The ABCs of Great Skin

What makes you glow? Uncover the secrets of beautiful skin.

w Vitamin A strengthens the skin, keeping wrinkles at bay. Get it from liver, spinach, milk, egg yolk, orange-coloured fruits and vegetables. w Vitamin B helps to maintain a healthy skin tone. Get it from chicken, tuna, potatoes, asparagus, black beans and watermelons. w  Vitamin C booses the production of collagen, an essential skin protein. Get it from citrus fruits (like oranges), strawberries, tomatoes, brocolli and cabbage. Clean, Nourish, Protect These three words form the essentials of good skin care. And as we live in the tropics, we need to be especially concerned about sun protection. w Clean - Wash your face at least twice a day and do it gently. The 2 letters to remember are pH, which referes to the balance of acid and alkali on your skin. Certain foods and products upset the pH balance and cause skin problems. Soaps, for instance, may be too alkaline. If you wear makeup, you need a cleanser formulated just for this purpose. w Nourish - Drink 6 - 8 glasses of water a day. It flushes out toxins and keeps skin hydrated, giving it a healthy glow. You also need a moisturiser for day and a heavier-duty cream at night if you're older and your skin is dry. w Protect - Always use a sun protection product with a minimum Sun Protector Factor of 15, and steer clear of outdoor activities from 10am to 4pm. Sunburn should be avoided at any age, but especially during childhood and the teenage years, as this could lead to serious skin problems, even skin cancer, in adulthood. Suncreens - What You Need to Know Apply your sunscreen 15 - 30 minutes before you go outdoors - this gives your skin time to absorb it - and keep reapplying when you're swimming or sweating. Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA (ultraviolet A) / UVB radiation. UVA contributes to wrinkles and the leathering of skin and can also cause skin cancer. UVB is the main cause of skin cancers. The SPF numeric value indicates how long you can stay in the sun before you get sunburned. If you burn after 20 minutes, an SPF 15 means you can stay our for (20 x 15) 300 minutes without getting sunburned.