The skin is the body’s largest organ – accounting for around 16% of its total weight. It performs multiple functions: elimination, immune barrier, sensory organ, body temperature regulation. And it faces some serious challenges – sun, cold, pollution… That’s why taking care of it is essential! Here are 8 tips for beautiful skin, from head to toe!
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Tip no1: Hydration, always!
The skin (both body and face) is made up of around 60% water. This water is in constant circulation: it is carried by the blood, it nourishes skin cells, it is eliminated through sweat… But deprive the skin of water and it suffers. Cell renewal slows down and the organ can no longer perform its functions. The skin then looks dehydrated, feels tight and develops dry patches. To achieve beautiful skin, it is essential to establish a good hydration routine, based on a suitable moisturising solution (cream, lotion, balm or gel, depending on personal preference and the season).
Tip no2: Protecting the skin barrier
Moisturising is a first step, but how do you keep water locked into the deeper layers of the skin? This is where choosing the right routine really matters. On the surface of the epidermis, there is a fine protective film: the hydrolipidic film. It is made up of a blend of sweat and sebum, which acts as a shield against external aggressors while also helping to retain moisture at the level of the dermis.
Applying a moisturising solution to the skin ensures a good supply of water. But to give your skin every advantage and keep it looking its best, it’s worth completing your routine with an occlusive product, which will seal water into the skin and prevent it from evaporating. You can either choose a hybrid, emollient treatment that both moisturises and protects, or apply a richer solution such as a plant oil (jojoba, macadamia, sweet almond) or a plant butter (shea, cocoa). And for a non-greasy finish, there are dry plant oils, which are excellent at locking moisture into the deeper layers of the epidermis.
Tip no3: The importance of diet
Beautiful skin also starts on your plate! A chaotic diet, high in processed foods, sugar and/or salt, is a recipe for dull, lacklustre skin. The skin needs its share of vitamins, minerals and healthy fats. So make room at the table for:
- Fruits and vegetables, for their high water content and vitamins A and C. Choose seasonal, colourful varieties (green vegetables, red berries, citrus fruits, peppers, carrots, apricots, melon, squash, tomatoes…). Enjoy them freely, at every meal!
- Seafood, for its richness in unsaturated fats, vitamin E and minerals (copper, zinc). Fish, shellfish, crustaceans – they’re all great choices!
- Dried fruits and nuts, including oilseeds, for their high content of healthy fats and micronutrients. Don’t hesitate to snack on almonds, hazelnuts or pistachios.
- Sources of vitamin B5, as this vitamin supports tissue regeneration and the healing process. It can be found in brewer’s yeast, cheese, wheat germ and offal.
Tip no4: Watch out for the sun!
The skin’s number one enemy remains the sun. For a long time, it was thought that UV rays only reached the epidermis – but that’s far from the truth. They penetrate deep into the dermis, degrading the skin’s structure – from a simple sunburn, a superficial injury, all the way to serious damage, including cancerous lesions. It is therefore essential to protect your skin thoroughly whenever you are exposed to the sun. Here’s how:
- Avoid sun exposure during the hottest hours of the day (11am–4pm).
- Always apply a high SPF protection (+50), reapplying several times throughout the day.
- Wear light-coloured clothing and a hat whenever possible.
- Seek shade under a parasol.
- After sun exposure, moisturise your skin thoroughly.
It’s also worth knowing that sun exposure is responsible for premature skin ageing. It increases the concentration of free radicals in the body, which cannot eliminate them all. This oxidative stress has irreversible consequences for the skin: it loses radiance and firmness, wrinkles more easily and tends to sag more quickly (ptosis). And this applies just as much to the face as to the body.
Tip no5: Keep drinking!
Hydration also works from the inside out. And when you drink, the skin is far from the first to benefit! To maintain beautiful skin, it is essential to meet your daily hydration needs, meaning drinking 1.5 to 2 litres of water every day. Some of this comes from food, but it’s important to top it up by drinking throughout the day. Water should always be your go-to drink, but you can also mix things up with other healthy options:
Be wary of sugary drinks – they have a damaging effect on skin quality, as well as contributing to weight gain and tooth decay.
Tip no6: What about exfoliation?
Why exfoliate your body skin? At the level of the epidermis (the skin’s outermost layer), there is a fine protective layer made of keratin. Keratin, an organic substance produced by keratinocytes, gives the skin its waterproof quality. The stratum corneum is constantly renewing itself. But this renewal leads to a build-up of dead cells on the skin’s surface. Over time, if they are not removed, they tend to clog the pores through which sebum and sweat are released. It is therefore important to unclog these pores, to allow the skin to breathe. That’s where exfoliation comes in.
There are several options to choose from:
- dry brushing with a body brush,
- an exfoliating mitt, a grain scrub,
- a body scrub
But be careful – exfoliation should be done once or twice a week, no more! Any more than that and you risk the opposite effect, irritating the epidermis.
Tip no7: Watch the water temperature…
Are you a fan of hot baths? Completely understandable. That said, excessive heat isn’t always kind to the skin. Used in moderation, warmth is great for opening the pores and allowing the skin to breathe and regenerate. But if you tend to overdo it, you risk disrupting your skin’s hydrolipidic film. The skin then becomes weakened and works overtime to restore it, producing more sebum in the process. For balanced, radiant skin, it’s better to limit hot baths.
Try limiting yourself to one bath a week, and treat yourself to a sauna or hammam from time to time. For the rest, opt for showers at a moderate temperature, and try to finish with a cold water rinse, starting at the ankles and working upwards. It’s the secret to firm, beautiful skin!
Tip no8: The importance of massage
Beautiful skin also comes from stimulation. And what better way to boost veno-lymphatic circulation than massage? The skin is supplied by an extensive venous network. Blood delivers the water, oxygen and nutrients that skin cells need to function at their best, while the lymph clears the skin of waste, toxins and excess fluid. But some of us experience sluggish veno-lymphatic circulation. To support skin health, gentle massage can make a real difference. It can be done by hand or with a massage tool. The key points:
- Choose the right technique, combining effleurage, kneading, circular movements and smoothing strokes.
- Try to follow the direction of veno-lymphatic circulation, always massaging towards the lymph nodes and the heart – from ankle to groin, from wrist to shoulder, from lower abdomen to chest.
For massage, nothing beats a natural plant oil : the texture makes every movement effortless, and the oil deeply nourishes the skin for unrivalled suppleness!