What is skin radiance?
Who hasn’t dreamed of walking into a room and catching everyone’s eye with a glowing, radiant complexion? But what is glow and what can we do about it? Skin radiance is a healthy, luminous and glowing appearance. It is characterized by a fresh, luminous complexion that gives skin a youthful, revitalized appearance.
Skin radiance is the result of a delicate balance of factors such as hydration, cell regeneration, even skin tone and luminosity. Properly hydrated skin is smoother, softer and more luminous. Cell renewal is essential to remove dead cells and encourage the growth of new cells, giving skin a fresh, renewed appearance. An even complexion, free of blemishes and imperfections, also contributes to skin radiance. Finally, radiant skin is characterized by optimal circulation and balanced sebum production.
Internal and external factors affecting skin radiance
Skin radiance, unfortunately, many factors, both internal and external, can alter the skin’s radiance. External factors include excessive sun exposure, pollution and smoking, all of which are major sources of oxidative stress. The latter can damage skin cells, disrupt skin hydration and break down collagen fibers, resulting in a dull, tired complexion.
Internal factors should not be overlooked. An unbalanced diet, low in essential nutrients and high in processed foods, can also affect skin health and radiance. In addition, hormonal imbalances, the natural aging process and lack of sleep can also play an important role.
The importance of a healthy lifestyle for a radiant complexion
To restore skin’s natural radiance, it’s no surprise that a healthy, balanced lifestyle is essential. And yes, eating fast food every day certainly isn’t going to help you glow like Beyoncé! So it’s important to work on all fronts: cosmetics, diet, physical activity and sleep.
As far as cosmetics are concerned, we recommend using products that are adapted to your skin type, formulated with natural, nourishing ingredients. A regular skincare routine, including cleansing, moisturizing and exfoliation, helps maintain skin health and radiance.
Nutrition also plays a crucial role in skin radiance. A balanced diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fatty acids, provides the skin with the essential nutrients it needs to renew itself and preserve its radiance. Certain antioxidant-rich foods, such as berries, citrus fruits, carotene-rich orange vegetables and leafy greens, help protect the skin from free-radical damage [1].
Physical activity is another key to improving skin radiance. Indeed, regular exercise promotes blood circulation, enabling better oxygenation of dermal and epidermal cells.
Self-massages are traditionally used to relieve tension, activate blood circulation and reduce signs of fatigue. In traditional Chinese medicine, women used rose quartz or jade roll-ons and massage stones known as gua sha and jade rollers.
Last but not least, the importance of a good night’s sleep for skin radiance should not be underestimated. During sleep, the body regenerates and repairs damage sustained during the day. Short nights mean dark circles and a dull, tired complexion. It is therefore essential to get enough sleep and create an environment conducive to quality sleep, thanks to a regular, adapted routine [2,5].
What role do dietary supplements play?
What about Nutra?
As with sensitive or dehydrated skin, a genuine “in & out” routine will restore your skin’s radiance over the long term. Specific active ingredients, such as collagen, hyaluronic acid, zinc and antioxidants, have been proven effective in supporting skin health and promoting a radiant complexion.
Collagen is an essential protein present in the skin, giving it firmness and elasticity. But collagen production declines with age, in addition to being impacted by the sun, favoring the appearance of wrinkles and tired skin. Taking hydrolyzed marine collagen, with its high bioavailability, helps to compensate for this decline and improve skin radiance [3].
Good hydration is also essential. Indeed, well-hydrated skin will be plumper, reflect light better and therefore be more “radiant”. And the key molecule in this hydration is hyaluronic acid, another substance naturally present in the skin. Supplementing with hyaluronic acid promotes the skin’s internal hydration, giving it a plumped, luminous appearance [3].
Finally, antioxidants are compounds that protect the skin against damage caused by free radicals, which are responsible for premature aging. Certain supplements containing highly bioavailable antioxidants, such as broccoli sulforaphane or grape OPC, can help improve skin radiance by protecting cells from external aggression [1,4].
A radiant complexion in every season!
References
(1) Działo M, Mierziak J, Korzun U, Preisner M, Szopa J, Kulma A. The Potential of Plant Phenolics in Prevention and Therapy of Skin Disorders. Int J Mol Sci. 2016 Aug 27;17(10):160.
(2) Pullar JM, Carr AC, Vissers MCM. The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health. Nutrients. 2017 Aug 12;9(8):866.
(3) Dong K, Goyarts E, Rella A, Pena E, Milic I, Naviaux RK, et al. Oral Collagen Supplementation Restores Dermal Collagen Network and Hyaluronic Acid Content in a Mouse Model of Chronological Skin Aging. J Investig Dermatol. 2020 Mar;140(3):374-383.e3.
(4) Baumann L. The effects of oral and topical supplementation of phytoestrogens on skin aging. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2013 Oct;30(5):296-302.
(5) Schagen SK, Zampeli VA, Makrantonaki E, Zouboulis CC. Discovering the link between nutrition and skin aging. Dermatoendocrinol. 2012 Jul 1;4(3):298-307.
Skin radiance, you can see in this article, Internal factors should not be overlooked. An unbalanced diet, low in essential nutrients and high in processed foods, can also affect skin health and radiance. It’s important to protect your skin – don’t use just any product, and always consult your healthcare professional before using any product. It’s good to have radiant, soft skin. Make sure you drink water throughout the day. This will help keep your skin hydrated.
Choose the right brand and read labels carefully.