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Role of Collagen in Anti-Aging Skin Care

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Originally published in April 2018. I go on to discuss how collagen affects our body and skin and what is its role as we age.

healthy skin with vitamin c

Updated from May 1st, 2015. Collagen is one of the most important nutrients which plays a major role in how young your skin looks. There are a lot of documented articles and research which prove the importance of the role of collagen role in anti-aging skin care. So, let us have a look at understanding this nutrient and how to get it from our food.

What is Collagen?

It is the most abundant protein in the body! The collagen is found in the dermis layer of the skin which is the second layer of the skin and is responsible for the plumpness, strength and hydration of the skin. It is a group of proteins in fact which provides the tensile strength to the skin. It is said that collagen in the skin is more strong than steel.

#DidYouKnow Collagen is not only found in the skin but also in the tendons and ligaments and corneas and bones and blood vessels. It is basically a connective tissue and most abundant protein in the mammals. Yes, it is a protein and I was not even aware of that! Huh.

Synthesis of Collagen

So, let me skip all the chemistry here and just say that collagen does NOT occur in the body. It is synthesized from the basic amino acids. And, for collagen to synthesize, we need Vitamin C.

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3 Potent Signs Your Skin is Dehydrated

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Originally published in October 2018. However, these 3 signs of your skin is dehydrated still holds true.

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Image Courtesy @ Moose Photos via pexels.com

Skin dehydration is one of the major reasons why your skin looks dull and lacks that fresh and glowing look. This is a common mistake which means you do not understand what your skin needs. For an instant pick up, slather on a good hydrating lotion or serum.

Moving on, there a few signs that show your skin is dehydrated. Some are pretty obvious and some are not so obvious or you might fail to notice in the rush of your work. So, let me list them for you.

3 Signs Your Skin is Dehydrated

Feeling Stretchy

Your skin feels stretchy and this is the universal sign that your skin is dehydrated. Our immediate reaction is to slather on a body lotion or a moisturizer and drink loads of water.

As a matter of fact, drinking water barely helps with skin dehydration. It only helps with retaining fluids in the body. And, body lotions are only a temporary solution. What you actually need to do is address the deeper issue of why is your skin losing the ability to retain moisture.

Darker Skin
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5 Practical Winter Skin and Hair Care Tips for this Autumn and Winter

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Originally published in November, 2014.

Winters are not easy for our skin and hair. The dryness sucks out the moisture from both. Let us check practical winter skin and hair care tips you can include in your daily life.

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Btw, did I share with you guys that I am in Delhi and the weather is decidedly chilly and dry and my skin is really not doing that well without a moisturizer. Not that Hyderabad is not equally dry, though. So, how are you thinking of taking care of your skin from the onset of winters. Have you prepared it for the change in weather?

So, once upon a time when I had written about winter skin care, I had mentioned that our skin care regime starts with having a bath in a day but now I would like to change it a bit. Our skin care regime starts with how we start the day and what we eat. As it is, we take less water in winters and if the body lacks good fats, skin does tend to get dry. 

Tip #1 – Water does not hydrate your skin!!

Okay, so a very common misconception is that if we drink 10-12 glasses of water, it should be enough to hydrate the skin from inside out. Well, that is not so! Water is necessary to maintain hydration levels but not enough. So, what out body needs is good fat and omega 3 and vitamin E for keeping soft and supple. 

Solution : Load on the nut even before the winters set. If you do take any smoothies or oats or other cereals, put a spoonful of nuts in it. Otherwise, powder the nuts together and eat them with your meals once or twice a day. Another good option is flax seeds or alsi beej (in hindi). Roast them and powder them. Consume within 10 days. 
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Tip #2 – Moisturize inside the shower!!

I have always recommended layering, specially in winters. But, an even better option which is helping me get through these days is moisturizing inside the shower. Take your lotion with you and once you wipe yourself off, moisturize immediately. Forget the 3-minute moisturization rule. And, remember this instead. 
 
The skin is plump and extremely absorbent in the shower due to the heat and immediate cleansing so it drinks up the moisturizer or body oil you apply and prevents the water from escaping keeping your skin hydrated for an entire day. 
 
Sometimes, if your skin is extremely dry, you might need to apply the body lotion again in the later half of the day. At that time, you can use your toner and dampen your skin and then follow with the moisturizer; unless you take bath twice in a day!
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Tip #3 – Sugar is your best friend right now!

Still feeling dry? Moisturizing is not enough? Your skin needs regular exfoliation in the winters. And, you really do not want to use anything else right now. Sugar is hydrating as well as exfoliating so it is your best bet. I would recommend the homemade body polish which makes my skin absolutely amazing twice a week! Unless you have acne-prone skin in which case you need gentler exfoliation.
 
Another tip I would love to include here is that dry brushing should be a regular in your daily routine. It helps increase the skin cell turnover everyday and helps the body lotions and oils to get absorbed better in the skin. Also, it prevents the dry skin itch almost all day long.
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Tip #4 – Not only hair but scalp also dries out!!

So, when you are busy taking care of your skin, do not forget that taking good care of scalp will keep the blood flowing to the follicles and promote hair growth which is generally less in the winter months. Also, scalp can get dry and tighten so I moisturize my scalp with 2-3 drops of pomegranate oil. You could also try out grapeseed oil for the oily skin or hair.

Tip #5 – And, get going!!

Do not ditch the early morning exercises in favor of warm blankets because it will make you lazier and prone to junk food cravings. And, in turn, cause you to accumulate more fat and make your skin dull. A fresh morning exercise can rev up your blood circulation as well making your skin well-accustomed to the weather changes. 

And, the bonus tip – Do not forget the sunscreen. Winter sun is just as strong as the summer one because UVA rays are still aging your skin. 

 

These were my winter skin and hair care tips. Now, its your turn. How do you take care of your skin in autumn and winters when the weather dries out? Share your winter skin and hair care tips in the comments below!