Whether you’ve been enjoying some Netflix and chill, homeschooling small children or trying to work as normal from your dining room table in your PJs, months in isolation can take its toll on our wellbeing and also our appearance.
As we slowly start to emerge into this brave new world in the wake of COVID-19, its time to shake things up.
“A lot of us have been turning to junk food and haven’t been exercising as much as we normally would. As a result, many of us are feeling and looking a bit blah,” says Dr Vincent Candrawinata, research scientist and founder of Renovatio BioScience, which develops and manufactures Activated Phenolics, a potent dietary antioxidant following a remarkable breakthrough in antioxidant extraction technology.
“Additionally, when we stay at home without needing to socialise with people or go to work, we tend to be more relaxed with our washing routine, including our hair and skin. This can lead to the build up of sebum and dead skin cells which over time can cause irritation or skin issues.”
Dr Vincent’s top 5 ways to improve the health and appearance of your hair, skin and nails
1. Drink more water
Hydration is key to optimal body performance. Our body, especially our organs, functions better when we drink more water and helps remove toxins from the body.
2. Watch what you eat
Protein is the building block of our body, including hair, skin and nails. Make sure you eat good-quality protein such as lean meat, lentils, tofu or eggs. Don’t be fooled by collagen hype as research shows that our body digests collagen no differently to other types of protein. Instead, make sure that your diet is rich in collagen-boosting compounds such as amino acids and antioxidants. Avoid bad fats, processed products and foods high in sugar.
3. Move more
Exercise encourages increased blood flow and helps to transport oxygen and nutrients to all parts of our body. In short, it helps with circulation and tissue regeneration. It also helps us to sweat – which removes toxins from our body through our skin.
4. Use quality products
Good quality shampoos, soaps, cleansers, toners, moisturisers and other products support good hair, skin and nail health. Seek out products that are natural and do not contain harsh chemicals.
5. Take supplements
Support your body with supplements such as fish oil and activated phenolics to help enhance hair, skin and nail health. The main omega-3s in fish oil are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and they support heart and cardiovascular health along with brain health. Activated phenolics are packed full of antioxidants and they support cellar health and assist in the reduction of inflammation in the body. Renovatio’s Activated Phenolics contain antioxidants extracted from Australian apples. Each dose contains the goodness from up to 40 apples.
“Following these five simple steps will assist to enhance the health of your hair, skin and nails just in time to emerge from isolation,” says Dr Vincent. “While nobody should be pressured to look a certain way, it’s important we are happy with what we see in ourselves when we look into the mirror.”
