6 Tips For Working Women To Keep Their Skin Supple and Healthy
Written By: Eileen Chan
Stress can be hazardous to the skin. Its negative effects range from the occasional breakouts to premature aging. But what can we do as working women when we have limited time to devote to intensive skin care? Thankfully, a little effort can go a long way to offset the effects of stress and prime your skin for a healthier natural glow. With over six years of experience in the beauty industry, Nina Teo, 34, a Singapore-based beautician, has a few tried and tested tips which could help you to improve your complexion.
1. Protect your skin from the sun
The best investment for your skin is to apply sunscreen several times a day. Over time, a UK study has shown that excessive sun exposure causes wrinkles and pigmentation. It also increases the risk of skin cancer. If your work requires you to be outside often, it is essential to avoid the sun at noon when it is strongest. If it is difficult to do so due to the demands of your job, remember to apply sunscreen and wear protective clothing with long sleeves.
Expert Tip: Apply sunscreen frequently and generously each time you are exposed to the sun. If you can’t, remember to put on protective apparel that keeps your skin covered from damaging UV rays!
2. Exercise regularly
Exercise increases your blood flow which carries oxygen and nutrients to your skin cells. A survey by the American Psychological Association concluded that physical activity also helps to reduce stress. If you have been working late nights or striving to meet a deadline, you might sometimes notice that your skin gets greasier as your stress hormones influence the glands that produce oil in the skin. Acne and eczema conditions are likely to improve when you exercise.
Expert Tip: To keep your skin healthy, exercise for at least two 45-minute sessions each week.
3. Hydrate your skin
To keep your skin moist and to reduce the toll of environmental stresses on your skin, remember that it is necessary to moisturize frequently. Studies published in The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology have shown that moisturizing your skin helps to form a layer on the skin’s surface, which reduces moisture loss. In hot and humid Singapore, it helps to use water based moisturizers to keep your skin hydrated without excessive greasiness which could result in acne. Another tip to hydrate your skin - avoid strong soaps and hot showers. These strip away the oils from your skin and cause dryness.
Besides keeping your skin moisturized, it is essential to drink plenty of water in the hot weather to help your skin cells hydrated. Having a diet composed of food rich in fatty acids such as walnuts, flaxseed and salmon also helps to keep your skin hydrated.
Expert Tip: Moisturize rigorously and drink plenty of water to keep your skin supple.
4. Get sufficient sleep
Your body repairs itself and produces collagen when you get sufficient shut-eye of 7-9 hours each night. More collagen keeps your skin firm and plump, and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. Lack of sleep also reduces the lustre of your skin and causes dark eye circles or bags to form under the eyes. Nina suggests that keeping a disciplined sleep schedule will help your body to adjust to regular sleep pattern and improve your overall sleep quality.
Expert Tip: Get at least 7 hours of quality sleep each night to do wonders for your skin.
5. Eat well
If you are looking for luscious skin, this requires nourishment from within. A steady supply of nutrients is required to replenish new skin cells. A study has concluded that fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants help to enhance the skin's protection from environmental stresses. Consume plenty of foods rich in Vitamin C such as blackcurrants, blueberries and broccoli and betacarotene to develop a radiant skin tone. Certain foods have good fats as well – fish, avocados, and seeds have fatty acids that keep your skin supple.
Expert Tip: Make sure that foods rich in antioxidants such as papaya, pumpkin and blackcurrants and other nutrients become a part of your diet!
6. Don’t smoke
Smoking can seriously damage your skin. It decreases blood flow to the skin by constricting the blood vessels in the outer layers of the skin. As a result, a dermatological study by Morita has concluded that smoking causes the skin to become less healthy and youthful as it receives less oxygen and nutrients. Collagen in the skin is also damaged and regenerated at a slower rate. Passive smoking can be as damaging to the skin - make sure that your environment is always smoke-free and clear of pollutants.
Expert Tip: Don’t start smoking. If you’re a smoker, do your best to reduce the number of sticks you smoke each day, or quit!
One of the most important decisions that you could make for both your skin and your overall health is to choose a job which has a clean and conducive workplace. A healthy work environment that keeps your stress level in check and is free of pollutants will reward your skin condition over the long term. Having made a sound decision on the right job, you can then apply these tips to give yourself a healthy complexion.
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