Deeper Beauty: Movement

Written by Valeria Felice Science Translation and Research Manager

Ever been told you’re glowing? Or how you’re suddenly looking several years younger?
The skin is a mirror of your body. And, as the largest organ of the human body, it’s often the first to show signs of the high-performance skincare routine that offers almost instant results:

Exercise.

In this edition of the Aurelia blog, we’re looking at how movement is about much more than simply staying in shape – it can also have a profound effect upon your skin, hair and nails too.

In order to appreciate the rejuvenating impact of activity, it’s helpful to start with the remarkable range of broader health benefits it brings.

Even a little physical activity can boost your physical and mental health in all sorts of ways – from strengthening your heart, lungs, bones and muscles to improving mood, reducing stress, managing weight and significantly reducing your risk of developing conditions, like heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

On top of this, regular exercise raises your endurance and energy levels – meaning before long, the best way to motivate yourself to move more is…moving more itself.
With such a broad catalogue of health benefits, perhaps it’s not surprising that beauty sometimes sits a little further down the list. But that doesn’t mean the benefits aren’t every bit as impressive, wide-ranging and quick to show on the surface.

Beauty benefits of regular exercise

Supports smooth, younger-looking skin
When you get active, two very important things happen – your circulation improves and the mild stress upon your body activates repair mechanisms. Both play an important role in boosting collagen synthesis – the powerful protein that enhances elasticity and firmness for smoother, more supple skin.

Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Exercise triggers the release of antioxidants – delivering the vital vitamins and nutrients needed to help fight free radicals (the main cause of oxidative stress) and help enhance your skin’s natural beauty by preventing the visible signs of ageing.

Provides that post-workout glow
Regular activity increases blood flow which is crucial for cell repair and renewal. This enhanced circulation rapidly replaces old or damaged cells with new, healthy ones – improving skin tone and texture, balancing your complexion and providing that famous post-workout glow.

Delivers a skin detox
Sweat is made up of water, salts and natural oils with anti-ageing properties that help keep your skin moisturised. It also supports detoxification – helping to flush out metabolic waste and toxins that can dull your skin's appearance. As you sweat, your skin rids itself of impurities, dirt and any excess oil – helping to cleanse your pores, brighten your complexion and soften any fine lines and wrinkles.

Lowers stress hormones to help avoid breakouts
When you exercise, your body releases endorphins which help boost your mood and lower stress hormones, like cortisol and adrenaline – reducing the likelihood of skin breakouts along with the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Activity also improves sleep quality – to help guard against dark circles and a dull complexion.

Strengthens the skin barrier
Moving more can also help you wave goodbye to colds, infections and the flu. Exercise increases the amount of white blood cells in your body which helps strengthen your immune system and bolster your skin’s protective barrier – leading to firmer, smoother-looking skin.

Delivers a shot of confidence
Feeling good in your own skin is directly linked to the amount of exercise you do. So, before any of the above even have time to take effect – you’ve already significantly increased what is arguably the most attractive trait of all: confidence.

Tailor your activity to your beauty goals

So, feeling healthier, happier, more attractive and confident for being briefly out of breath, sounds like a pretty fair trade. But did you know that different types of activity come with their own specific set of skincare benefits? This means you can tailor the type of exercise you do to the specific beauty outcomes you’d like to see.

If you’re looking for a natural, healthy glow, try some cardio – like running, cycling or swimming – which sends oxygen and nutrients to your skin cells and blood rushing to the surface.

Or if you’d prefer to focus on collagen production for smooth, supple skin, give resistance training a try – like squats, planks, push-ups and weights – which help improve the skin’s complexion while strengthening its natural barrier.

And if it’s reducing stress and the visible signs of ageing that really appeals, try some activity that focuses on flexibility – like yoga, Pilates or Tai Chi – which will enhance your skin’s elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Recommended activity levels

We should all look to be active every day and aim for at least 150 minutes of exercise each week – halving this number (to 75 minutes) for vigorous activity, like running or circuit training.

Even short bursts of activity count but remember, you need to be moving fast enough to raise your heart rate, breathe faster and feel warmer. Ideally, you should be aiming to exercise in a way that engages all the 6 major muscle groups – your legs, back, shoulders, chest, arms and core.

Woman in a black coat standing in a desert landscape with a blurred background

Tips to get started

If you’re already active, then great. But if you’re looking to ease yourself back into exercise, here’s a few suggestions to get you started:

Start slowly
Don’t run before you can walk (literally) – start off with low impact activities, like walking, cycling and yoga and build from there.

Make it Social
Exercising with others is a great way to improve consistency and motivation. Joining a group or inviting a friend to join you for a morning walk is a great way to feel less self-conscious, keep yourself accountable and ensure exercise is actually enjoyable.

Choose something you enjoy
This might seem obvious. But you’d be surprised at how many people make life more difficult for themselves by assuming exercise should be an ordeal. So, choose something you enjoy and can sustain into the future.

And there’s little point doing all the hard work, without following a few simple skincare steps to help maximise your results.

BEFORE:
Apply SPF
If you’re getting active outside, make sure you apply sunscreen with a suitable SPF to protect your skin from UV rays. And don’t forget to reapply two hours or immediately after sweating or swimming.

DURING:
Stay hydrated
When you sweat, your body loses water along with essential electrolytes that need to be replaced to avoid dehydration and keep your skin supple and moisturised. So, whatever you’re doing, take a bottle of water with you.

AFTER:
Cleanse and moisturise
After your workout, cleanse your face to prevent pores from becoming clogged, Finally, apply a moisturiser to restore your skin's natural pH balance, protect the skin barrier and ensure a healthy, glowing complexion.

In summary

Humans are meant to move. We were designed that way. However, modern life can make it easy to stay put. But once you realise that working up a sweat has similar beauty benefits to a facial – exercise can start to look much more appealing.

And getting active quickly becomes addictive – from feel-good endorphins flooding your body to lower stress levels, glowing skin and a big boost to your self-confidence.

Aurelia supplements are designed to support and complement an active lifestyle – nourishing cells with antioxidants, active ingredients and the essential nutrients needed to enhance the incredible range of beauty benefits that stem from a little activity.