. These essential fatty acids can be found in salmon, walnuts, almonds, and olive oil. Your skin will also benefit from eating plenty of fruits and veggies such as carrots, blueberries, tomatoes, and leafy greens.

5. Maintain Good Hygiene

I feel like this is a no-brainer. Besides not wanting to smell awful all the time, having proper hygiene helps to maintain skin strength and a healthy skin pH. Maintaining good hygiene is as simple as regularly showering, brushing and flossing your teeth, applying deodorant, trimming your nails, and washing your hands.

Who says you have to watch hours of contouring tutorials on YouTube to have that perfect airbrushed look? Sometimes the best way to enhance your beauty is by simply treating respecting your body and maintaining good health. There is absolutely nothing wrong with wearing makeup! However, next time you are wondering how to naturally enhance your complexion, stick to the basics, and keep in mind that it isn’t necessary to depend on makeup and strict beauty regimes to have beautiful skin!

Featured image via Noah Buscher on Unsplash