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It’s the simplest and best solution to keeping your body healthy, your skin glowing, and helping you feel great

BY MInaL KHOnna

Summer is here and we don’t realise how our environment and lifestyle can rob the skin of vital moisture. No amount of moisturizers can replenish the skin as much as drinking healthy amounts of water. So while the summer heat dehydrates your skin, minimise the damage by being aware of water thieves and find the right solutions to protect your skin from premature ageing.

Kick the butt

A lot of women in Australia smoke. And while it is proven that women’s bodies age faster if they drink or smoke too much, smoking can also cause wrinkles. Think about it. A smoker usually crinkles her eyes and purses her lips while taking a drag from the cigarette. Smoking can make the skin thinner, which in turn makes it drier. The toxins in cigarettes accelerate the ageing process anyway, as smoking can reduce vitamin C in the body and constrict blood vessels, which in turn prevents vital nutrients from reaching the skin. The best solution would be to quit smoking altogether. But if you can’t give up the habit, try reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke and use an intensive moisturizer.

Drink sensibly

Not all liquids are good for you, as most of us know. Alcohol causes dehydration and dries out the skin. When you have had one too many the night before, you wake up feeling thirsty. Whether it is wine, hard liquor or beer, alcohol makes the capillaries stick, which makes them rupture. Alcohol can also age the skin by reducing oxygen levels in the body. If you consume the recommended units and not binge, you can avoid the side effects. And if you do drink, make sure you drink enough water to undo the damage.

Being outdoors

We all love our sunshine and while most people do use a strong sunscreen, being in the sun leads to evaporation. Often, despite of using sunscreen and moisturizer, when I have been out in the sun for long, I can feel my skin starting to shrivel up and tighten. And no amount of splashing water on the face helps. Then there are the UV rays which cause all sorts of damage to the skin. While it is impossible to stay indoors or out of the sun at all times, protection helps in reducing the damage. Stay in the shade as much as you can. If you must be in the sun, use a sunscreen, and a moisturizer with antioxidants to combat the free radicals. If you are a redhead or have very fine skin, use a moisturizer that has an oil base or some vegetable oils in it. Shea butter and jojoba oil among others, are effective in protecting the skin. Also, keep drinking water through the day so your insides stay moisturized too.

Heating and air conditioning

Since Sydney can have extreme cold and hot days, one tends to use heaters and air conditioning, but both these gadgets can reduce the oxygen in the air. If you must use the air conditioning on a high cool setting, keep drinking water though being in such a cold setting may not make you feel thirsty. Regarding heating, keep it to a moderate temperature and use a humidifier. You can also keep a bowl of water on top of a radiator that can increase the moisture content in the air. Humidity keeps the skin from drying too much.

Irregular diets

Going on a diet to lose weight means most people cut out on the fat they eat. But the human body needs a certain amount of fatty acids to keep the skin moist and the joints greased. Binge eating or dieting can age the skin over a period of time. If your body craves a certain kind of food, it means the body is crying out for that particular substance. If you suddenly crave carbohydrates, it means you are not getting as much of it as your body needs. The best way to lose weight is to eat everything in moderation and exercise. Gradually cutting down on the total quantity of food is what will help, not reducing fat or carbs alone. If you include wonder foods like salmon, nuts, seeds etc., you can keep your skin supple and less prone to ageing.

Frequent flying

If you travel frequently because of your job or are just lucky enough to be able to travel when you want, keep in mind that circulation within the enclosed environs of an airplane can make the air and hence the skin, excessively dry. The best way to prevent this dryness is drinking water before, during and after a flight. Alcohol on a long flight can be very tempting, but if you drink, ensure you drink enough water too. Washing your face frequently on a long flight also helps. You can even use one of those moisturizing spritzers or spray mists.

The toxins in cigarettes accelerate the ageing process anyway, as smoking can reduce vitamin C in the body and constrict blood vessels, which in turn prevents vital nutrients from reaching the skin.

If you travel frequently because of your job or are just lucky enough to be able to travel when you want, keep in mind that circulation within the enclosed environs of an airplane can make the air and hence the skin, excessively dry.