SKINCARE FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Hi Guys,

Here with my 2nd Guest-Post on StyleMeAfrica

Most people are pretty-much so used to hearing “You should drink more water” these days, that they’ve started to think it’s just a polite saying like uttering “Bless you” when someone sneezes. But I am here today to share with you my personal experience on how upping my water in-take dramatically changed the appearance of my skin from the inside out.

Let me start with a brief history of my water intake… For years, and I do mean years as this was pretty-much my entire university life, I hydrated exclusively by drinking Coca-Cola. I mean, I was addicted. Don’t know how many people realize there’s caffeine in all Cola drinks, just like in coffee, so you can easily get addicted to it. Mine was so bad, I even started to prefer a supermarket brand of Cola (Tesco Cola), to actual Coca-Cola and you can imagine how much more suger and additives would’ve been in that. So yeah, I pretty much drank Cola for years, I did drink water, but it wasn’t a healthy amount.

Ok, so you have some background knowledge of what was going on on my insides. Let me know tell you about my outward appearance. Surprisingly, my skin was pretty good. I had the occasional hormonal spots, you know the one that lets you know your ‘monthly visitor’ is on her way, and a few mild breakouts here and there. So, physically it appeared to me and everyone around me that my skin was faring well. But I knew it could be better.

picture credit: deviantart.com

At the start of 2014 (yes, only last year), I decided to up my water in-take and relegated Coca-Cola to being a ‘treat’, once a week on Sundays. I started every morning off with a 500ml bottle of water, I made sure water was the first thing to hit my stomach everyday to flush out my system, and then ensured I drank at least 2Litres of water per day. A week after I started doing this, I began to breakout like no other, like it was so bad. I decided to do some research and found this to be normal, as it was just the toxins leaving my system. So although  I wanted to quit, because my skin was literally going crazy as I was also taking Hairfinity to boost my Healthy Hair Journey at the time. That did not help much, you can read all about my Hairfinity Experience here. But anyways, I persevered because I believed water was in no way harmful to the body, I mean  something like 70% of the entire human body is made up of water. After about a couple of months my skin began to clear up.

Photo credit:ungiornonellavita.files.wordpress.com

While doing all my research to figure out if my breakouts due to water intake was normal, I discovered different teas that further intensify this daily detox I had embarked on. I settled on Lemon-Ginger-Honey (LGH) Tea. I drink this every morning, 5-days a week. I skipped out the weekends because I felt it would be too much acidity for my system. I always believe everything in moderation, you CAN overdose on something even if it’s good for you.

LGH tea is very very quick and easy to make. All you need is hot water, fresh ginger, juice of a lemon/lime and honey

Thinly slice fresh ginger, about a quarter size. Put the slices in a mug and then pour pipping hot water over it, cover and let it sit for about 5-10mins. While the ginger is infusing into the water, squeeze half a lemon or one whole lime and then pour the juice into the hot-water and ginger. Let that sit for another 10mins, then squeeze in some honey. You don’t need too much honey, just enough that you don’t make funny faces due to the sourness of the lemon/lime lol. And that’s it. Now this is the first thing to hit my belly every morning, and after waiting 40mins I follow with a 750ml bottle of water. Yup, I have upped my morning water intake. Drinking water was a struggle at first, but you will get used to it. It’s all about cultivating a habit.

photo credit: livestrong.com

The benefits of LGH tea are numerous and can be found all over the internet, but a few benefits are: Improves Digestive Function, Promotes Skin Repair, Strenghtens Immune System, Cleanses and Revitalizes Urinary Tract, Detoxifies Liver, Curbs Appetite, Flattens Belly, etc.. It just generally improves your overall health and wellbeing.

Now, you’ve read all this and you feel “Oh, she makes it seem very easy”, let me tell you, it was HARD!! Unless, you already have a high water intake, then this should be a walk in the park with you. But I practically had to go cold-turkey, and it has definitely been worth it. You really just need to be your own motivation, think of the end result and let that be your ‘driver’. You will also have to give it some time before you start seeing results, but I guarantee you will see results.

My skin has never looked better, people have always assumed “Oh Ez, you had good skin before anyway”, but does that mean it couldn’t be better?

People are always typically after the topical solutions: “What lotion should I use on my face?” “What cleanser?” “Maybe Clarisonic is the answer to all my woes”. NO, getting your insides right is so important. Skincare experts will always say “Drink water”, but because we are so used to hearing it and we want a ‘quick fix’ it always falls on deaf ears. I am here to tell you, it really works. It does involve a lifestyle change, conscious effort and some time before you reap the benefits, but it’s worth it.

Laters,

Ez xxX