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If the effects of late nights, smoking, poor diet or stress are showing on your skin, now's your chance to kick start a regime to get it back in shape. For skin that's supple, fit and glowing with health follow our simple skin detox regime. Firstly the difficult bit:
- Cut down, or better still give up alcohol for at least a week if not a month. This is an essential part of your skin detox so don’t wriggle out of it! Remember, it’s not for ever, just for the period of your detox.
- Increase your water intake to flush out toxins and improve kidney function. Keep a bottle of mineral water close by to regularly top up. Keeping hydrated makes a huge difference to your skin since cells rely on water to remain plump and healthy-looking.
- Check your diet and make sure you are getting the recommended 5 pieces of fruit or veg a day. If that sounds like a challenge create the ultimate skin detox smoothie by throwing some of your favourite fruits such as banana, pear, strawberries and blueberries into a blender with some yoghurt and honey.
- Try to cut down on salt and saturated fat (like that found in red meat and dairy produce) where you can. Replace with fish, lean meat like chicken and vegetable oil spreads.
- Try to get some early nights - sleep does your whole body the power of good and is essential for any skin detox since many experts believe that skin’s recuperative powers at their peak during the night.
- If you're a couch potato introduce some exercise into your life. (Put the TV in another room for a week - it works!). Exercise improves the circulation to help bring oxygen and nutrients to the skin cells. It also reduces stress - one of the major causes of wrinkles.
- If you smoke, STOP! Everyone knows that smoking harms the body but it also starves the skin of oxygen and causes premature wrinkles.
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | Now the easy bit:
Give yourself a skin detoxifying facial once a week:
- On clean shaven, damp skin apply a little facial wash to suit your skin type. Massage it over the skin firmly using penetrating circular motions. This will increase the circulation and bring oxygen, blood and nutrients to the skin cells.
- Rinse it off thoroughly with running water.
- Apply some facial scrub mixed with a little water, and massage over the entire face but don't rub too hard. Rinse off with warm running water.
- At this point you can steam the skin over a basin of hot water to open the pores. This is a great way to power up your skin detox process. Then, with either a tissue or a blackhead extractor, gently remove any blackheads or blocked pores. Don't be too rough with your skin or you will mark it. Only remove blockages that come out easily.
- Blot the skin dry and apply a face mask over the face and neck avoiding the eyes and lips. Put some toner onto damp cotton wool and place over the eye lids to reduce puffiness and drain toxins from under the eyes. Leave for 10 minutes and rinse the face mask off with running water.
- Blot the skin dry and apply a little moisturiser. Massage this well into the skin using firm movements to increase the circulation.
- Use an eye cream or gel around the eye area to protect the skin here.
- Sit back and congratulate yourself – the hardest part of your skin detox programme is over!
Daily care to keep up the good work:
Like all good detox regimes, your skin detox requires daily maintenance if you’re to continue to feel – and see – the benefits. Here’s how to keep up the good work:
- Morning and night use a good quality facial wash to clean the skin and remove impurities.
- Use a protective moisturiser after shaving to keep the skin supple and fit.
- Shave with a cream or gel that moisturises the skin and doesn't dry it out.
- Use an eye cream or gel to protect the skin around the eyes.
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