Keeping your skin healthy and looking good is about more than just good skincare.

In fact, you could religiously use the best skincare in the world and still not get the results you want for your skin.

That’s because the health of your skin is connected to your overall health.
Makes sense, right?

So, what you put into your body reflects on the outside.
And, even more importantly, your mind health can also impact how everything looks on the outside!

So, to avoid unnecessary skin flare ups, spots and inflammation it’s vital that you take care of your mind and body, nourishing yourself both inside and out.

Here’s how you can do that…

Mind And Body: Nourishing Inside And Out

Internal Nourishment

We all know that we need to eat well and get the right amount of sleep to keep our skin healthy and glowing. Yet, internal nourishment is actually far more than that.

True internal nourishment includes:

Balanced Diet

Let’s get the one we know about out of the way first! Consuming a balanced diet of fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats and complex carbs will nourish your body. You know you need to minimise the treats and alcohol, always have brekkie, and not eat right before bed. All of that proper nutrition provides the essential nutrients that support brain function and physical health.

Right, that’s one of the easy ones out of the way. Let’s move on to the other well known one!

Adequate Sleep

Healthy diet and adequate sleep go hand in hand as advice pillars for internal nourishment. Prioritising quality sleep gives your body the chance to rest and rejuvenate. And lack of sleep can negatively impact your mood, cognitive function and physical health.

Adequate sleep might look different for different people, so listening to your body is important. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults sleep 7-9 hours a night. Obviously, some people sleep slightly more or less than this, but 7 is the recommended minimum, so aim for that at least!

OK, we did say there were two obvious pillars, but there’s actually a third…

Good Hydration

Hydration is another thing that is vital for cognitive function and supporting your overall health. It also helps to maintain your body temperature and keep your skin feeling fresh. Dehydration can lead to dry skin, so keeping your fluids up will allow your skin to retain its natural moisture levels.

Water is the best option for hydration, but milk, herbal tea, fruit infused water, coconut water, or natural fruit juices are all good options too. Coffee, lemonade, alcohol, hot chocolate and soda fall into the category of sometimes drinks as they don’t have as much hydration power as other fluids.

Mind Nourishment

Your mental health can have a huge impact on your skin’s health. You can learn more about that in our recent blog. It is just as important to nourish your mind as it is to nourish your body.

Here are some of the ways you can do that:

Emotional Awareness

Being aware of your emotions can help you to deal with them in a constructive and healthy manner. It’s totally ok to feel all the feels, but practice emotional intelligence by acknowledging what you are feeling and working through the situation as calmly as you can.

This practical approach can help you to navigate stressful situations and protect your mental health at the same time. Nourish your mind by allowing yourself to feel, but don’t let your emotions drive your behaviours.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is all about living in the present moment. This can help centre you and nourish your mind by making you more engaged in all aspects of your life. Practising mindfulness can help to reduce stress, improve focus and enhance your emotional wellbeing.

All of this is good news for your overall health and the appearance of your skin!

Mental Stimulation

A big part of nourishing your mind is keeping it stimulated. Strive for continuous learning and personal growth by continually acquiring new knowledge and skills. This helps to boost your wellbeing by providing mental stimulation and a sense of accomplishment.

Don't forget that you can also get huge mental stimulation from engaging with your friends and loved ones in social situations. Human connection is vital for emotional and mental health.

Time For You

Having time that is solely dedicated to your own care is invaluable for good mind health. Obviously getting outdoors and exercising is a great option for improving your mood and reducing stress. But, it’s also vital to have the quiet indoor moments where you read a book, put on a face mask, or have a wee shop online!

Another great self care tip is to utilise positive affirmations to support a healthy mindset and to boost your self confidence. Have power phrases that motivate you that you can repeat morning and night for positive energy when you need it.

External Nourishment

Now that we’ve covered the internal and mind aspects, it’s finally time to nourish the external parts! When your mind and body are working in harmony, you can create beautiful results for your skin.

Here’s our best external nourishment tips:

Hygiene

Maintaining good hygiene is really important for healthy skin. But, be cautious with your showering and bathing as prolonged exposure to hot water can strip your skin of its natural oils. Coupling good hygiene with a good skincare routine will help to keep you clean and replenish your skin with moisture after showering.

Element Protection

We all know to slip, slop, slap in summertime to protect our skin from damaging UV rays. But, it can be equally important to protect your skin from harsh weather conditions in the colder months too. Wind and rain (and don’t get us started on snow) can dry your skin. Protect as much of your exposed skin as possible with scarves and hoods where appropriate.

Skincare

One of the most important external nourishments you can give your body is a good skincare routine. Choose natural products to prevent unnecessary chemicals from being applied to your skin and develop a routine that gives your skin exactly what it needs.

We recommend:

1. Cleanse - A vitally important step, using a cleanser to remove oil, dirt, build up and pollutants from your skin will give you a fresh slate to nourish and moisturise your skin.
   
   We recommend Cleanse Me, a rich gel-like cleanser that is designed to clean, unblock clogged pores, and remove makeup without damaging your skin’s natural barrier system.
   
   
2. Repair - Once your skin is clean, it’s time to use repair and rejuvenation products. You may not choose to use these products every day, but you’ll likely add in a serum or a hydration mask at least once a week.
   
   We recommend Bounce Back for rehydrating dry skin, Sola Drops for intense repair, or Super Bloom, a sheet mask for hydrating and plumping.
   
   
3. Moisturise - Cap off your skincare routine by moisturising. A good quality moisturiser will replenish your skin’s natural barrier, locking in moisture and preventing water loss, leaving your skin soft, supple and healthy.
   
   We recommend Day Dew for everyday hydration and a smooth, dewy glow or Derma Boost, an anytime moisturiser which tightens, firms and plumps your skin.

Turning The Outside In

As you can see, there are many aspects that go into nourishing your mind and body as a whole. Interestingly, having healthy, glowing skin can close the loop and make your health cycle come full circle. That’s because healthy skin helps you to feel better about yourself, generating self confidence and a positive mindset. In turn, this positivity helps to maintain good mental health.

In short, nourishing both the inside and the outside of your body is equally important! As we already mentioned, natural skincare is essential for external nourishment, so shop summer + bloom’s range of natural Kiwi-created products now!