How to Keep Your Skin Healthy All Year Long

Your skin is your largest organ—and the most visible one. Are you keeping it healthy? Just like the rest of your body, your skin needs regular attention and care.

With November being National Healthy Skin Month, it’s a great time to share the following healthy skin care tips to help you maintain a healthy epidermis today while preventing unnecessary damage down the road.

8 Natural and Healthy Skin Care Tips

Here are some of the best ways to care for your skin on a daily basis—naturally, without any crazy products or expensive serums.

1. Eat Plenty of Produce

Vegetables and fruits contain essential vitamins and minerals your body needs to thrive and fight illness. That includes keeping your skin healthy, too!

Fresh produce has powerful antioxidants that fight free radicals. This means protecting your skin from cellular damage and signs of aging.

Many fruits and vegetables contain vitamin C too, which is an antioxidant necessary for skin-healing collagen production. Collagen is the main protein found in skin and other connective tissues.

Skin-healthy produce options include:

• Kale
• Sweet potatoes
• Pumpkin
• Spinach
• Broccoli
• Oranges
• Berries
• Papaya

A good multivitamin can also be a great complement to a healthy skin diet.

2. Don’t Forget Your Omega 3s

Besides fresh fruit and vegetables, foods with omega-3s are also crucial for healthy skin.

Omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory for the skin and essential to helping it retain proper moisture.

Some ways you can get a regular dose of omega-3s include:

• Having baked fish, like salmon, for dinner
• Snacking on some walnuts
• Eating fresh seaweed
• Sprinkling ground flax seeds on your salad or in your smoothie
• Drizzle flaxseed oil or hemp oil on your meals
• Taking a high-quality fish oil supplement

3. Drink the Right Fluids

Hydration is one of the best skin care tips we can give—and one of the best habits you can keep for your skin! Staying hydrated keeps your skin looking plump, moisturized and clear.

Instead of reaching for coffee first thing, have a big glass of water—and drink more throughout the day. If water bores you, try herbal teas or iced water with a few squeezes of fresh fruit juice.

4. Stress Less

When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol, the “stress” hormone, which can wreak havoc over the long-term. That includes being hard on your skin, increasing the chance of dry, oily or wrinkled skin and breakouts.

Support your body during stress and keep your skin healthy by making more time for relaxation and mindfulness, such as meditation, yoga, and deep breathing.

5. Sleep More

Yep, sleep is also great for healthy skin! Your whole body needs sleep to repair and rebuild overnight—including your skin. Plus, lack of sleep can make you more susceptible to stress and overwhelm, which we already know isn’t good.

Give your skin the rest it needs by shooting for 7-8 hours of sleep per night.

6. Moisturize Day and Night

When skin is too oily or too dry, it can lead to skin issues like acne. In either case, the right moisturizer matters because it helps keep a healthy oil balance on your skin.

If you have oily skin, look for skin lotions with exfoliant ingredients instead of creams. If you have dry skin, creams are likely best. Apply the right moisturizer in the morning and at night before you go to bed.

7. Be Responsible in the Sun

Sunshine feels great on the skin, but as many of us know, it can also be damaging. Not only can too much sun contribute to wrinkles and other signs of aging, it also increases your risk of skin cancer.

Follow the proper sun safety tips when you’re out in the sun more, especially during summer months. Wear a healthy sunscreen, wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses when you’re outside or driving.

8. Screen for Skin Cancer Regularly

Skin cancer is one of the most treatable cancers—if you catch it early. Go to your doctor for regular skin screenings, and inspect your skin for anything new or abnormal.

The Bottom Line

A lot of the best skin care tips come down to prevention. Practice good, mindful habits that support healthy skin at any age. You’ll visibly see the difference—and you’ll feel it in your whole body, too!