Did you know November is National Healthy Skin Month? Perfect time to start taking better care of your skin. It’s your body’s largest organ and keeping it healthy is tied to a strong immune system, ability to regulate internal temperature and balance, and a well-functioning nervous system to help you interact with the world!
There are many ways to take care of your skin, and while our health and well-being are super important, what’s good for our skin isn’t always good for the planet. But, what’s good for the planet is almost always good for our skin, so check out our five tips for taking care of both!
Stay hydrated, sustainably.
Our bodies are 60–75% water, and our skin needs lots of it in order to function, but with today’s busy lifestyles, studies report that a majority of Americans are not getting enough H2O, and are quite dehydrated!
You don’t need to haul cases of plastic bottles to keep up your water intake. Bring a reusable water bottle everywhere you go so you always know whereyour next drink is coming from. Take it up a notch and keep spare containers in different parts of your home, in the car, and at work so you’re never without.
Eat more plants.
Another way to get your water is through food such as fruits and vegetables. Plants contribute to your intake due to their high water content and the vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes that help your body absorb it.
Incorporating more colorful fronds, stalks, berries, beans, and bulbs into your diet can support skin cell health as well as sustainable use of the Earth’s resources. Buy from local farms to cut back even further on transportation emissions and ensure your food is even fresher for fresh, healthy skin.
Sleep well.
Ever wonder why your skin looks not-so-great after a not-so-great night of sleep? Your cells are tired! Not only does a good night’s sleep allow the mind to rest and recharge, it allows your body’s cells, including those of your skin, to turnover, detox, and boot back up for the day to come.
Prioritize catching those Zs by sticking to this green practice that’s absolutely easier said than done: power down your devices! The artificial blue light emitted by computer, TV, and phone screens can mess with your cycle, so set a digital curfew a few hours before you need to hit the hay.
Sweat it out.
Your skin is an organ and needs to do what it was made for in order to keep all the other organs inside moving and grooving! Skin is covered with pores designed to release sweat and oil, ridding your body of toxins. So, let it out with exercise!
Consider all the “stuff” that comes with modern movement and keep your routine low-impact. Does a friend have a set of weights you can borrow instead of buying new? Do you need another pair of yoga pants, and is that nutrition packet recyclable? If it’s a NOW® food and supplement pouch or “stick,” it is!
Nourish with clean personal care.
Healthy skin always starts from the inside out, but choosing topical products with clean, natural ingredients can help enrich and protect the face and body. With UVA and UVB rays, airborne pollutants, and other environmental factors, everyone’s skin could use a bit of TLC.
Good news — the NOW® Recycling Program also accepts its NOW® Solutions line of personal care tubes to recycle when empty. Need another reason to love? Every qualifying shipment earns you opportunities to donate to charity.
To take care of your skin is to take care of your health. Ultimately, the more we can take care of each other and the larger community, saving resources and working to ensure everyone has enough, the better we’ll be able to take care of ourselves. Think of the planet and its people this month, and you’ll protect your skin in the fight for the future!
Happy National Healthy Skin Month! Do you have a zero waste skin care routine? Tell us in the comments, and keep checking back for more ways to reduce waste.