In partnership with SA’s top medical aesthetic companies
The shiny new year brings renewed energy, resolutions to get healthy and fit and also, most likely, a thin wallet. But budget constraints don’t mean you can’t get started on your good intentions
So you’ve had a good holiday, let your hair down and allowed yourself to indulge in all the good things while skipping your morning run. Hey, you deserved it, but now it’s time to get back to a healthy balance.
Healthy inside out
Your skin reflects what is happening in your body, showing you if something is out of kilter on the inside. This can reflect as signs of fatigue, redness, oiliness or breakouts. And, of course, if you’ve been overdoing the sun exposure, you might not see that immediately, but it will show up in the long run.
It’s time to take stock of where things stand in terms of your overall wellbeing, and start making healthy choices to counteract the effects of overdoing the good life.
It is easy (not to mention inexpensive) to implement a healthy routine:
Rehydrate your body and skin by drinking plenty of water, swap the carb-rich foods for delicious salads with raw fruits and vegetables, some nuts and lean protein – it’s easy to do this in the summer heat.
Make regular exercise – an hour three times a week – one of your resolutions. Use the health monitor app on your phone and set yourself a challenge to walk those 10 000 steps a day. It’s actually quite easy to rack up that amount – take Rover for a walk. He will benefit too!
Get into a healthy sleeping routine – go to bed a set time every night and make sure you get your eight hours. You will feel brighter, healthier and happier. It’s good for all sorts of health reasons; not only will you feel much better, your skin will show its appreciation, too.
Start building in a half hour a day where you practice mindfulness and breathing – in the morning to center yourself before your day and in the evening to release the stresses of the day. Apps such as Calm can be helpful for this. This has been shown to have a positive effect both physically and emotionally.
Skin deep
Looking after your skin is a priority, and a depleted bank balance doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice on a glowing complexion.
Murphy’s law would have it that your products run out just when you can least afford it. Should this happen to you, it’s a good idea to prioritise the skin essentials, but try not to compromise on the quality of what you put on your skin.
We recommend you invest in a good cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen that suit your skin needs. Many moisturisers are multitaskers and have ingredients and properties that help your skin remain youthful. Read the information on the product and choose one with a good level of antioxidants.
As your budget starts recovering next month, you can start adding the serums, masks and retinols that tackle your other skin concerns.
Here’s to a healthy and happy 2019!
Shop for your quality skin care at Skin Renewal’s online shop. and find out how to maintain a healthy, youthful you by visiting www.skinrenewal.co.za
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