Taking care of mature skin over 50 is of vital importance, and the key to getting glowing skin for summer has more top do with what goes in the body that what goes on. The skin is the bodies largest organ, and responsible for several key bodily functions that keep us in tip top shape including vitamin D production, immune system responses for fighting off bugs and viruses and most importantly to act as a barrier against dehydration and injury.

Our skin also provides a fabulous insight into the health of our insides, telegraphing with physical changes in appearance through a myriad of skin conditions what is going on just under the surface. Crow’s feet and wrinkles, dull skin, and discolouration, dry and flaking skin are all signals we shouldn’t ignore that our bodies are craving attention.

While a regular skincare routine is necessary for maintaining skin health, our lifestyle choices from the foods and drinks we choose to consume and the activities we take part in are key to maintaining glowing skin. You can only cover up a deteriorating façade for so long before the cracks begin to show, so too with our skin.

A change in seasons poses a new set of skincare musts we should follow to help battle the elements and keep our skin glowing, fresh, and youthful. Here are the top rules to follow to ensure your skin stays radiant through summer.

INCORPORATE AN ANTIOXIDANT INTO YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE

Vitamin C is a miracle ingredient for ageing skin, serving a multitude of purposes in our skincare including skin brightening, skin toning and increased collagen production. Most importantly for glowing skin through summer is vitamin C’s ability to form a barrier against the onslaught of environmental harassers that the skin faces, particularly from free radicals. Free radicals act to deteriorate our skin at a cellular level and are spurred on by UV rays, pollution, smoke…you get the idea. In Summer, the air is a little heavier with pollutants and the sun has a little more bite to it, making an antioxidant the perfect addition to your skincare routine to mitigate some of the damage associated with both.

Vitamin C is also a great defence against hyperpigmentation in the skin, which we are at a greater risk of during Summer, helping to even out and brighten skin tone.

For a very inexpensive vitamin C serum that really works, you can’t look past The Ordinary’s vitamin C serum

PRO TIP: Drink lemon in warm water first think in the morning and consumer a heaped teaspoon of natural vitamin C each morning with food.

EXFOLIATE TWICE A WEEK

Exfoliating during summer becomes doubly important to keep our mature skin glowing. The increased sweat and oil build up can lead to a higher potential for break outs can lead to dull, greying skin if left unchecked. Aim for a bi-weekly weekly exfoliation suing either a chemical exfoliant or physical exfoliant depending on your needs. You may need to test your skins receptiveness to an increased exfoliation schedule, however, and ease off again if you’re finding your skin to be too sensitive. Over-exfoliation is a common pitfall we don’t want to fall in to.

This is the exfoliant I love right now!

DRINK MORE WATER

Water is our life force, making up close to 80% of our total physical being. Replenishing our total supply consistently is essential to maintain the body’s natural functions including blood circulation, digestion, excretion of wastes and absorption of vital nutrients.

Dry and flaky skin is a sure sign that you are not getting quite enough water in your daily intake and wrinkles are a direct result of dehydration. Aim for 8 glasses of water per day to take care of your skin from the inside out and look for a hydration boosting serum like hyaluronic acid to plump up the skin from the outside in.

MAKE HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES

Many of us women over 50 frantically search for pills and medications that will reverse the symptoms of aging. While there is a place for certain vitamins and supplements in your daily routine, filling our bodies with the chemicals found in most medications can do us more harm than good.

That’s why I am so passionate about the transformative powers of anti-aging foods. When we eat these age-defying superfoods, we feel the benefits from the inside out, particularly when it comes to the skin. That means that instead of just treating the symptoms of aging, we are treating the cause!

Look for food’s rich in antioxidants, healthy fats and proteins to maintain a youthful glow. For a list of the absolute best anti-ageing foods you can eat right now, click here!

EXERCISE AND SWEAT

Regular exercise helps keep our bodies strong and able over 50, but also has a direct impact on our skin health by increasing blood flow and circulation. Our blood carries vital nutrients around the body to repair, restore and nourish. Additionally, exercise helps flush the body of toxins, including free radicals from the skin

Believe it or not as well, sweat from exercise is a magic ingredient for glowing skin in summer. Sweating will help improve your skin tone, elasticity and plumpness and can eliminate the need for expensive serums, detoxes or treatments.

Keeping our mature skin healthy can be simple and a big part of the solution may lie in something we are all doing anyway. Exercising, sweating and flushing out toxins has recently been attributed to an improvement in overall skin health.

If you’re after a workout that’s guaranteed to make you sweat, I think you’ll really enjoy this HIIT workout thats perfect for beginners but will provide a suitable challenge!

And, if you’re up for a challenge, the Fabulous50s 14 Day Summer Body Challenge is now live! This challenge takes all the guesswork out of your workouts so you all you have to do is show up! You can get started with the Summer Body Challenge now by clicking here!