14 Ways To Achieve Youthful, Glowing Skin
The skin is a sensitive organ. So, starve it of essential nutrients, and it will crack and crease in the most noticeable areas. Feed it too much of something, and it will plague your face with crater-sized greasy pores. But get it just right, and your skin will reward you with a soft, sumptuous, and silky-smooth appearance. Check out the following dermatologist recommended tips on how to keep your skin happy and healthy.
Protect your skin from the sun
Excessive exposure to UV rays from the sun causes a lot of damage to your skin. It can lead to the development of age spots, wrinkles, and other unflattering skin problems. Most importantly, though, excessive sun exposure can predispose you to develop skin cancer. This can all be avoided by taking the following steps to protect your skin from too much sun exposure:
Use a broad-spectrum, mineral-based sunscreen – opt for SPF 30 or higher and look for sunscreens with active ingredients such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. Use your sunscreen all year round regardless of the weather and try to reapply it every 2 hours.
On sunny days, supplement sunscreen with an added layer of protection – sunglasses, SPF makeup, and broad-brimmed hats. Certain laundry additives also give clothing some UV protection. Alternatively, consider investing in special sun-protective clothing.
Take cover – try to stay out of the sun as much as possible, especially when its rays are strongest(usually between 10am and 4pm)
Avoid long showers
Long, hot showers may sound luxurious, but they are actually harmful to your skin. They strip your skin of natural oils, leaving it exposed and prone to dryness and cracking. Coldwater is no better. It doesn't clean your face properly enough and may leave residual makeup on your skin. Limit your time spent in the shower or bath and use warm (instead of hot) water.
Exfoliate, but make it gentle
Another tip is to avoid harsh facial scrubs. Your skin may be more on the sensitive side if you notice it feeling itchy and dry after an exfoliation session. Tips for managing sensitive skin during exfoliation include using products specially formulated for sensitive skin and moisturizing your skin immediately after exfoliation.
Pay attention to your diet
Like all the other organs in your body, your skin benefits from a healthy diet. Studies suggest that certain diets promote youthful skin. These include diets with lots of fish oils and supplements, as well as diets low in processed carbs and unhealthy fats. In recent research, high-sugar diets have been linked to acne. Swap fats such as butter for healthier alternatives such as olive oil, and incorporate foods containing healthy fats into your diet. Foods with healthy fats include avocados, nuts, and whole eggs. Flaxseeds are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids which form part of the natural moisture-retaining barrier of the skin. Also, fruits and dark, leafy greens are rich in antioxidants, which have an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin.
Beauty sleep really is a thing
Aim for adequate and uninterrupted sleep at night. That can be easier said than done when you add demanding careers or offspring into the equation. Still, try to pay attention to the demands of your body and take steps to ensure sound sleep at night. Additionally, use clean silk pillowcases to reduce skin wrinkling and hair breakage while you sleep. Finally, getting good amounts of quality sleep can help manage stress, which is another harbinger of bad skin.
Chuck the science experiment in your makeup bag
Discard old makeup brushes and other worn-out makeup tools, and make sure you're cleaning your makeup instruments regularly(at least every 7-10 days). Dirty makeup brushes and sponges accumulate bacteria, dead cells, oil, and dirt - these can cause damage to your skin by clogging up your pores and irritating your skin.
Don't forget to hydrate
Drink at least eight glasses of water a day and moisturize your skin immediately after cleansing it so that it does not have a chance to dry out. Another tip is to towel blot your skin after showers to avoid drying it completely before you moisturize. Good hydration equals radiant skin and is also essential for maintaining bodily functions such as excretion of toxins by your kidneys. Also, use a lighter moisturizer in the daytime that will be absorbed quickly by the skin. This way, it won't pile up under your makeup. And once again, to protect your skin from the sun, always remember to apply sunscreen after moisturizing and before makeup.
Lock in moisture with face oils
An additional step to consider after moisturizing is to apply facial oil. This is especially helpful if you have exceptionally dry skin. You can skip this step if you have acne-prone skin or try face oils that contain active ingredients such as alpha-hydroxy acids and retinol.
Match your cleanser to your skin type
Skin with brown spots will benefit from a brightening wash that contains alpha hydroxy acid, while acne-prone skin does well with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic gel cleanser. As you get older, you might want to try moisturizing, milky, or glycolic cleansers for dry skin. Aging skin may also benefit from collagen supplements since collagen reserves in the skin tend to get depleted with age.
Don't be a product junkie
Keep things simple and avoid getting enticed by every fancy, new product promising instant results. When you finally figure out what works best for you, stick to it. If you pile on multiple products onto your skin, your pores will end-up getting clogged, which will, in turn, lead to acne breakouts.
Cleanse your face twice a day
Daytime routine? Yes. Night time routine? Also yes. Being consistent with your daily and nightly cleansing routines can dramatically improve your skin health over time. You may need to do a little trial and error experimentation to figure out exactly what works for you. Just make sure you're not trying out multiple new products at once. Give a new product about 6-12weeks to settle in before deciding whether or not to keep it. Also, for sensitive skin, try product samples on a small patch of skin first to see whether or not your skin can tolerate the new product.
Hands off the merchandise
After completing a cleansing routine, avoid touching your face. Picking at acne can lead to scarring, while frequently touching your face can increase skin wrinkles and introduce more acne-causing bacteria to your skin.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is essential for the production of collagen and elastin, which are important proteins in the skin. Creams and serums that contain vitamin C help to repair sun-damaged skin. Apply them immediately after cleansing for maximum absorption. You can also get a good dose of vitamin C from vegetables such as broccoli and spinach, as well as citrus fruits.
Avoid smoking
Smoking is bad for you, plain and simple. In addition to the numerous negative effects it has on the various organ systems in your body, smoking increases the risk of certain skin cancers. The nicotine in cigarette smoke causes blood vessels in the skin to narrow, leading to reduced oxygen supply to the skin. This causes the skin to look paler and older. It also causes dangerous free radicals to accumulate in the skin leading to the increased risk for skin cancers such as squamous cell skin cancer.
Overall, a lot goes into caring for your skin. Getting yourself into a daily routine can help you simplify your skincare journey and point you toward attaining soft, youthful, and glowing skin. Ask your dermatologist for help with figuring out what best suits your skin type.
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