How to get glowing skin

  • Ali

“That’s so sweet of you to say”, I laughed as the woman at the counter next to me in the post office complimented my skin.

It was an odd conversation really. I was simply posting a parcel of goodies to a potential client but new Post Office regulations means they need to check what each parcel contains. When I said it was ‘just beauty products’ the chap serving me asked like Rimmel. Gosh no, these are botanical skincare products with a Swiss heritage. It was enough for the woman next to me to want to know more. She looked at my glowing skin and declared ‘I want some!’

My skin is better in my 40s than it ever was when I was growing up, or even in my 20s and 30s (I know I was growing up then too!) although in my head I still think I’m 25 going on 30!

I’m honestly not one of those friends who has perfect skin derived from amazing genes, but I’ve not worked particularly hard at it either. It has been an ‘overnight’ transformation (which actually took about three months). There’s no big secret, it’s all about what I eat and what I put on my skin. Here’s my top tips for success.

Eat for your skin

You get out what you put in. Eat a healthy, wholefood diet, reduce the amount of processed food and additives, preservatives and fizzy drinks and your skin will thank you. Eat anti-oxidant rich foods too - colourful fruits and vegetables and those with dark skins  like blueberries. Blueberries contain anthocyanins which strengthen the skin’s collagen ( the building block for your skin). I love them fresh but at this time of year in the UK I tend to buy the organic frozen ones and add them to my smoothies instead.

Take care of your gut

Keeping your gut in great shape and eliminating food every day is key to great skin. I take a pro-biotic (otherwise known as good bacteria - beneficial micro-organisms which we all have living in our digestive tract). They help with clearer skin, redness, skin sensitivity and inflammation. If you are suffering with acne, or have a teenager who is, then gut health is the first place to start. Don’t go near a skincare product without first looking at diet.

Dress for success

Every morning I take a long hard look in the mirror (I also say some positive affirmations to start my day at the same time) so I know just what my skin needs. If it’s feeling dehydrated I might add a few drops of Arbonne’s Intelligence Nourishing Skin Oil to my daily routine, or if it feels a little oily I’ll use the Arbonne FC5 Exfoliating New Cell Scrub and let it dry before I get into the shower and take it off. The glacial clay in it helps to pull out impurities and reduce oils. It’s a food grade clay and fits into my philosophy that if I wouldn’t eat it, I don’t put it on my skin! I don’t drink Petrol so I don’t use anything with Petrolatum, mineral oil or Vaseline in it! Check your products you’ll be amazed at how many high end brands you thought were really good actually contain mineral oil, a by-product of the petro-chemical industry!

Stay hydrated

We probably all need to drink more filtered, purified water, herbal or Green Tea (it’s so rich in antioxidants) as skin elixirs. I love Arbonne’s Green Balance. Not only is it alkalising but it’s packed with 37 broad spectrum fruits and vegetables giving you a rainbow of colours and  Chlorophyll which acts to slow down the ageing process.  

Rely on Nature not chemicals

Botanical skincare contains many benefits over regular creams or serums which contain harsh chemicals or fragrances. I love the Arbonne philosophy of Pure, Safe and Beneficial. They take botanical ingredients and use safe, green science to ensure they work to their optimum meaning you don’t need to worry about the results. The RE9 anti-ageing range is my go-to range but for younger skin the FC5 range will give you another 10 years of anti-ageing benefits before you need it.

Change your bed

I inherited my bedlinen and towel fetish from my mother. I can recall the pleasure she got from buying new towels in Debenhams on a Saturday afternoon and I now have a similar habit. The idea of not ironing a sheet is just not a goer in our home. Your pillowcases pick up all sorts of bacteria and pollution from your skin and hair so changing them regularly (every 2 or 3 days) will make a big difference to your skin.

Get a good night’s sleep

Much of your natural regeneration happens at night (and I’m not talking Dr Who here) so if you are rested you look and feel brighter and your skin benefits too. Getting 7 or 8 hours sleep a night ensures your products have a night time to work! I love my night time routine. I cleanse, tone, apply serum and night cream and use the Arbonne Intelligence Genius Ultra ultrasound device to massage my products into my skin. They work at a much deeper level when used alongside the device so I get greater benefits. The lines around my eyes, the number 11 between my brows and the lines on my forehead have all been reduced and the skin around my neck and mouth is much tighter. Altogether a great result from a little piece of kit which is less expensive than a single Botox treatment!

Stand on your head

Standing on your head, or inverting your head below your heart, are great ways to get the blood flowing to your face. This exercise offers a cleansing rush of blood which will whoosh away toxins. I practice yoga so downward dog is a great practice for this but if you are less active you can get the same result by simply lying on the bed and hanging your head over the edge for a few minutes. Easy!

Concentrate on being happy

When you are happy you and your skin radiate beauty. It really is true that beauty comes from within. Enjoy the journey, we are on this planet for a short time, too short a time to be miserable. Smile and the world smiles with you – and you will feel and look so much younger.

If you have a skincare problem or concern you’d like to talk to me about or to find out more about the Arbonne products please get in touch.

You can save 20% on all Arbonne products when you join as a Preferred Client, so contact me if you’d like to know more. 

Yours,
Ali