Beautiful You - A smart way to Healthy Skin and Fit You

Today each one of us wants to have a lovely and flawless skin. To me, beauty is about being comfortable in your own skin. Its about knowing and accepting who you are, the way you are.

My skin was flawless till the time I was in college. But when I started working, within a couple of months my skin started having breakouts and acne. Even my complexion was becoming darker. Initially I ignored it, but with time the problem increased. And I was not able to accept this. So I changed my routine and schedule what I am going to share with you now. And today my skin feels fresh and flawless again, boosting my confidence levels. FYI mine is really very sensitive and I have a combination skin.

Just practice the following mantras and feel the difference yourself.

Mantra 1:- 8 hour sleep

Keep in mind that these 8 hours should be of night and not the day. Its only when we sleep in the night, our skin repairs and rejuvenates itself. Not getting enough sleep leads to not only a dull skin but a tired body and weak immune system as well. One may schedule the sleeping time keeping in mind that the hours between 10pm to 4am are included in the sleep. If we are not sleeping from 10pm to 4am, the process of repairing cells drastically slows down leading to an early aging.

Personal TIP:- using lavender oil in diffusers during night in the bed room enhances the quality of sleep.

A lot of dermatologists as well as the dieticians recommend to switch off all the electronic devices at least an hour before hitting the bed to improve the quality and have a sound sleep.

Mantra 2:- have periodic meals

No matter how busy you are, try to eat small portions every 2 hours. I know it is easier said than done, how can one eat periodically while at work? Even I used to think the same before I tried it myself.

See it is very easy. Start with a healthy and a heavy breakfast, that must be eaten within an hour one wakes up. One may always carry fruit, yoghurt, curd, nuts, raw vegetables that can be eaten as salads like cucumber, carrot for in between meals.

Personal TIP:- I always eat a handful of peanuts or cashew nuts as my intermediate meal. And my evening intermediate meal is a glass of milk with protein powder. These always keep me going with full energy without caffeine.

Having periodic meals not only increases ones metabolism but also the body feels loved and full and also the skin is refreshed, that means no more dull skin. But remember to eat small portions and not large, every 2 hours.

Mantra 3:- exercise

Exercising every day is not necessary. One needs to exercise just for 90 minutes a week to be fit and have a healthy skin. This means even 15 minutes of daily exercise is enough to have an awesome skin, wow.

When one exercises, the body releases hormones called endorphin. These endorphins give a positive feeling and one feels really happy thus reducing stress. There is an improved flow of blood, which reaches to every cell of our body and makes our skin to breath. Along with the skin, it will keep your hair shiny and healthy as well. It also helps to sleep better.

Mantra 4:- exfoliate

Exfoliating twice a week is must for oily skin and once for normal to dry skin for a healthy and clean pores. During my early years I did not pay much attention to exfoliation but once I started doing it, I really felt the difference.

After exfoliating, don't forget to moisturise the skin with a good nourishing moisturiser.

Mantra 5:- vitamin C

It is one of those vitamins that the body can't store and requires it daily. It is not only an essential vitamin for a bright complexion but also helps in building immunity. Go for fruits rich in vitamin C and go for skin care products that contain this vitamin.

Personal TIP:- During the winter months, daily I eat the Indian gooseberry that is the homemade amla ka murabba. Gooseberries are richest source of vitamin C in Asian countries.