People can say what they want to, but we all know that there are no competitors for the three golden words we all want to hear - “God, you’re glowing”.

From picking the most expensive serums to applying the right shade of a dewy foundation, the ultimate aim has always been to have nourished and supple skin. We’ve all experienced clear, healthy skin at some point in our lives, however, keeping it constant has always been a challenge. Is there a sacred routine? Is there a magical product? Or is there just one answer for how to get glowing skin?

Nine ways to make your skin glow

Deep breathing:

For glowing skin, start your day with deep breathing, as it can increase your galvanic skin response (GSR). In simple words, GSR is a measure of your skin’s electrodermal activity, which changes depending on how stressed you are. Therefore, when you indulge in deep breathing and increase your skin’s GSR, you’re also physiologically bringing down the stress levels of your body. This, in return, brings down your stress hormone levels. As a result, you’ll notice clear, refreshed and glowing skin in less than a month. 

Beauty Sleep Benefits:

This is no surprise, is it? But are you aware of the damage that an altered sleep cycle then does to your skin? In a study conducted on 24 women, in 2022, it was found that leading a sleep-restricted life is the leading cause for the ‘tired’ look we often seem to carry. Not getting enough sleep can have five major drawbacks - 

• decreased sebum production causing dehydrated skin
• increased trans-epidermal water loss causing dull skin
• imbalanced pH of the skin leading to decreased brightness and saturation along with increased dark circles. Click here to view detailed results.

Eating balanced meals:

An absolute no-brainer. What you consume in a day, quite literally decides everything - from how you will feel to how you look. Always focus on having balanced meals that include antioxidants and vitamins like vitamin C & E. Some foods you can start consuming as soon as possible? Carrots and pumpkin for Betacarotene, spinach for lutein, oranges, and strawberries for Vitamin C, and almonds for Selenium and Vitamin E. However, it goes beyond these foods. Read this blog written by Kerry Torrens, a qualified nutritionist, to better understand food and its relation to your skin.

Workout regularly:

Working out helps in nourishing and maintaining the vitality of skin cells by boosting blood flow. It is our blood that carries oxygen and nutrients to working cells throughout the body, including the skin. Along with this, it also helps in removing waste products like free radicals from the working cells.

Skin hydration:

If you weren’t already aware, your skin has a built-in barrier that holds water and locks in moisture for itself. Although, it doesn’t always work as well as it should, and losing out on moisture can cause shrivelled, wrinkled, and dull skin. Therefore, the best way to hydrate skin is to not only drink enough water throughout the day (8 glasses minimum) but also use hydrating products like these for your skin. Other than that, it is also advisable to not use harsh soaps, take extremely hot showers or use rough sponges for your skin.

Keep everything that touches your face, clean:

We’re certain that this one doesn’t need much explaining. It’s quite simple - everything that touches your skin is going to stick around longer than you think. Be it dirty sheets or unwashed make-up brushes; these are all very capable of blocking your pores and increasing your sebum production, causing oily and acne-prone skin. The easiest practice? Ensure your hands, sheets, make-up brushes, and everything you use on your face are thoroughly cleansed, and safe enough to be used.

Avoid touching your face too often:

If you have oily or combination skin, touching your face too often can make it worse. Doing so can spread oil from one part of your face to the another, clogging your pores and increasing sebum production. How to start practicing not touching your face? -

• Keep your hands scented, this will help you be aware of where your hands are, alerting you when you bring them close to your face.
• If you’re in a meeting, try keeping your hands on your lap, or busy typing/scribbling
• Mark your hand every time you touch your face. That way, whenever your hands get too close to your face you’ll sit the mark and remember to not touch it.

Consume vitamins:

With the pandemic, a work-from-home lifestyle, and disturbed eating habits, it is possible that all the essential nutrients in your body are not balanced. The first thing you need to do is get yourself tested for the levels of vitamins C, D, E, B12, and Calcium. This is important because all these nutrients holistically play a huge role in how your skin looks. While some target sun damage, ageing, and wrinkles, others work on skin rejuvenation and protection. Although, ensure that you get these reports checked by the doctor and only take the prescribed medicines in the recommended doses.

Use Sunscreen:

Sunscreen should be one of the most essential parts of your skincare routine. Wearing sunscreen regularly helps prevent sunburn, skin cancer, and premature ageing. Skipping sunscreen may look harmless, but it’s not. Being irregular with your sunscreen exposes your skin to harmful UV rays which can not only increase your chances of premature ageing but also lead to uneven skin tone.

All of these might overwhelm you, but honestly, it's all about staying focused and taking it one step at a time!