The Tribune

By Kenya Mortimer-McKenzie

Glowing, plump, radiant, soft, smooth and bright. Aren’t these not signs of healthy skin? Yes, they are, but there is also a “happy skin”.

It is said that your face is your passport to life; so of course we want to ensure it is presented well wherever we go. We can more easily mask some bodily flaws with beautiful clothing, but concealing imperfections on your face isn’t so simple; it’s expensive, time consuming, frustrating and at times impossible.

Should we allow our skin to affect our happiness? No, we shouldn’t. Happiness is a sense of well-being, joy, or contentment. Happiness has a lot to do with how we feel internally; it encompasses our state of mind. We should do what we reasonably can and not allow our skin to negatively affect our mood.

We often hear people say when a couple just gets married or when a woman is pregnant, “your skin is glowing!”. Glowing skin is often equated with happiness.

What are some things you can do to ensure your skin is alive and happy?

Water can make your skin happy

Isn’t it interesting how rain makes plants happy and so alive. The same applies with our skin. The hydration from water makes it happy indeed. Drinking adequate amount of water daily and using a hydrating moisturiser like a serum can enhance the mood of your skin. Hydrate your skin, often because it feeds into the skin; almost like how water saturates the ground.

Protect your skin from environmental aggressors

We have heard it a million times, UV rays from the sun are damaging to the skin, at least 80 percent of the skin aging is from the sun. It’s important to use a broad-spectrum coverage with an SPF of at least 30. Never leave the house without it.

In addition to the sun, the increase in air pollution over the years negatively impacts the skin. We enjoy the hustle and bustle of city life. However, traffic fumes, cigarette smoking and UV light provides an unhealthy environment for the skin. Such external factors can add a measure of sadness to your skin because it zaps the life out of it, making fine lines and wrinkles more visible.

The opposite of a happy skin is a sad, lifeless and dead skin. Hold on, don’t get depressed, all are not lost! There are topical products you can use to accelerate exfoliation and tackle the buildup of dead skin cells. Look for skin care products with retinoid, antioxidants and alpha-hydroxyl acids (AHAs); they are effective at fighting aging skin and promoting healthy looking skin. Also beneficial for promoting beautifully happy skin is regular anti-aging facials and occasional chemical peels by a qualified skin care specialist.

Reduce your stress to increase your skin happiness

Stress affects your mood and your mood affects your skin. Stress interferes with our positive lifestyle habits and can create an unhappy skin. How often, when you get stressed do you reach for the chocolate bar, salty potato chips, alcohol, a cigarette, and the list goes on? At this point who cares about cleaning your skin properly, drinking water or eating healthy? Reduce your stress to increase your skin happiness.

Improve your outlook

We have heard the statement before: “A miserable person can be seen from a distance.” This is ≠≠so true. Miserable people are not natural smilers, in many cases it’s forced. Genuine smiling makes your skin happy. Smile more, give your face the needed rest so to speak.

Your personality can define your skin happiness, giving you a happy or sad appearance. When you smile more, you are likely to imprint your skin with happy lines. It is scientifically proven than happiness releases all the feel-good hormones such as endorphins, serotonin, and oxytocin; it increases circulation, enhanced flow of oxygen supply to your skin and allow the cells to function better. The end result is a slower aging process.

When you frown often or are angry most of the time, you age with frown instead of smile lines. Make it your goal to smile more and get angry less!

Aging is inevitable, therefore, we can decide how we age by creating happy lines. Let your lines to tell a story; a happy story!

• Kenya Mortimer-McKenzie is an anti-aging skin care specialist at the Baha Retreat Anti-Aging Spa. Visit www.baharetreat.com or e-mail kenya@baharetreat.com.