Having glowing, healthy skin is something everyone strives for. But the truth is, achieving that result requires a lot of work.
It all starts with encouraging better daily skincare habits. But before you start with personalizing your morning and evening routine, it’s important to start with the basics.
Knowing exactly what helps and what doesn’t will help you build up the rest of your routine and ensure problem-free skin.
Wash your face every single day
Let’s start with the easiest rule — you need to wash your face at least once per day. While overwashing your face could strip your skin of the natural oils that ensure moisture, cleaning regularly can ensure you avoid any skin problems. To wash your face, you should use a gentle face cleanser and lukewarm water.
Remember to set the right water temperature as hot water could dry out your skin. Always make sure you wash your face after working out — your sweat can irritate the skin and clog pores. By washing your face, you’re allowing your skin to breathe after that intense workout session.
Protect your skin from the sun
It’s true: exposing your skin to the sun can cause wrinkles and many other skin problems that may have a lifelong effect on your health and body. Intense sunburns can lead to melanoma, a skin cancer that can also spread to other organs in the body. It’s recommended to use sunscreen along with your daily morning routine, especially if you live in a warm climate. If you spend a lot of time in the sun, make sure you also spend enough time in the shade.
Your sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours, and the SPF should be appropriate for your skin’s reaction to the sun’s rays. While it may be tempting to wear revealing clothing in order to tan, exposing your skin too much will have negative consequences. Make sure to cover your skin as much as possible.
Be gentle
Using the right gentle products can have a huge benefit on the overall look of your skin. When you’re looking for your perfect skincare routine, make sure you don’t use products with aggressive ingredients. Additionally, exposing yourself to extremely hot showers will dry out your skin and cause wrinkles and breakouts.
While scrubbing is necessary, make sure you don’t over scrub — it’ll remove your skin’s essential oils and dry it out. If your skin is sensitive, use a lighter and finer scrub that doesn’t hurt the skin or damage any of its barriers. And most importantly, always make sure your skin is hydrated by using a suitable oil-free moisturizer.
Be mindful of your diet
What you put in your body definitely contributes to how it looks on the outside. Eat the right kind of food and your body will thank you by giving you a healthy glow. Fruits, protein, vegetables, and whole grains all have a good effect on your skin.
On the contrary, food such as white bread and anything that’s overfilled with sugar can cause various breakouts due to the sugar rush.
Vitamin C is also essential as it helps protect and repair skin damage. Along with using a moisturizer, you should also hydrate your skin by drinking enough water during the day. This may also help you combat common skin problems, including eczema.
Maintain low stress levels
You probably noticed that your skin gets worse during extremely stressful times. Stress is a chemical response in your body that has an effect on everything, including your skin. It could show as acne, various breakouts, or plenty of other problems you’ve never noticed before. Women may also experience this during their menstrual cycle.
In order to minimize the effect stress has on your skin, it’s extremely important to get enough sleep, drink enough water, and exercise. Don’t forget to take breaks and do anything that is good for your body, mind, and soul — this will all contribute to the look of your skin.
Don’t smoke
If you’re a smoker, your habit might be the reason why you’ve been having skin issues. When you inhale cigarette smoke, you’re inhaling carbon monoxide.
This can dry out your skin and reduce the potential of vitamins and nutrients. Smoking also leads to premature aging, psoriasis, and skin cancer. Due to having a lack of oxygen in your skin cells, you may also notice your skin becoming uneven and discolored. These are all side effects that can occur with your smoking habit.
While the suggestions above are definitely the main ways to maintain healthy skin, it’s important to remember that your skin problems can arise from plenty of other conditions. Read on to find out the 5 things you should never put on your face. If you have a healthy routine but still notice skin issues, please consult your doctor to determine what else could be causing these problems.