Anti-aging is just a walk in the park! literally.

This blog will discuss how something as simple as taking a walk in the park can really benefit your skin’s health, as well as your body and mind. If you’re looking for a simple solution to help reduce the effects of aging, look no further!

Get Your Blood Pumping

Walking is one of the best forms of exercises out there. It’s something we often take for granted, but it’s a form of exercise that’s inexpensive, low-risk, and suitable for most ages. Even 20-30 minutes a day can have a very positive impact on our bodies and mind.

It’s a brilliant way to improve our cardiac health by getting our circulatory system pumping. But, did you know it’s also a great way to help reduce the effects of aging.

Walking stimulates our heart to start pumping more fresh, oxygenated blood around our bodies, and helps take toxins away from our skin and muscles. This brings vital nutrients to our skin and collagen cells, helping them work at their optimum level. This leaves our skin looking plumper due to an increase in collagen production, and brighter due to improved blood flow.

Our lymphatic system is also stimulated. The lymphatic system helps to drain excess fluid and toxins away from our muscles and skin. This results in our faces and bodies looking slimmer and fresher.

If you’ve ever woken up and thought your face looked puffy, that’s due to a build-up of excess lymph fluid, which can be easily alleviated by a simple walk in the park!

Let Your Mind Run Away with Itself

Release those endorphins to help combat stress! A simple walk or run has been proven to reduce stress, and other mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.

Exercise like walking helps to boost serotonin in the brain. This neurotransmitter is vital for feelings of well-being and contentment. Regular walking can significantly reduce the negative effects that mild to moderate anxiety and depression have on the body and mind.

Other ‘happy hormones’ are released when we get our blood pumping. When we engage in exercise endorphins are released. These hormones help to reduce cortisol, our stress hormone, and also reduce pain and inflammation in the body.

The saying is true in that ‘you are only as old as you feel’. When you feel good mentally that reflects in your body. Chronic stress damages our collagen cells in the skin and muscles, which can lead to an increase in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and can lead to joint inflammation and degeneration.

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

Being in nature is also hugely beneficial for our minds and bodies. A walk in nature is proven to positively impact us in many ways.

Trees, rivers, beaches, anything in nature, all release negative ions. Sounds…negative, right? Well actually negative ions are molecules that when inhaled help our bodies to reduce stress, and increase serotonin in our brains. This in turn leads to improved mood, better sleep, and also helps reduce anxiety and depression.

It’s no coincidence when we get that feeling of calmness when we walk by a river, or tranquillity as we walk barefoot in the sand, it’s science and nature!

Along with the benefits a reduction in stress has on the skin, negative ions also directly reduce inflammation and even rebalance our skins pH, helping alleviate issues like acne, rosacea and sensitivity.

So get out into the wilderness…or maybe just your local park, and get walking! Your skin will thank you!

Some Post-Walking Products

It’s also important for your skin that you take care of it after you exercise.

Walking and running increase perspiration on the skin and body, and can temporarily alter our skin’s pH balance. Here are some of our favourite products to use after exercising.

1. Najel Jasmine Shower Gel

Suitable for all skin types. Lather onto wet skin to cleanse and rebalance the skin. The skin is left soft, clean and nourished.

2. Centella Roll-On Deodorant

Centella Natural Deodorant roll-on has been especially formulated to bring softness, freshness and well-being all day long. Witch Hazel and Sage regulate the perspiration.

3. Centella Hibiscus Gel Cleanser