Let’s face it skincare products alone won’t give you flawless skin. The best way to get a healthy glow is a delicate combination of what you eat, how much sun you get and what you actually put on your skin. But did you know that our skin is actually made up of five distinct layers? And the outermost one consists largely of dead cells. But don’t worry, these lifeless cells shed and with a little help from some workhorse cells beneath, comeback anew.
Dead cells aside, a big part of how your skin looks is due to natural proteins. First up, is something called collagen. It happens to be the largest part of your skin and helps to keep it looking young, fresh and wrinkle-free. Unfortunately, as we age and fall prey to the elements, we produce less collagen. But there’s hope. Skincare products with collagen-building proteins can help to keep those fine lines at bay, as well as replenish your skin.
What many people forget to realize is that even though their skin has its own process for self-repair, it needs a little help along the way. Some of the most disturbing stories can be found online about people who develop age spots or wrinkles too early in life. Most effective skincare products can help slough away the dead cells on the outer layer of your skin, and boost the cells underneath working to nourish and protect the skin.
One way your skin works to stay healthy is with help from the protein keratin. This protein originates in an important epidermal layer of the skin. It’s also what gives the skin a good amount of strength and elasticity. Any facial cream or mask containing natural keratin will benefit your skin’s health.
You’ve probably heard it a hundred times "you are what you eat." And when it comes to your skin, it’s never been a truer statement. Yes, a big part of having good skin is eating a balanced diet. But a way you can ingest more antioxidants is to eat certain fruits: blueberries and blackberries for starters. These fruits are not only delicious but, along with plums and strawberries, beat out many other foods for their high levels of antioxidants. So, go ahead and mix up some fruit salad to get wonderfully vibrant skin.
What researchers have also found is that antioxidants help to protect the skin as well as repair its cells. Eating a diet high in antioxidants also helps your skin produce more collagen and elastin so that it’s a firmer texture. So keep in mind, the most effective skincare products contain ingredients that build upon the skin’s natural proteins like keratin and elastin.
Make no mistake about it, a healthy lifestyle can help you look and feel better. But putting poorly made skincare products on your face can clog pores and defeat the good work you do to keep your skin healthy. In short, don’t buy a product for its pretty packaging rather than for its skincare ingredients. Select products made with substances proven to help reinforce your body’s natural proteins.