Aging, it happens to us all. With spring upon us we begin to unbundle ourselves from the winter and as we do the imperfections of our skin come to light in all their pale glory. If you want to keep your skin in its best condition, MyScoop has 5 Tips To Look Like A Spring Chicken:
1. Juice – The sooner we understand this concept of input/output the better. You know the saying ‘you are what you eat’, well it is true. Everything you put into your body has a direct effect on it. If you eat foods high in saturated fats, guess what your body starts to accumulate fat pockets. If you eat foods high in nutrients, your body and your mind use those 
nutrients for better health and increased energy. One of the first things to do if you want to look younger is look at your diet. Many vegetables and fruits are anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and help moisturize the skin. Juicing daily is a great way to get high doses of the good stuff. Here are the top 5 vegetable and fruit juices you should be drinking (and I’m not talking about the highly sugared up ones you find at the grocery store). If you juice at home MyScoop has a few recipes for you to try or visit The Pantry in Birmingham or The Juice Bar in Nashville and Huntsville for a daily cup of juice.
Apples are great for your skin in many ways, and here is why:
- Studies have suggested that pectin, which is a soluble fiber that remains in the apple juice helps fight against aging.
- Helps prevent acne.
- Leaves skin smooth.
- Helps prevent dandruff.
- Contains silica which is a good anti-inflammatory and also reduces wrinkles.
- Contains quercetin that is in the peel of the apple. This flavonoid helps ease eczema.
Kale is packed with so much good stuff, that it is literally a super food. Some of these great benefits for the skin include:
- Omega 3’s, which are good for anti-aging, help moisturize skin, and are a anti-inflammatory.
- A high amount of vitamin C.
- A high amount of vitamin A.
- A high amount of vitamin K.
Papaya has many health benefits:
- Rich in antioxidants which help with anti-aging.
- Contains papain that can eliminate dead skin cells and cure skin impurities.
- High in Vitamin A.
- Naturally exfoliates the skin when applied topically.
Cucumber - If you are looking to moisturize your skin, cucumbers are the best veggie for this. Here are some of the skin benefits:
- An excellent source of Silica which is good for the skin in many ways including anti-inflammation and wrinkle reduction.
- Contains ascorbic and caffeic acids which prevent water retention. This helps your skin appear less puffy and swollen.
- Good for dermatitis and eczema.
Carrot - Here are the benefits:
- High in Vitamin A which is good for the prevention of acne, blemishes, dry skin, pigmentation, premature wrinkling, and uneven skin tone.
- Contains Vitamin C.
Skinergy
1 cup packed tightly chopped Kale = 1 ounce juice
3 cups chopped Carrots = 8 ounces juice
2 cups chopped Apple = 7 ounces juice
Yields about 16 ounces of juice.
This skin juice recipe makes a nice, fresh Carrot Apple juice. The Kale is so mellowed out so you don’t even taste it.
The Skin Soother
1 cup chopped tightly packed Spinach = 1 ounces juice
4 and 1/2 cups chopped Carrots = 11 and 1/2 ounces juice
2 cups chopped Cucumber = 6 ounces juice
Yields about 18 and 1/2 ounces of juice.
This juice also contains spinach which has a lot of vitamin A as well as other properties that are good for your skin. This lightly sweet juice has a nice cooling cucumber flavor. Throw a couple ice cubes in it if you like.
Sweet Thang
9 and 1/2 cups chopped Carrots = 20 Ounces juice
4 cups chopped Papaya = 11 Ounces juice
Yields about 31 ounces juice.
When juicing the papaya you should scoop out all of the seeds, then go ahead and juice the fruit skin and all. Papayas are usually sweet or semi sweet making this a very delicious juice.
2. Clarisonic – Want to minimize wrinkles, look more youthful, and have smooth skin? Every woman should use a Clarisonic. It works and it works very well. Use it daily in your skincare routine for optimal results. The Clarisonic has the power to remove 30x more aging pollutants than manual cleaning. You will see a visible difference and feel it. I cannot get over how smooth my skin feels. Starting at $99.
3. Retinoid Cream – If there was an anti-aging solution that was over 80 years old and proven to minimize wrinkles, fade brown spots, eliminate acne, and create glowing skin would you use it? It is right under our noses and available at any dermatologist and in less potency over the counter. It is Retinoid cream. In a world of Botox, trendy new lotions, and laser treatment, Retinoid creams have proven for over 80 years to do what so many keep searching for.
Dr. Corey Hartman of Skin Wellness Center of Alabama says, “In the skin, retinoids are responsible for increasing cell turnover and exfoliation, treating acne, minimizing discoloration, reducing UV damage, decreasing inflammation and smoothing wrinkles by aiding in collagen formation. Not to mention skin cancer prevention. They practically do it all. They serve many important functions in various body organs including vision, bone and tooth formation, immunity and tumor suppression. I tell my patients that they are the closest thing to a miracle cream.”
You may have heard of retinoids in the past and wondered how they are different from retinols. While retinoids, or retinoic acids, are prescription medications and are more concentrated and effective, retinols are structurally similar, but are converted to retinoic acid once they are absorbed into the skin, but at much less concentrated levels. Retinoids are notorious for the “transformation phase” when they are first used. During the first four to six weeks of a retinoid treatment, the affected skin will experience temporary redness, scaling and even irritation as the environment becomes accustomed to having the medication around. Retinols on the other hand, are much less irritating and are available in many over-the-counter preparations. However, their effects are much less dramatic. Typically a retinol is about 25% as effective as a retinoid.
4. Teeth – Your teeth are precious and if you want to look younger you should strive to take very good care of them. One of the things that makes us look older than we are – stained teeth. Here are a few quick tips on pretty pearly whites:
- Clean immediately after consuming red wine or black tea.
- Don’t smoke.
- Change your toothbrush every 2-3 months.
- Clean your tongue to avoid bad breath.
- Gargle with apple cider vinegar every morning – this whitens teeth and kills bacteria.
- Floss throughout the day – get up and around those teeth to keep them healthy.
5. Hair – Keeping your hair healthy and shiny is a great way to look more youthful. Here’s how:
- A great stylist – Choosing a hair stylist is a hard decision for many women. Go to someone who knows what cut will look best on you (sometimes simply the right cut will take 5 years of your face) and someone who will not over process your hair (a regular dye when you are in your 2os can turn into a dry, brittle mess when you are 40).
- Use shampoo, conditioners, and hair masks fortified with vitamins A, B, C, E, and nutrients such as calcium and magnesium to help repair damage, lock in moisture and boost luster from the inside out. Check the ingredient label to make sure the formula doesn’t contain sulfates, these harsh cleansers, found in many shampoos, can strip hair of its natural oils. Choose organic sulfate free shampoo and conditioner like Vineyard Hill Lavender Rose.
- Stop overusing product, stiff hair is old hair. For a soft, natural look do not spray styling products directly to hair, hold the bottle far away from your head and mist over.
- When you are covering up those grays make sure your stylist uses a glaze with highlights, a single color dye job can make you look older.
Check out our fellow Beauty Bits contributors and their beauty tips for Spring – MyLifeWellLoved, TheStyleGathering, style briefs (which includes a giveaway!!)