New Year. New Skin

OK so you’ve been out partying a lot over the holiday season and, let’s face it, your skin has looked better. Mine is erring on gray, dehydrated and in need of a drink that’s not alcohol based. But, I’m not going to beat myself up over it, and nor should you. It was all totally worth it. Now the party’s over, it’s time to relax, Love Yourself and show your skin some kindness so here’s our top 5 tips for a New Year, new skin detox:

1.  Blank canvas.
Get right back to basics and start out by treating your skin to a simple deep cleanse using only plant-based, natural ingredients.
Prepare a bowl of boiling water, adding a few drops of peppermint oil (or try tea tree for skin prone to breakouts), place a towel over your head and lower your face toward the water. Steam your pores for 10-15 minutes.
Follow up with a sweet sugar scrub; mix two tablespoons of granulated sugar (any kind will do), mixed with the juice of ½ a lemon and a little bit of water. Crush it all together in a thick paste and gently massage into your skin, before rinsing. Try adding honey to the recipe and you may not even need to moisturise!
For those who need that extra bit of help with hydration, use a simple base or carrier oil that’s suited suited to your individual skin type - Here are some suggestions:

• Hemp seed. Good all rounder and very light, suited to all skin types.
• Apricot kernel. Another strong general contender, great for any skin type.
• Argan or Jojoba. Perfect for dry, aging or acne-prone skin.
• Grapeseed. Good for normal, oily, or acne-prone skin.
• Avocado. Great for dry and aging skin.

You can also add oils with other benefits to boost the treatment but it’s not necessary. If you feel the need, here are some suggestions:

• Chamomile Fantastic for ALL skin types but a bit expensive.
• Peppermint. The tingly astringent properties is great for oily skin.
• Rose or Geranium. Especially good for dry, sensitive, and aging skin.
• Palmarosa. Very good for skin prone to breakouts.

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 2. Beauty sleep.
If you survive on less than 6 hours shut-eye per night it can affect your appearance. Go short on sleep and it can cause the corners of your mouth to droop, making you look sadder than you do after a good night’s rest. Aim to increase that  length of time by 1 or 2 hours and you’ll really start to notice a difference.
People who regularly get 7-9 hours sleep boast fewer wrinkles, less-puffy eyes and a brighter complexion. All this, straight from the mouth of a board-certified sleep specialist, Michael Breus, PhD via WebMD.
When we’re tired, our cortisol (human stress hormone) levels are high and this can break down collagen. Start scheduling regular early nights and let your skin do the work, because as you dream it makes new collagen. So curl up and enjoy catching up on some Zs.

​3.  Say Hello to H2O
Drinking less booze and absorbing more water is obvious really, we all know the dehydrating effects alcohol has on the skin but who doesn’t love the odd glass of wine? However, with the party season officially over, it’s time to moderate. Water will will help rid the body and skin of toxins, aid digestion, circulation, absorption and excretion.
If cutting out alcohol altogether sounds too drastic, think about doing it for a short period of time, like a month. For further motivation, ask friends to sponsor you in raising money for your chosen charity while at the same time leading a healthier lifestyle. You’ll feel great in yourself and even better for having given something back. Take inspiration from Dryathlon in the UK which encourages people to abstain from alcohol in aid of cancer research.
Alternatively, skip your morning coffee and start the day with ¼ or ½ fresh lemon squeezed into water. Drink it hot or cold, adding honey to sweeten the taste if needed. Lemon water, rich in Vitamin C is known to tone the liver and purify the blood. Add some grated ginger to really give it some zip and you’ll be looking after your joints as well.

4.  Food is Fuel
After so much indulgent consumption of rich food and treats it’s time to take a break from sweets, chocolate, processed convenience foods. Eat clean and lean, treat your body like the temple it is and only fuel it with the good stuff. Here one of my favourite low carb recipes to start the ball rolling Bacon, Poached Egg, Warm Stilton and Rocket Salad. Get into the habit of eating right and you’ll feel great in no time! ​

5.  Get A Move On!
You don’t need to hit the gym hard, just make an effort to move more, take the stairs not the escalator, walk whenever you can, get on your bike, dance or do some yoga. Make it fun, do something you like to keep yourself motivated and you won’t give up.

Find loads more fantastic healthy eating and exercise tips from The Body Coach,  Joe Wicks.

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