People want blemish-free and glowing skin. Although your usual brightening toners, moisturizers with vitamin C, whitening soaps with glutathione, and other skincare essentials do help cleanse your body and face, there’s more to just using good products.
It’s not easy to figure out what routine will work best for you. As the environment changes and as your skin matures, so will your skincare routine. However, there are skincare fundamentals that you have to follow regardless of your skin type, the current season, or your age.
Image by Alexandr Ivanov
These tips are also backed with science so you can fully understand why they’re actually essential to clearing up your skin as much as possible.
Here are some of the most important skincare tips that will help your skin stay healthy and glow from within.
1.Get enough sleep
Sleep is considered to be a very simple solution to youthful-looking skin. Note that our body never stops working. When you go to sleep, regeneration occurs.
Here are some benefits sleep or a nap can do for your skin:
- Less dark circles and puffy eyes
- Fewer wrinkles
- Brighter complexion
- Your skincare products will be more effective
Sleep allows for our skin to increase its collagen production on top of repairing itself. Though our skin consists of different types of collagen, our collagen levels decrease as we age.
Collagen gives out skin that firm and supple texture, and without it, our skin will sag. Sleep deprivation and lack of quality sleep not only disrupt collagen production but studies also associate it with more wrinkles, fine lines, paler skin, and the appearance of a droopy mouth.
The best place to start with getting good skin is to develop good sleeping habits. Get 7-9 hours of sleep a day and always have a glass of water beside your bed to hydrate you whenever you’re feeling thirsty.
The way you sleep or your sleeping position will also affect your skin. Train yourself to sleep on your back, with your face towards the ceiling. Gravity will help even out the lines on your face and it will help you avoid rubbing your face on your pillow which could irritate your skin and cause breakouts.
2.Apply sunscreen when you’re indoors or out
Many people believe that they only need to apply sunscreen when going out, more people even think that the only time you need to apply sunscreen is if you’re going swimming.
You need to apply sunscreen every day. We’re now highly exposed to ultraviolet rays as they can be found almost everywhere, from the sun to the light bulb above our heads.
The two types of UV light that can cause the most damage to our skin are ultraviolet A (UVA) which has a longer wavelength and can cause skin aging, and ultraviolet B (UVB), which can cause skin burning.
The good news is that we can avoid the damage and still enjoy the sunshine with proper skincare.
Always apply sunscreen. Use a sunblock that has SPF 30 or higher. If you’re going out, make sure to prevent sun damage by wearing long-sleeved shirts or jackets, sunglasses, and hats.
3.Maintain a balanced diet
Our skin has a natural tendency to repair itself but to do that, it needs the proper nutrients that will aid it in the process.
While coffee is essential for most people, it tends to dehydrate the skin. Nourish yourself with green and leafy vegetables. Also, eat food that’s high in omega-3 fatty acids.
Omega-3 fatty acids have long been studied as a primary solution for treating various dermatological conditions. It has two long-chain omega-3s ─ DHA and EPA ─ which help reduce skin’s sensitivity to UV rays and reduce inflammation or acne.
When it comes to your skin, nourish it by choosing green-leafy vegetables, and enriching your diet with food that is high in omega-3 like salmon, mackerel, oysters, chia seeds, flax seeds, and nuts such as walnuts, almonds, and hazelnuts.
4.Avoid using too many skincare products
We’re bombarded with a ton of products tagged as “must-haves” by influencers or marketers. Using too many products can irritate and trigger skin conditions. As a basic rule, know your skin type and decide on a handful of products that will be your go-to when it comes to cleansing, exfoliation, toning, and moisturizing.
Always be careful when adding actives into your skincare routine. Actives are products like vitamin C, retinoids, AHA, and BHA. To make sure that you won’t be stressing out your skin, always consult with your dermatologist.
5.Cleanse your skin in the morning and in the evening
Cleansing is crucial in removing products that you’ve lathered on and the dirt that accumulated during the day.
Always use a gentle cleanser that will work on preserving your natural skin barrier while being able to do the job of cleansing your skin of oils, bacteria, and pollutants.
Look After Both Your Face and Your Body
Your face isn’t the only area that’s exposed to free radicals and signs of aging. You have to take extra care of your hands, neck, and chest. Make sure that you don’t neglect any area of your body and always stay hydrated.
