Throughout the months of June and July, Murad Skincare is presenting “pop-up vaults” at shopping centers in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego. The point of the pop-ups is to give consumers an interactive experience of how the four pillars of a healthy lifestyle interact.

What four pillars?

1. 1. Eat your water. The common thread in all theories about why our bodies break down as we age is loss of hydration. Water is necessary to cell health—after all, the human body is 50-65% water! We average around 57-60% water as adults, but the percentage of water in infants is much higher—typically 75-78%! When you drink your water, though, much of it runs right through you as urine; however when you eat water-rich foods—such as fresh fruits and vegetables, which are about 80% water—your body has time to absorb the water, along with the other healthy ingredients, such as antioxidants, phytonutrients, and the vitamins and minerals that fresh produce contains. ALSO, certain foods—like pomegranate and watermelon—protect your skin from sunburn from the inside out! So eat your water!
   2. Awaken your body. In other words, exercise. Move your body. We evolved from hunters and gatherers, who were often on the move. Movement makes us feel better—especially movement we enjoy, be it walking, hiking, swimming, dancing, playing soccer, tennis, or ping pong, or any combination that inspires you. Our bodies weren’t designed to sit for long periods of time. In fact, one researcher has warned that “Sitting is the new smoking.” Not only is movement healthy—getting the heart and lungs pumping, the blood flowing, and activating your other organs—it also builds muscle. And muscle is 70% water, whereas fat is only about 10% water. Exercise is also a great stress reducer—stimulating the production of endorphins, the “feel good” hormones, and getting us out of our heads, where worry is generated, and into our bodies.
   3. Be kind to your mind. Cultural stress is with us virtually 24/7, so it’s up to us to counter our stressful environments with positive self-talk and affirmations, plenty of rest and relaxation—unplugged, if at all possible!—and other soothing techniques, such as slow, deep breathing. For help with positive self-talk, please feel free to download and use my collection of Insights.
   4. Nourish your skin. Your skin is your body’s largest organ. It is literally the “first line of defense” between you and the world outside and the “last line of defense” for keeping your body hydrated. When you nourish your skin—through healthy eating, exercise, rest, and daily protection from the elements, along with moisturizing—you are nourishing your body. Skincare is healthcare. And when you treat your body right, it shows in your skin, the body’s window to wellness.

For more about “The Four Pillars,” watch this interview on KABC San Francisco.