Your skin is unique and tells your personal story, the one from late nights to sunny days spent outdoors. But there are times when you come across people whose skin appears as if the clock has turned back. It appears well-nourished, evenly toned, and even plump. Their glowing skin leaves us in awe.
Truth be told when your skin glows with a healthy, radiant complexion, it boosts your confidence and uplifts your spirit. And let's be honest, we have all had our little moment of, "What's the secret of such glowing skin? I want it too!"
We just got to know this. So, in this blog, we become your personal guide to achieving glowing skin and a radiant complexion with natural skincare. We also have some tips for you that will leave you wondering, "Oh! Why didn't I find this earlier?"
But first, let's understand what it means to have glowing skin!
Understanding Glowing Skin
Achieving glowing skin is not about turning two shades fairer. Though most people think it is. Well, they have totally got the concept wrong. Your skin is a reflection of what's happening inside your body. And it glows or has a natural radiance when you're healthy on the inside. "But why?"
Your skin naturally revives and rejuvenates itself until you are around 25 years old. It gets all the nutrition it needs from the food you eat and the lifestyle you lead. Once you are almost 25, the skin's aging process begins. This means that now it may need some extra love, care, and targeted support to keep it healthy.
The good news? As long as you lead a healthy life and nourish your skin with essential nutrients, you will have glowing skin. To understand it better, let's take a look at the characteristics and factors that can affect your skin's radiant complexion.
Characteristics of Glowing Skin
Glowing skin is a coveted quality that represents your health and vitality. Specifically, it has the following characteristics:
- Luminous, dewy appearance. This healthy glow is a result of soft and smooth skin texture.
- Even complexion. An even complexion means that your skin is balanced. It does not have any major discoloration. For instance, redness, sun spots, blemishes, or dark spots.
- Youthful radiance. By youthful, we mean the skin's ability to appear firm and plump. Of course, if it is firm, then it is not likely to have any major signs of aging like crow's feet, or sagging skin, or wrinkles. These signs are often minimal and may not be visible from a distance.
- Smooth texture. Healthy skin has smaller pores that look like they're not really there unless you try to look at them up, close and personal. Of course, with age, as your skin loses its elasticity, the pores might appear larger in size. Yet, with some TLC, you can take care of them.
Factors Influencing Glowing Skin
Like we said before, your skin is a reflection of what's on the inside. It is also a reflection of what's on the outside—pollution, long hours under the sun, and your skincare routine. Let's quickly understand how each of them affects your skin.
Internal factors
Hydration
Your body is almost 70% water. No wonder it requires you to drink ample water throughout the day. When you stay well-hydrated, your body can efficiently remove waste and impurities through urination and sweating. This cleansing action helps keep your system balanced and your skin free of blemishes.
So what happens when you don't drink enough water? Simply put, the toxins accumulate in your body. Furthermore, they manifest in the form of acne, blackheads, or other skin issues. Result? A very unstable skin with no radiance.
Diet
Junk food tastes really nice, and so do desserts. But there's another side of the coin, too—the one where these foods throw our body off balance. Instead of nourishing your body, these foods may disrupt your system and lead to inflammation. As a result, your skin may become prone to acne and other skin issues.
The key to clear skin is a mix of vegetables, fruits, proteins, and whole grains. They provide your body with essential nutrients and antioxidants that support clear, radiant skin. Plus, making healthy food choices can help your body function efficiently and flush out toxins, leaving your skin looking its best.
Lifestyle
Do you sleep with your makeup on? Do you lead a not-so-active life? Or do you enjoy smoking and alcohol? Well, all these things are slowly damaging your skin.
For instance, sleeping with makeup on clogs your pores and causes breakouts. Similarly, smoking speeds up your aging process by breaking down collagen and elastin fibers. Result? Wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin.
What about drinking? Excessive alcohol dehydrates your skin and triggers inflammation, resulting in redness and puffiness.
External factors
Skincare routine
A lot of individuals have a skincare routine. But you know why a whole lot of their routines work against their skin? Here are a few reasons:
- The routine does not suit their skin type.
- Products don't match the skin's needs.
- The ingredients in the products don't go well together.
- There is no target treatment that delivers intense benefits.
- Exfoliation is missing, or they're under/overdoing it.
- They lack consistency.
All these reasons and more make your skincare work against you in achieving glowing skin. How? They do the following:
- Cause imbalance.
- Irritate your skin.
- Inhibit absorption due to their incompatibility.
- Prevent you from addressing concerns like aging, dullness, dehydration.
- Strip your skin's protective barrier and weaken it.
Environmental Influences
Ah, then, of course, there is the environment you live in. By that, we mean the pollution in the air, the amount of time you spend under the sun, and the quality of the wind.
Pollution deposits dirt, grime, and harmful particles onto your skin. This can clog your pores and lead to irritation, breakouts, and premature aging. Similarly, Harsh or dry winds can strip your skin of its natural moisture barrier. Thus leaving it feeling dry, tight, and more susceptible to damage.
Further, spending too much time under the sun without proper protection can result in sunburn, dehydration, and long-term damage, such as wrinkles and age spots.
Skincare Tips for Achieving Glowing Skin
We just saw what bad skincare looks like. But wait? What is a good skincare routine? Here's what a good skincare routine looks like:
- The routine fits the skin type.
- The product has ingredients that help meet the skin's needs.
- Hero ingredients in the product complement each other.
- Routine is gentle on your skin yet delivers what it should.
- It includes serums for targeted action and face sheet masks once a week or once every two weeks.
- All the products have undergone a patch test before continued use.
So, to make it easier to achieve glowing skin, here's what you need to do.
PS: We have also added some product suggestions for you!
Cleanse Daily
There's a lot that your skin gets exposed to—dirt, oil, bacteria, and whatnot! What you can do is make sure you remove all of it at the end of the day and give your skin some breathing space! For this, you will need a Gentle Cleanser.
Our gentle cleanser is made with Japanese Yuzu Extract and Grape Leaf Extract for youthful, glowing skin. It also has the intensely hydrating Marula oil, which leaves your skin feeling baby-soft. The gel-like formula melts into a soft foam, with sweet notes of rosemary and lavender to refresh your skin and mind.
Exfoliate Regularly
Your skin regenerates itself over 4-6 weeks, give or take. It also depends on your age. What happens in the regenerating process is that new cells take birth in the deepest layers of the skin and move outward towards the epidermis. This way, the top layer of your skin regenerates itself.
Hold on! Where do the old cells go? They accumulate on the top layer of your skin as 'dead' cells and need to be sloughed off if you want a radiant complexion. Exfoliation helps you do this.
Exfoliation is the process of sloughing off these dead cells, while exfoliant is the product you use to exfoliate. Typically, there are two kinds of exfoliants:
Physical Exfoliants
These include your scrubs with beads, sugar, salt, or other coarse particles to offer gentle exfoliation. These scrubs effectively remove dead skin cells, revealing a fresh and radiant complexion. Daily use can promote smoother, softer skin and enhance the absorption of other skincare products. By incorporating scrubs into your skincare routine, you can enjoy a more even skin tone and a healthy, glowing appearance.
Chemical Exfoliants
On the other hand, chemical exfoliants work by dissolving the bond between dead skin cells. This makes it easier to wash away the dead skin cells. This gentle process helps to reveal a fresh, smooth layer of skin underneath. It uses the following ingredients:
- Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) like glycolic acid
- Beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) such as salicylic acid
- Enzymes from fruits like papaya and pineapple
Everything looks good so far, right? Unfortunately, chemical exfoliants are not without red flags.
- Many chemical exfoliants, such as alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), can increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun. Thus making it more susceptible to sunburn and damage. It is essential to wear sunscreen when using these products.
- Individuals with certain skin conditions, such as rosacea or eczema, may find chemical exfoliants too harsh and may experience exacerbated symptoms.
- Some individuals may be allergic or sensitive to the active ingredients in chemical exfoliants, which can cause adverse reactions like rashes, itching, or swelling.
Hydrate Adequately
We have already spoken about the role of water intake in flushing out your body's toxins and what happens if there is a lack of hydration. So, needless to say, you need to have ample water.
However, if you find normal water boring to chug on, try adding some flavor to it. Maybe some slices of lemon and mint leaves, pomegranates, berries, ginger and salt, cucumber, or watermelon. There are endless options. Furthermore, adding them to your water may even:
- Increase your metabolism
- Help your body cleanse better
- Cool your body down
It all boils down to what you add to the water. But that's about the inside. We need to hydrate the skin externally, too. For that, you need these things —
- Hydrating Serum
- Light Moisturizer for daytime
- Deep Moisturizer for evening
Our hydrating serum packs the power of Hyaluronic Acid and Marula Oil into one to heal and restore your skin's elasticity It comes with a milky, slightly thicker formula that seeps into your skin's deepest layers to refresh your radiance.
Follow it up with a light moisturizer in your morning skincare routine. This real multitasker brings the benefit of Niacinamide and Sea Holly plant cells to your skin. Together, they do everything needed for a glowing skin:
- Fight signs of aging
- Even tone the skin
- Offer long-lasting hydration
For your evenings, you will need something thicker, especially if you have a dry skin type. So indulge in a deep moisturizer with Shea Butter and skin-softening Japanese Rice Germ Oil. It works overnight to transform dehydrated skin to well-hydrated skin and restore your natural radiant complexion.
Pro tip? Want to make it even better and leave no loophole in your skincare regime? Add our Hydrating Face mask with hyaluronic acid or Brightening Face mask with vitamin C. But if your goal is to tighten your skin, then the Firming face mask with Niacinamide is the right pick!
Protect from Sun Damage
The sun can do wonders for your skin, but not in a good way. So, you have to apply your sunscreen with SPF 50 approximately 15-20 minutes before you step out. A good thumb rule for how much you should apply is two fingers. Simply draw a line of sunscreen on your two fingers to get an ample amount. Plus, don't forget to reapply it every 2-3 hours.
Besides sunscreen, here are a few other preventive measures that you can take:
- Opting for full-sleeved clothes
- Wearing lighter shades
- Adding a hat to your outfit
- Covering your face with a scarf
Lifestyle Habits for Glowing Skin
Balanced Diet
It's important to make some adjustments to your eating habits for glowing skin. Mind you, you won't regret making them when you see the radiance it brings. So you need to CUT and ADD.
Cut down on:
- Processed food
- Excessive sugar and salt
And ADD:
- More greens like spinach and kale
- Fruits like berries, oranges, watermelons
- Salads full of lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes
Regular Exercise
If you live a pretty inactive life and have long sitting hours, MOVE YOUR BODY, like now! Be it dancing, exercising, cardio, running, or jogging—get yourself moving. Why?
All that movement is going to improve blood circulation and oxygen flow to the skin. Plus, the toxins come out in the form of sweat. You are able to digest your food better, which means better nutrient absorption for glowing skin!
Sufficient Sleep
During the day, your skin is busy defending itself. But during the night, it is busy repairing itself. So you need to make sure you give it enough time, say about 7-8 hours. Wondering "What will happen if I don't?" You can welcome
- Puffiness
- Dark circles
Additionally, switch your pillowcases to satin to avoid friction between the pillow and your skin. The friction could lead to wrinkles and fine lines. And if you have trouble falling asleep or getting sound sleep, you may benefit from:
- Deep breathing
- Instrumental music
- Dark rooms
- Avoiding any device 1 hour before your sleep time
- Herbal teas
Natural Remedies for Glowing Skin
DIY Face Masks
Here comes the natural skincare part! Trust us; using ingredients from the kitchen is one of the most popular skin care tips you will ever find! Why? Because your kitchen has the answers to all your concerns, quite literally! So here are three DIY face mask recipes to help you achieve glowing skin: -
Honey, Yogurt, and Oatmeal Mask for Soothing
What you'll need:
- 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon finely ground oatmeal
Preparation:
- Mix all three ingredients in a bowl until smooth
- Apply it to your face carefully while avoiding the eyes
- Leave the mask on for about 15 minutes
- Rinse off with lukewarm water and pat dry
Turmeric, Honey, and Aloe Vera Mask for Brightening
What you'll need:
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
Preparation:
- Mix turmeric, honey, and aloe vera gel until well combined into a paste.
- Apply the mask evenly to your face
- Let it sit for 10-15 minutes
- Rinse off with lukewarm water
- Follow up with a moisturizer
Yogurt, Honey, and Lemon Mask for Clarifying
What you'll need:
- 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Preparation:
- Mix everything in a bowl to create a paste. Make it not too thick nor too thin in consistency
- Apply it to your face and let it sit for 15-20 minutes
- Rinse off with lukewarm water and follow up with Moisturizer
Herbal Teas
Herbal teas are one of the smartest, easiest, and most beneficial ways to include nutrients in your diet while indulging in a calming routine. ILEM JAPAN offers 4 amazing green teas:
All of these teas are harvested in Japanese tea gardens with great care and attention. The best part? No matter which one you choose, they all ooze with antioxidants. Well, Matcha a little more than the others!
But there's one thing for sure. All of these teas are the perfect way to:
- Calm yourself down
- Get some sustainable energy
- Treat yourself to a nutritious drink
Conclusion
Glowing skin is a result of a carefully chosen skincare routine, consistently practicing it, and switching to a healthier lifestyle. And if you are ready to make this shift, we are too, with our army of natural, Japanese-inspired skincare range for all skin types!
Trust us: you will see it, you will like it, and we hope you grab it for yourself and your loved ones.
