20 Tips to Get the Most Glowing Skin of your Life

20 Tips to Get the Most Glowing Skin of your Life

Ask a million people how to get glowing skin, and you’ll get a million different answers. There isn’t a single skincare potion, lotion, mask or formula that isn’t conspiring to provide you with the glowiest skin of your life—a quick stroll down the beauty aisle will prove that the entire industry is unified in the quest to ensure that your skin shines with the luminosity of a thousand stars. But if you’re looking for tried-and-tested advice that actually works—beyond just being told to get enough sleep—you’ve come to the right place. We’ve scoured the depths of the skincare industry, sifted through the decades’ worth of experience of skincare savants from across the world and finally, whittled down the list to the failsafe measures that actually do what they promise to do. The most radiant, lit-from-within skin of your life awaits ahead.

1) Listen to your grandma

Fuller’s earth has long served as a beauty staple in Indian households, and celebrity dermatologist Dr Jamuna Pai recommends it as a one-stop solution for exfoliation, hydration and depigmentation. Make yours at home by mixing one tablespoon of multani mitti with a teaspoon of honey and yoghurt each. Add a quarter teaspoon of lemon juice to achieve fluid consistency and apply it once a week for best results.

2) Supplement your efforts

While a wholesome diet is the key to glowing skin, beauty supplements can give your skin a gentle, nutrient-loaded nudge in the right direction. Dr Pai advises adding glutathione, sodium hyaluronate and Vitamin C to your radar. She adds, “Zinc can help in boosting the skin’s natural hyaluronic acid reserves, collagen and elastin fibres. This makes the skin supple and leaves it glowing.”

3) Make friends with chemical peels

If you’re looking to give your skin a do-over, chemical peels can get to the core of your skincare concerns with much greater nimbleness than an abrasive physical scrub. The Mumbai-based dermatologist recommends the holy grail of AHA and BHA peels for hydration and exfoliation—the two good guys that can ensure your skin maintains its healthy glow.

4) Consider medical facials

In Dr Pai’s book, facials are the best way to rejuvenate dull, tired-looking skin as lack of hydration makes it look dull and accentuates wrinkles. She says, “It helps increase blood circulation, improves the lymphatic drainage which effectively hydrates and detoxifies the skin. Medical-based facials with potent actives like Vitamin C, niacinamide and collagen-based masks are proven to enhance the natural glow of the skin.”

5) Look to skin-hydrating injections

If you’re looking to hydrate your skin beyond just feeding it eight glasses of water, she advises skin hydrating injections for an extra boost of moisture. She says, “Hyaluronic acid or gel injections helps bind water in the dermis, thus hydrating the skin from within. Apart from hydrating and enhancing the glow of the skin, they also help get rid of fine lines and wrinkles. This collectively gives the skin a natural lustre and reverses the signs of ageing.”

6) The double cleansing deal

Denise Rabor, founder of WOW Beauty, confirms that glowing skin is all about the base. Her first piece of advice to new clients? Double cleansing, because the first cleanse lifts dirt and grime and the second one washes them away. Pollutants, make-up and grime can accumulate on the skin leading to dullness and breakouts which can erode your skin’s glow, she believes.

7) Put your faith in chemical exfoliants

When choosing skincare products, she recommends paying attention to ingredients that will enhance your skin’s ability to radiate luminosity. She affirms, “Vitamin C serums make for effective glow-givers as it’s a powerful antioxidant which works to improve pigmentation and prevent dark spots. Chemical exfoliants will also help in removing dead skin cells and effectively cleansing the skin for a healthy glow.”

8) Look at what’s on your plate

What you’re applying on your skin is just as important as what you’re putting within. Rabor recommends a balanced diet with antioxidant-rich foods and essential fatty acids which are crucial for healthy, glowing skin. “Turmeric is loaded with antioxidants is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. The powder is even used as a face mask to help boost glow,” she adds.

9) Get frosty

There’s a reason why the first rule of glowing skin is clocking in restful sleep at night. The skin restores and rejuvenates itself when you sleep, and an irregular sleeping pattern can take its toll on your skin. On those days when you’re looking to mask the effects of a late night, Rabor has a few tricks up her sleeve. “Just wrap some ice cubes in a muslin cloth or a cotton handkerchief and massage it into the skin to reduce any signs of puffiness and boost circulation for a rosy glow,” she says.

10) Make room for overnight masks

If you’d like to hit reset on your skin, a sleeping mask can further aid your efforts. Consider these water-based formulas as a super-powered moisturiser, working hard to keep your skin from losing any moisture during your time in between the sheets. Prepare to wake up to hydrated, glowing skin that looks and feels renewed.

11) Don’t forget topical hydration

If you’re in the quest for lit-from-within skin, a good moisturiser is a non-negotiable ally. Rabor advises elevating your moisturising routine with hyaluronic acid for increasing the moisture content of your skin and achieving that dewy glow. She says, “Don't forget to apply it immediately after a hot bath to truly reap its benefits."

12) Make the most of cocktail hour

While citrus is usually considered as the go-to source for Vitamin C, pineapple also serves as a worthy candidate, believes Suzie Howe, director of training at Ananda in the Himalayas. She says, “Pineapple contains Vitamin C that brightens the skin naturally and reduces fine lines. It also contains bromelain that breaks down dead skin and helps in clearing away blemishes.” Invite it into your routine by blending a quarter of fresh pineapple with one tablespoon oatmeal and add one cup of cooled chamomile tea to make a smooth paste. She recommends applying this DIY mask on the face and neck twice a week to observe results.

13) Sip on some bone broth

If you’re not ready to add collagen supplements to your diet quite just yet, bone broth serves as the next best thing for maintaining the skin’s elasticity. With a rich bouquet of nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, silicon, sulphur and phosphorous, it works on addressing any dietary deficiencies that could be dampening your skin’s natural glow.

14) Start the days with apple cider vinegar

What do the beauty routines of Katy Perry, Victoria Beckham, Jacqueline Fernandez and Malaika Arora have in common? They all champion this over-achieving ingredient that floods your skin with AHAs to clear away dead skin cells. Make like Beckham and Fernandez, and guzzle down one tablespoon first thing in the morning on an empty stomach to dial up the wattage of your skin’s glow.

15) Say hello to facial exercise

If working out in the gym can do wonders for your body, the same holds true for your facial skin. By exercising your facial muscles, you will be able to increase the blood circulation which has a direct hotline to your skin’s natural glow. Among the celebrity patrons of facial yoga are Meghan Markle, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston. Beginners can take cues from Vibhuti Arora, the founder of House of Beauty’s easy facial massage—"sweep your fingers outwards across your forehead by applying light pressure to tighten the skin. Then, place both palms on your temples and push them back to lift the sides of your face. Hold for five seconds and repeat twice."

16) Don’t skip on yoga hour

And while you’re adding facial yoga to your daily routine, a couple of pranayamas wouldn’t go amiss. Beyond physical and mental well-being, Sandeep Agarwalla, head of yoga at Ananda in the Himalayas, believes that consistent yoga practice can pave the way for glowing skin. He says, “When an individual is stressed and leads an unhealthy lifestyle, the body tends to age faster. This is usually seen on the skin in the form of wrinkles and other skin issues.” He recommends a combination of asanas, pranayama, shat kriyas and meditation for youthful, supple skin.

17) Stock up on skincare superfoods

You are what you eat, and so is your skin. If you’re looking to supercharge your skin, it pays to take a closer look at what’s on your plate as well. Holistic nutritionist Afya Ibomu says, “What you put in your body literally becomes your skin.” Topping her list of skincare superfoods is the humble aloe vera. She sats, “I like to mix one-third of a cup of aloe juice with two-thirds of a cup of coconut water for extra hydration and skin glow. Due to aloe’s potassium and sodium content, it’s very hydrating to the cells, organs and skin.”

18) Look to alternative therapies

As the worlds of beauty and wellness continue to intermingle, ancient healing rituals are now assuming a seat at the main table. Reiki, also known as energy healing, is consequently finding greater demand in skincare for promoting healing from within. It is believed that once the internal stresses are shed, one’s inner radiance can shine through the skin. If you’re unable to book an appointment with a reiki practitioner for hands-on-body healing during the lockdown, you’ll find a roster of reiki-infused products for at-home care, ranging from healing crystals to essential oil infusions.

19) Don’t cheat on your makeup remover

Failing to remove makeup before bed can serve as another common culprit for stealing your skin’s natural glow. Deepika Padukone credits her flawless skin to her dedication to removing makeup; “I am most particular about removing all my makeup and keeping my skin clean before I go to bed. No matter how tired I am or how hectic my day has been, I always make it a point to take it off,” she told Vogue India in 2017. However, bear in mind that harsh chemical-based removers can often strip your skin of its natural oils, leaving behind a fatigued tinge to the skin. Gentler alternatives, like micellar water, work better for melting away makeup while also hydrating the skin.

20) Fake it till you make it

If you’re looking to liven up your visage, you can reach for your favorite blush to cheat your way to rosy, post-workout endorphin-high glow. You’ll find yourself in the capable company of actor and beauty entrepreneur, Katrina Kaif. Having well over a decade in front of the discerning lens, she relies on a steady hand of blush to add a flushed glow to the skin. “Pink, to me, is a classic color, it is timeless and works for every woman,” she confirmed.

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