With each generation, our culture's definition of beauty shifts and changes. But even though we know that beauty is subjective, people are constantly putting themselves under immense pressure to fit in with the latest ideals. In this day and age with social media growth and the rise of influencers, meeting these beauty ideals has become more and more difficult. For one thing, everything is Photoshopped, FaceTuned, or filtered, meaning people are now trying to reach beauty standards that nobody can reach – we’re talking airbrushed textureless skin, perfectly placed hair, and a waistline that can only be achieved with the removal of ribs!
The pressure to be perfect has never been greater and as a result, 71% of people admit that they don’t feel confident enough to post a photo of themselves without editing it first. But the truth is there isn’t just one definition of beautiful – I mean, definitions can’t be changed, and yet every decade or so we see a drastic change in beauty ideals. Which means there must be all different types of beautiful, and every so often each type will have its decade in the spotlight as the current standard of beauty.I know it sounds complicated. But surely if every kind of beautiful eventually gets recognised, then doesn’t that make everyone beautiful?
Perfection isn’t only non-existent, it’s also boring Faces should have character, points of interest, and be unique! A slightly crooked smile, a couple of scars here and there, crow’s feet, all of these are endearing and make you stand out from the rest. So don’t try to erase them, instead embrace them! Love them! Because frankly, they’re what make you beautiful. Our mission is to help people build up their confidence and realise their true beauty. All it takes is a little patience, love and time to transform dull and tired skin into a beautiful, radiant complexion.
SO, HOW CAN YOU ACHIEVE SKIN YOU CAN FEEL CONFIDENT IN?
Cleanse regularly
The key to achieving radiant skin is removing debris like dirt, oil and pollution that can clog pores and cause dullness. Wash your face morning and night by massaging in a small dollop of a mild facial cleanser – to avoid stripping your skin – and wash off with lukewarm water.
Hydrate your skin
We always go on about hydrating your skin, but it really is the secret to achieving your best skin ever! Moisturising your skin is great for keeping moisture in, but hydrating it replenishes any lost moisture to make your skin healthier, smoother and vibrant. That’s why we advise you aim to drink eight to ten cups of water a day (which can include sparkling or fruit-infused). Or, for a more direct way of hydrating your skin, try applying a hydrating moisturiser, such as our AM Energiser Day Cream in the morning and PM Recovery Night Cream at night.
Always remember to wear SPF
We know, we know! You’ve heard it a million times, but seriously, wearing sunscreen is one of the best – and easiest – ways to protect your skin and its appearance. Used properly every day, sunscreen prevents sunburn, skin cancer and premature ageing. So, apply three fingers full to each part of your body, and reapply every two hours. Do this every day regardless of the weather or time of year, and your skin will be healthier than ever.
Try a face mask
To get instant skin-plumping and glow-boosting benefits when skin feels a little bit lacklustre, smooth on a hydrating face mask and let it soak into your skin. These can be bought from any beauty or high street pharmaceutical shop, or if you’re feeling a bit crafty, can be made at home.
Why not try this recipe to gently exfoliate, moisturise and manage oil levels in your skin?
Ingredients:
½ cup yoghurt
½ cup mashed strawberry
¼ cup honey
1.Mix all ingredients together in a bowl, apply to face & neck, avoiding the eye area.
2.Leave on for five minutes, then rinse.
Give yourself a face massage
Massage is good for so much more than just relaxing your muscles! It increases blood flow to the area, may help promote collagen production and helps reduce stress. Facial massage comes with its own list of benefits too, including improving skin tone, stimulating lymphatic drainage and may even help rejuvenate your skin. There are so many helpful online tutorials and videos on how to properly massage your face that you can look into, however, ensure you only do this 2-3 times a week and for no longer than 10 minutes to see the best results.
Eat an antioxidant-rich diet
Yes, what you eat can have an effect on your skin's radiance, so try to get in as many different antioxidants in your diet as you can! For breakfast, load up on grapes, berries and nuts like pecans and walnuts, which are rich in polyphenols – a type of antioxidant. For lunch and dinner, go for pumpkins, carrots, spinach, cruciferous vegetables, seafood, etc. And for snacks, pick up citrus fruit, a mango, apple, or drink a nice big cup of green tea. There are so many sources of antioxidants out there, and the healthier the foods you consume, the better your skin will look! Eating a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water is the best way to get the nutrients needed for healthy, glowing skin.
Keep stress in check
It’s easier said than done but stress takes a toll on nearly every part of your body, including your skin. Stress increases the body’s production of hormones such as cortisol, which can make skin oilier and decrease its ability to fight off acne-causing bacteria. Stress can also aggravate skin conditions such as psoriasis, rosacea, and eczema, as well as cause hives and other types of skin rashes. Exercise is the best way to alleviate stress, but it is important that you find out the route of your stress and solve it to maintain your physical and mental wellbeing.
Get a full night’s rest
While you’re sleeping, your skin’s repair mechanisms swing into action, reversing daily damage and ensuring it's healthy and fresh the next day. For these mechanisms to work at their best, try and get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep every night. In contrast, sleep deprivation stresses the body, which releases more adrenaline and cortisol, leading to acne breakouts and other skin problems.
And most importantly smile, as a wise woman once said, “Smile - it increases your Face Value.” -Truvy, in Steel Magnolias
