Our skin is noticed first and foremost. This comes to no surprise considering it is the largest organ in the body. Thus, to have good skin health is very vital. There are inexpensive and minute changes to our daily lives that we can make to get clearer, glow-y looking skin. I for one am not perfect and do not follow this tips as religiously as one should but it is something I am trying to incorporate more.
1)
Drink
more water. This is one tip that is
shoved down everyone’s throat. Water is
an all-rounder. It will forever do more
good than harm. It flushes out waste
products and toxins from the body which will aid in clearing up your skin. Otherwise, they will continue to accumulate and fester in the body; producing spots/zits and
dullish skin. Women should be drinking about 1.6 litres
worth of water a day compared to 2.0 litres for men. Drinking water also helps in preventing and
reducing wrinkles without altering other aspects of an individual’s diet within 6 weeks, whilst
also giving us a healthy glow and clear skin.
2)
Exercise. Physical activity, especially cardio, is
amazing for the skin. As your heart
begins to pump faster and harder, more blood (which carries nutrients and
oxygen) flows throughout the body; bathing respiring cells. At the same time, the blood eliminates waste
products such as carbon dioxide and free radicals, sending them to the liver
for detoxification. Exercise essentially
increases this process. Furthermore, if you suffer from any skin
conditions such as eczema or acne, the reduction of stress by exercising can
improve these conditions.
3)
Diet. A healthy, balanced diet is always going to
be beneficial. A majority of
the reason why expensive facial and skincare products appear to do no good is
because our diet overrides the benefits.
Ensuring that you get all the essential nutrients: proteins,
carbohydrates, fats, water, vitamins and minerals, will ensure that the cells
of our body are able to work efficiently.
This will improve the health of skin cells and in turn, provide a
clearer, glowing complexion. There are
many sources that will explain how diet impacts outbreaks at certain regions on
the face which would be worth a read to understand why your complexion is how
it is.
4)
Tea Tree
Oil (or any kind of natural spot reducer such as charcoal). Using just a little
bit of tea tree oil for zit/spot treatment is very beneficial. Just by placing 1-2 drops on the problem
area, within 2 nights, the zit or spot has practically disappeared without any
scarring.
5)
Washing
your face. It should be everyone’s
goal to have the cleanest skin possible before they go to sleep. The moment your head hits your pillow, you
should’ve gotten rid of a majority of the makeup, pollutant build-up from the
day, and oil/grease. This will give your
skin the best chance to repair and refresh over night so by morning you wake up
closer to flawless. This is why I always
preferred exfoliating at night instead of the morning. In the morning, it is better to wash your
face using a daily face wash that is not too abrasive or harsh. This will just take away any toxins, oil
build up, etc. from the night and allow you to have a smooth canvas for your moisturiser
and makeup.
6) Moisturize within 2-3 minutes of coming out
of the shower or washing your face. This will give your skin the best
chance of retaining moisture and avoid the formation of dry patches.
7) SPF.
SPF is Sun Protection Factor. The
sun is not going anywhere for a long time, so it is important to protect our
skin to help reduce the speed of ageing, burns, and damage. There are many scientific reports and papers
explaining how SPF works in immense detail.
The higher the SPF, the LONGER you can stay out in the
sun without burning. It doesn’t directly
correlate with strength. Long story
short, it is recommended to use SPF 30 minimum as it will protect from at least
97% of the UVB rays which damage skin and cause burns. Nevertheless, this does not include UVA rays
which is usually measured on a scale of 1-3 and is labelled on the back of
sunblock. If you’re against the white
cast that SPF usually provides, invest in BB creams which have an SPF above 25 or a primer.
8) Skincare routine. It is important to establish a skincare
routine which works best for you. For
some, a more complex process including various toners, mists, and creams gives someone clear and glowy skin. For others, a simpler routine is
more beneficial. First, work out what
type of skin you have. This can be done
at various free makeup and skincare counters or online tests/quizzes to have a
general idea of the specifics. I don’t
believe it is necessary to spend an excessive amount of money on a moisturizer or
face wash. The drugstore has many
varieties suitable for every individual, meeting their needs. Whether it be blackheads, acne, dullness,
anti-aging, etc. However, at the same
time, I am more likely to trust a brand I can find at Walgreens, Target, or
Boots than I am at a Poundland/Dollar store.
9) Change your pillow cover. Now this one is a biggie. Do you ever find that, despite having a stellar
diet and exercise regime, doing everything right, that you still wake up with
the odd blemish? This could be because
the buildup of dirt and grime on your pillowcase is rubbing against your skin
at night, resulting in spots and irritation.
Therefore, it is always a good idea to change your pillow covers at
least once a week. As long as you have
one or two spare ones, you can just toss the cover into the washing machine
alongside your clothes. If you find you
don’t have a spare pillow cover, use a clean old shirt that you don’t plan on
wearing for a while as replacement.
10) Paper towels. Believe it or not, using a towel is not as hygienic
as it seems. It can collect dirt, grime,
dust, dead skin cells, and etc. Because
of the texture, it is very adhesive for bacteria and towels also retain
moisture; providing a damp environment. Therefore,
using paper towels or toilet paper instead will help reduce contact with
bacteria and dirt which can cause breakouts and blemishes. If you do not wish to waste so much paper,
however, you can let your face air dry and wipe of excess water with your
fingers prior to applying moisturizer.
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