When you take good care of your skin, it will happily reward you with a healthy, youthful glow. But looking after it requires a little (ok, a lot) of TLC. While a great skin care routine can pamper from the outside, a lot of the hard work should be done from the inside. Follow these simple steps to boost your skin’s health.

Stay hydrated

Hydration is so important for your skin’s health, and it’s essential both inside and out. When you’re dehydrated, your skin looks dull, dry and lacklustre. Drinking the recommended eight glasses of water a day will ensure your skin cells remain hydrated and are functioning properly. Let your moisturiser take care of the exterior. No thanks to a handful of environmental factors, like the sun, pollution and air-conditioning, your skin has a tough time keeping water in. A moisturiser will help replenish lost moisture and lock it in at the same time. Look for a formula that contains hyaluronic acid – this water-holding molecule can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water. Top tip: The best time to apply your moisturiser is when the skin is damp (just after a shower or post-cleansing) as it ‘seals’ in the water for added hydration.

Eat a nutrient-rich diet

What you put in to your body directly affects how it looks on the outside. But luckily, there are a lot of foods that are both delicious and beneficial to your skin that you can easily incorporate into your daily diet. Foods that are high in antioxidants, like berries, mushrooms and walnuts, are essential for protecting skin against damaging free radicals that speed up the ageing process. Vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables are another must: vitamin C helps boost collagen production and strengthen skin – find it in abundance in citrus fruits, berries and broccoli; vitamin A works to prevent fine lines and wrinkles by encouraging healthy skin cell production – spinach and sweet potato are excellent sources; and vitamin E is a top skin moisturiser that keeps your skin’s protective barrier intact, so load up on leafy greens.

Top up with supplements

We all have the best intentions to eat well, but sometimes our busy lifestyle gets in the way. Supplements can help top-up your daily intake of essential nutrients. For optimal skin health, collagen is imperative. It’s what gives you plump, youthful skin. And more often than not, your body could do with more (as you get older, you naturally produce less and less of it, which is why skin sagging and wrinkles occur). Collagenix Beauty Button contains 1250mg of VERISOL® collagen peptides, which is a beauty-specific collagen proven to reduce wrinkles, increase skin elasticity and also strengthen hair and nails. Together with 40mg of organic vitamin C per tablet and added organic zinc, these chewable tablets improve skin radiance, firmness and hydration. Just chew two of these blueberry-flavoured chewable tablets daily. Too easy.

Exercise regularly

Getting your blood pumping does more than just release mood-enhancing endorphins; it also sends oxygen and nutrients around your body to feed your skin cells, while simultaneously flushing out toxins like free radicals to rejuvenate and cleanse skin from the inside.

Avoid stress

Ok, we get it: avoiding stress is easier said than done! But your skin is going to thank you for it. When you’re stressed, your body increases its production of a hormone known as cortisol, which breaks down collagen in skin and can cause skin to produce more oil. Pimples and wrinkles? No, thank you. One of the best ways to manage stress? Exercise!

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