by Glam-Granola Author Wendy Roy
I receive many inquiries regarding my skin… Particularly, how do I keep it looking nearly flawless (thank you!) using an essentially organic regimen.

There are fundamentally three areas to look at when we’re ready to bring out our most radiant skin. There is the lifestyle aspect, the skin care piece (products & practices), and cosmetics. Lifestyle comes first. If you want beautiful skin, take heed of the below five basic tips before all else.

Food & Drink for Healthy Skin

Of course I would say the more you can eat organic, the better. Keep with the antibiotic free meats if you are a non-vegetarian, and eat plenty of veggies. And please do keep hydrated; I understand that if you are even three percent dehydrated your body is not functioning smoothly! So drink water, juice, or white/red/green tea throughout your day.

Less Stress for Better Complexion

Things are going to come up in life, but you really do have control in being able to take time for yourself, even if for five minutes, to recharge. I make sure to take deep breaths throughout the day (yes, you can “forget” to breathe sometimes), and when I get into bed each night I take a lightly-scented lotion and massage my feet. Next, I lay flat down on my back and massage my neck, and then face and scalp, and zzzzzzz….sleepy time.

Sleep for Beauty

Ah yes, beauty sleep. Each of you will have a different answer with regards to how much you require, so go by what you need. But GET the sleep! This is the time when your cells recharge and your skin regenerates. Also, don’t forget to wash your face before hitting the sack to take off the day’s grime.

Beauty Exercise

Do yoga and/or some form of safe aerobic exercise to get your body limber, and increase your blood flow. If you can, do this a minimum of three times a week even if for 15-20 minutes right at home with a DVD. Tip: Before you begin, brush your hair, pull it up away from your face (keep it that way for the duration of the workout), and give your face a wash so you don’t contribute to the clogging of your pores.

Medication Compensation

This is a controversial area. However, if you do take meds to help you, you could help “offset” their potential adverse effects (at least a bit) by taking the time to mindfully acknowledge that you are taking care of your body, and by taking other healthful measures — such as eating plenty of antioxidant-loaded foods like pumpkin and blueberries.

Lastly, be sure to have some fun each day! When you’re happy, your skin will glow.

Coming up is Part two of this series: Skin Care; Products and Practices.