Ok so you may have had a little too much wine last night. Symptoms that your body is dehydrated include headache and fatigue, stiffness and muscle cramps – as well as dry skin. Like our kidneys and liver, the skin needs plenty of hydration to function at its optimum. Here’s 5 recommendations of how to maintain hydrated skin (and perhaps help cure a hangover).
1. Clean Water
Drinking clean water is so important for maintaining the health and beauty of our inner and outer body. Water delivers nutrients to our cells, helps to lubricate our joints and creates flow in our lymphatic system by removing toxins from the body. We don’t need to necessarily drink gallons of water either. Ayurveda practitioners recommend we sip water at room temperature or warm water throughout the day for maintaining hydration. In a nutshell: Clear and radiant skin is a reflection of a clean and healthy body.
2. Cold Showers
The benefits of taking cold showers are many – especially when it comes to fresh-looking and hydrated skin. Taking cold showers helps to maintain the natural oils. Unlike hot showers, cold temperature doesn’t draw out the moisture of the body either. All this, plus cold showers make one feel more energized and rejuvenated. Even a one-minute daily cold shower is said to boost our immune system.
3. Sip Green Tea
Rich in antioxidants, green tea is so beneficial for maintaining a clear complexion. Make drinking organic green tea a part of your daily beverage routine and you’ll both feel and observe the benefits. You can also apply cooled green tea topically to the skin – it makes an amazing hydration booster! Green tea is also thought to boost cell regeneration and what could be more anti-aging than that!
4. Dose up on Aloe Vera
We know that Aloe Vera is one of the best plant remedies for soothing burns and sunburn skin. Aloe is also loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that are great for helping the body flush out toxins that promote clearer skin. We recommend you keep an aloe vera plant inside a pot plant outside your front door. Every morning break open a stem and hydrate your skin with the fleshy part – it’s the ultimate skin food!
5. Eat Your Way To Glowing Skin
Water alone doesn’t just hydrate the body – there are plenty of alkalizing foods that hydrate the skin. Obvious choices include fresh juices rich in water such as pineapple, watermelon, celery and lemon. Consider adding more cucumbers and celery to your meals as these contain over 90% of water content. The body also loves good quality fats like avocado, salmon and mackerel that are high in omega-3 essential fatty acids and feed and plump the skin.
P.S. During the summer, make a pitcher of filtered water and add slices of fruits like cucumber, strawberries, lemon, lime as well as herbs like mint – it makes a great sugar-free hydrator!
