~7 Secrets For Healthy Skin~

aSalaam uAlaikum my Stylish Sisters!

Insh'Allah you've had a restful night's sleep, and if you have...great! That means you've already got one of these seven secrets down!

I find that skincare is especially important for hijabis, specifically those of us who choose not to wear any makeup.  We are baring our faces to the world, pores, pimples, laugh lines and all, so it's always a relief when you're having a good skin day.  So insh'Allah if we can put these secrets to use, we will have more good skin days, and fewer "Oh no...where did I put that concealor?" days.

Healthy Skin Secret #1: Catch Your Zzzzzzzz's (all 8 of 'em)
     See? I told you ladies who got your eight hours last night that you were ahead of the game!  Sleep is the most important thing we can do for ourselves to improve our skin. (and our general well-being)  Dr. Dennis Gross, a New-York based dermatologist, stresses the importance of eight hours of sleep every night.  It is shown that chronic lack of sleep can set off the human body's fight or flight response because fatigue causes a mild state of physiological panic.  This response triggers production of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, and prompts the body to divert more blood flow to the major internal organs, and away from the skin.  When our skin is deprived of this blood flow in this way it can become dull and pale.  Believe me, I know how hard it is for us moms, or career ladies, or students, to make sleep a priority, but it is a must!  Not just for our skin either, for our health in general.  So grab your pillows and blankies and go take a nap.

But wait...let's finish this article first.

Healthy Skin Secret #2: Your Output is Proportional to Your Input
     Okay, so that's actually an electrical term, but it's the same idea.  “When the arteries become clogged from an excess of fat in our diets, all of the tissues of the body, including the skin, receive less blood, oxygen, and nutrients,” says Dr. Gross.  If you eat fatty foods your skin quickly shows it by appearing dull, being less elastic, and unable to repair itself when plagued with any blemishes.  So try to incorporate more foods in your diet that are high in vitamins C and E and lycopene.  These include citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit, sunflower seeds, and tomatoes. These foods along with green tea, berries, broccoli, red grapes, garlic and spinach are wonderful antioxidants as well, which destroy free radicals and restore your skin's collagen and elastin. 

Healthy Skin Secret #3: Sweat it Out
     I would normally never consider sweating as a good thing, BUT if you are sweating because you are exercising then it is exactly what the doctor ordered.  Exercise improves your body's circulation and ensures an optimal flow of blood and nutrients to your skin, which help creates that glow I keep referring to.  Sweating also is the body's way of filtering out any unnecessary water or toxins.  Just be sure that if you wear makeup, you don't wear it while exercising, and always gently wash your face after your workout to rinse off any grime or oils you sweated out.

Healthy Skin Secret #4: Rinse, rinse, rinse...
     Okay, so the fifty rinses didn't jive with you (or maybe you haven't put it to the test) but either way, you have to find a beauty regimen that works for you.  It may take a little bit of experimenting, but in the long run it will pay off.  Remember your skin is a living, breathing organ (as creepy as that may sound) and so it will react as your body changes, your hormones fluctuate, and your lifestyle evolves.  Try to wear gloves when doing any cleaning to avoid making contact with any chemicals; in the winter (or if you have dry skin) try to keep your baths or showers to ten minutes or shorter, and use warm water instead of hot; try to use natural cleansers that don't strip your skin of its essential natural oils; if you have dry skin then use non-foaming creamy cleansers and always always ALWAYS moisturize after every shower, face-wash, and before bedtime.

Healthy Skin Secret #5: The Sun Is Your Enemy
     So I exaggerate. (a little)  But in reality, the sun can be very dangerous to the health of our skin.  Always wear sunblock on your face, or at the least use sunscreen or foundation with an SPF of 20.  Those of us who wear hijab don't really have to be concerned with all-over sunscreen, but for those sisters who don't: make sure to wear sunscreen every single day. (just on your trips to the beach is not enough)  Protect your skin in the winter too by wearing gloves and scarves to protect against the cold or wind.    

Healthy Skin Secret #6: Remember What I Said About No Scrubbing?
     Well... that wasn't entirely true.  You do need to exfoliate once a week or so to remove dead skin that can otherwise make skin thicker, rougher, and less radiant.  Exfoliating is also important because it allows your skin to benefit more from your mosturizer. For those sisters with dry skin, simply using a washcloth that is damp with warm water is enough.  Gently rub the washcloth against your skin in a circular motion, then rinse with warm water.  For those sisters with normal to oily skin you can use a moisturizer or cleanser that contains alpha hydroxy or beta hydroxy (salicylic) acid to exfoliate more aggressively. But never rub too hard, or for too long, and always moisturize immediately.

Healthy Skin Secret #7: Humidity is a Good Thing
     Are you tired of hearing me say moisturize?  Because I'm going to say it one more time.  Moisturize!  In the winter, or more arid parts of the world this is especially important.  Always apply a good, natural lotion to your skin especially when it is cold outside.  Also, using a cool-mist humidifier can help stave off dry skin, and range from $17.00 to $60.00 depending on the model.  You can find cool-mist humidifiers here.  In the summer avoid staying in the ocean or swimming pools for too long, and stay out of the sun as much as possible.  Also if you are a frequent traveler, those airplane cabins have almost zero percent humidity, so moisturize before, during, and after your flights.

So there you have it.  Seven steps to a truly fabulous face, an excellent epidermis, a gorgeous glow!  I will just add one more if you don't mind...

Healthy Skin Secret #8: Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
     Notice I didn't say moisturize? LOL...  No seriously, I mean drink a lot of water, green tea, or natural fruit juices to replenish your body of the fluids that it loses throughout the day.  Especially after exercising or eating, it is very important that we drink at least eight, eight ounce glasses of water every day.  If you want to read more about the importance of water in our diet go here.  It is not only important for our skin health, but our overall body health so don't wait to rehydrate only when you're thirsty, take along a fashionable and earth friendly water bottle with you like these wherever you go.

Well, I don't know about you but I am off to do some yoga.  So go ahead, take a skin-loving snooze or do some step aerobics...but don't forget to wash your face when you're done.  Oh and....moisturize!!

Ma'Salaama and Happy Hydrating!

Fashionably Yours,
The Mujahada in Prada

I must give credit where credit is due.  Sources: Healthy Skin Secrets, Top Ten Antioxidant Foods, Water, How Much Should You Drink Every Day?