Easy ways to boost the appearance of your skin

Let us eat lettuce

Author of The Beauty Diet, Lisa Drayer, RD, says just six leaves of romaine lettuce provides 100 per cent of your daily recommended intake of vitamin A. Vitamin A rejuvenates skin by increasing cell turnover.

Reduce your stress

Whether it’s your boss yelling, traffic jams or you stressing about stressing out, stress can age you by at least five years according to New York City dermatologist and psychiatrist Amy Wechsler, MD. Continuous fretting causes inflammation that breaks down collagen and can trigger redness and acne flare-ups. Some tips for dealing with stress include:

Regular exercise -- just 20 minutes a day can reduce stress by releasing endorphins.
Avoid sugar, caffeine and alcohol.
Take a multivitamin.
If you’re feeling anxious, breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. This helps slow your heart rate.
Smile and laugh, these are both good ways to eliminate stress.
Think of happy things like cute puppies or your favourite holiday destination.
Have a cuddle with your pets or ask for a hug.
Dance.
Focus on what you can control.
Have an early night.

Tuck into tomatoes

Not only do tomatoes contain lycopene which can lower your chances of heart disease, they help produce collagen which prevents sagging skin.

Slip, slop and slap

Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat! Preventing sun damage prevents premature ageing. Make sure you use a foundation with SPF 30 and remember that you can still get burnt on an vercast day.

An excuse to indulge in chocolate

Dark chocolate contains flavonoids which may increase the skin’s capability to safeguard against some types of skin damage, including sunburn. It can also assist in stopping your skin from becoming dehydrated, increasing oxygen saturation and boosting blood flow.

Shorten your shower

The Australasian College of Dermatologists suggests shortening your showers and turning down the heat. Hot, long showers can dry out your skin. Use body washes with a "neutral" pH or "soap" substitutes. By doing this you help preserve the skin's natural moisturising factors.

Religiously remove make-up

Going to bed without cleaning your face can clog pores, cause pimples and irritate your skin. Use a gentle face wash to remove the day’s dirt from your skin.

Go green!

It seems green tea is good for everything, including offering protection from sunburn. The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology published studies showing that drinking two or more cups of green tea a day diminishes the risk of developing skin cancer by 30 per cent.