This year my mum turned 50 and I'm not lying when I tell you she looks 20 years younger. She’s the first person I go to for skincare advice. I wanted to know what her secret is so that I could age as well as she did.
She first advised me to go see a Chinese doctor. Traditional Chinese Medicine focuses on the holistic perspective of skincare, taking into consideration your overall health, which directly affects your skin.
Chinese herbal tea is definitely not the most appealing. It's often a blend of ingredients that are combined into a black, pungent beverage. The fact that I was open to trying it, proves I was willing to try anything to clear my skin.
So I went for my first consultation and I got a lot more than just tea. He examined my tongue, felt my wrist but also gave me some dietary advice: avoid oily foods, spicy foods, cold drinks and alcohol.
The foundation of this advice is due to a big factor that people often do not consider: your blood circulation.
The circulatory system carries nutrients and oxygenated blood around your body. It works directly with your cardiovascular system to transport the waste and toxins out of your body. The goal is to keep these blood and lymphatic fluid levels in balance, as well as regulating your internal body temperature.
To translate : you want your skin to dispose of all harmful toxins, and in order to do so - the most important thing is to ensure a healthy blood flow.
To promote blood circulation, I went for a couple more consultations to do acupuncture treatment. Although it slightly helped, I knew it was not a sustainable - long-term solution. There are other ways to improve your circulation. For instance by drinking a lot of water, exercising (even light exercising will do!), managing your stress and consuming foods rich in omega 3 such as salmon, avocado, and leafy greens.
You see, the state of your skin is so dependent on your overall health. Which brings me to my next tip - another bodily system that contributes to your skin’s appearance!