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Are you not feeling quite summer-ready due to lacking that all-important inner glow? Well worry no more, you may just need to make a few simple changes to your routine for a vibrant complexion.

We’ve rounded up the top ten tips for clear skin… no makeup or expensive products required…

Exercise Daily
Adding exercise to your daily routine gets blood flowing, bringing a natural flush of colour to your cheeks. This needn’t mean running 5k every day, simply adding ten minutes of movement into your routine every few hours helps, so try to walk everywhere and take the stairs more.

Eat Your Fats
Omega-3 fatty acids help keep your skin supple and moisturised, so add sources such as avocado, and wild salmon to your diet for a glowing complexion. A handful of nuts a day is particularly pore-perfecting, try brazil nuts for a great source of selenium, which recent studies have shown increases skin elasticity and can help prevent skin cancer.

Sainitise Your Smartphone
Yes we’ve all read those horrible rumours, but face up to it, that iPhone you put so close to your face can contain more bacteria than a toilet. Save those nasty germs landing on your skin and causing spots, by wiping your screen with antibacterial wipes a few times a day.

Stay Hydrated
Dehydration is one of the main causes of most aesthetic skin problems. So, we know this one sounds obvious, but as the bodies largest organ is comprised of 70% water replenishing it with at least two litres a day will help skin glow and clear the body of toxins. Carry around a full bottle with you at all times and you’ll notice a huge difference within weeks.

Don’t Forget Sun Protection
Although the UK doesn’t always offer quite the same weather as the Mediterranean, that isn’t an excuse not to slather on sun protection every day. 90 percent of wrinkles are caused by sun exposure, so add a moisturiser with SPF to your daily routine to prevent ageing and help skin health.

Take Your Probiotics
When our gut flora isn’t healthy, bad bacteria can arise which causes chronic inflammation, which is a major cause of acne and other skin problems. If you’re looking to clear up your skin, your gut is a good place to start, so we recommend taking probiotics (we love Biokult and Optibacs) and adding foods such as Sauerkraut, Miso and Tempeh into your diet.

Cut Shower Time
After a hard day there is nothing better than a long, hot shower, except the intense heat strips your skin of essential oils, causing blood vessels to dilate leaving skin dry, red and sore. Try shorter, less steamy showers and your complexion will thank you.

Sleep!
This may seem obvious but it’s called beauty sleep for a reason. Sleep deprivation lowers circulation, leading to a pale, unhappy looking complexion. Plus, skin rejuvenates and heals overnight, so hit the sack earlier with a good book (no technology please) and you’ll be glowing in no time.

Check Your Make-Up Brushes
So you’ve cleaned your smartphone, now’s the time to check your make-up bag. A recent study found that 72% of women never wash their brushes, even though they collect dirt and bacteria which can cause breakouts. Clean your brushes every three weeks in lukewarm water with a gentle cleanser to prevent bacteria building up.

Get More Vitamin C
Adding foods such as oranges, kiwis and blueberries to your diet is a ticket to instant glow. When eaten with amino acids, Vitamin C-rich foods encourage the growth of collagen fibres leading to plumper, healthy skin. A study by the American Journal Of Clinical Nutrition has recently that women who had a diet high in vitamin C had noticeably less wrinkles and dry skin.

Words by Harriet Tisdall

Image Nike Featuring Karlie Kloss

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