Many of us have several skin care products, whether it be cream, sunblock, an acne cream of some kind as well as a few anti-ageing products in our medicine cabinets. That outermost part of the skin that we pay the most attention to is called the epidermis and it is very vulnerable to environmental damage, especially UV light. Additionally, our skin undergoes the inevitable ageing process and many of us buy products to prolong and at times even reverse this process. However, our skin actually doesn’t need much to stay healthy and look healthy.
Top 10 Things to Do For Your Skin
- Cleansing – one of the basic requirements for good skin care. Facial cleansers should be soap free, as soaps products used on the body are too harsh for the face. For dry skin a creamy cleanser should be used, while dry and or sensitive skin types should go for alcohol free cleansers. The cleanser should be massaged into the face for at least 20 seconds before being washed off.
- Drink Water – although the human body is full of water, we need to consume lots of it in order to replace what we lose through sweat and other bodily processes. Water is essential for flushing toxins from the body and helps keep it hydrated. It also helps to remove impurities from the skin that can lead to pimples. To keep the skin hydrated, you should drink at
least two litres of water each day. - Sleep – yes, beauty sleep is not a myth after all! Sleep gives the skin time to replenish itself and keeps the skin looking gorgeous
- Exercise – helps to retain the elasticity of the skin, which is very important especially as we age.
- Eat a healthy diet – fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins all
contain many of the essential nutrients and vitamins needed for our skin. A healthy diet can promote younger looking and overall healthier skin. - Manage stress – Stress is known to trigger skin breakouts as well as other skin issues. Dial back your stress level a bit and manage your daily tasks more effectively in order to reduce stress.
- Use water-based hair products – this may seem like a strange one, but some conditioners and styling creams contain certain products such as oils and waxes that clog pores and create acne in the back, the forehead and the hairline. These products can also run down your face and body as you shower and sweat, or be transferred to your pillow as you sleep.
Choose water based hair products and avoid those that have mineral oil and beeswax in the ingredients. - Exfoliate – as we age, it becomes increasingly important to eliminate dead skin cells because the cell turnover rate slows as we grow older. Therefore, using the right product to exfoliate the skin at least 1 – 3 times weekly, will keep your skin looking healthy.
- Moisturize – the drier the environment you operate in the more important moisturizing is. This is especially true in the tropics which tend to have very hot and dry weather regularly. Those who work in air-conditioning also need to moisturize their skin. Persons should moisturize at least twice a day.
- Smile – very often, very regularly.
Things that are Good for the Skin
- Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) – these help us to retain water and nutrients and also form an oil barrier that protects the skin from UV damage. Without these fatty acids, the skin can become overly exposed and also very dehydrated. These EFAs are usually Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids. Omega 6 can be found in poultry, grains and cooking oils, while Omega 3 can be found in cold water fish (e.g sardines and salmon) walnuts and spinach.
Antioxidants – specifically Vitamin C that builds collagen for tight skin and Vitamin E that protects the cell membranes and boosts those nutrients in the skin that fight off UV damage. Vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits and Vitamin E can be found in almonds and peanut butter.- Sunblock – helps protect from skin cancer and prevent the signs of aging that can come from sun exposure. Ideally, your sunblock should have an SPF higher than 15.
- Oil – not too much as it can clog your pores but a little of it is good for all skin types –dry, normal and combination skin.
- Honey – a humectant that attracts moisture to the skin and is also a great anti-irritant for sensitive skin. Great for restoring the skin.
- Dark chocolate – contains many minerals and vitamins that are good for the skin. May also have anti-aging properties.
Using these tips and various elements in our skin care routine will be very advantageous. There is no need to spend hundreds of dollars on skin care when you can follow these simple steps and use these products to keep your skin looking young and healthy. Who needs Botox anyways?
