Eat your way to glowing skin with these tips and tricks
From including antioxidant-rich foods to cooking with healthy oils, here are some good skincare practices for you to adopt
In a world where the seven-step beauty routine is considered as the holy grail and the internet is bombarding you with information on cleansers, scrubs, retinol creams, vitamin-C serums, hyaluronic acid serums, sheet masks, collagen supplements, vitamin-E oils and sunscreens (that's all I had the breath for), how do you know where to begin? After all, everyone's constitution is different, there are various skin types, eating habits, fitness routines and lifestyles that vary and have differentiating impacts on each individual's skin. While some may find solace in a full-fat chocolate milkshake, the same indulgence may lead others down a road of nausea and skin breakouts. You get the drift.
In a bid to manoeuvre the wild and vast landscape of skincare correctly, we got Dr. Kiran Sethi of Isya Aesthetics in New Delhi to give us the lowdown on beauty superfoods, easy skincare routines and what beauty products to use, or for that matter, avoid. Given the current global scenario and the high-stress environment caused by COVID-19, indulging in a little self-care can feel almost therapeutic.
Natural ingredients
As Indians, we can all agree that fried food is a part of our daily diets in one way or another. Currently, we're all experiencing a major change in our lifestyles and with the ''new normal'', it would be wise to keep track of our diet choices. Building on this, Dr. Sethi tells us how important it is to cook everyday meals in healthy oils. She says, ''I cook in coconut oil myself. Avocado and flaxseed oil are great too. You need to find a way to add Omega-3 fatty acids into your diet because they work wonders for skin and gut health.'' Talking about resources easily available in India, which are also pocket friendly, she advises we make use of India's inexhaustive supply of coconuts, adding that they're full of electrolytes and zinc, which work well when you're dealing with acne-prone skin.
The electrolytes and zinc in coconut water help deal with acne-prone skin.
Sethi also suggests that we add antioxidant-rich foods to our diets. Elaborating on this, she says, "Every full function medicine doctor or naturopath will tell you to eat berries. They're full of antioxidants and are a great addition to your diet. Another thing would be, foods rich in probiotics which are great for gut health. Take advantage of the diversity of India's repertoire of fermented foods and add them to your diet. I'd also recommend an assortment of nuts for your daily dose of vitamins and minerals.
Simple skincare
The skincare market has boomed over the last few years. We have access to so much more information than we ever did before; as good as that can be, it can also be overwhelming. From bloggers to influencers and Instagram beauty guru's, we see so many people documenting their skin journeys today. As a starting point, Sethi suggests, "Use a gentle cleanser and drink a lot of water. The gentler you are with your skin, the better it's going to be for you."
It is important to remember that different products work for different skin types. "A gentle cleanser, a vitamin C serum and SPF. There's so much pollution in the air today, environmental stressors and the heat from the sun only add to the damage. Wear sunblock no matter what. These are my three biggies,'' shares Sethi.
To know more about skin supplements, active agents in beauty products and ingredients to steer clear of, watch our full chat with Dr. Kiran Sethi below: