Keeping up with all the new trends and innovations of the beauty industry can be time overwhelming. It seems there’s an onslaught of a new ingredient, product, or technique that is making its entrance into the beauty market.
As a consequence, it’s easy to burn through our budgets. The good news though is that healthy and radiant skin doesn’t need an expensive routine. And, healthy skin is beautiful. That means that if you look at taking care of your skin wholistically, you will reap dividends in glowing skin. In other words, anything you can do to support and make your skin more healthy will be directly visible.
Avoid the sun
It may sound melodramatic, but the sun is the root cause of premature wrinkling and even worse can cause skin cancer. UV radiation can also result in dark spots. Hence, avoid the sun and when you can’t, always protect your skin with SPF and wear a hat.
Splash your face with cold water
Does your skin need a pick-me-up? Use cold, if possible ice-cold water to rinse your water. It’s one of the quickest ways to boost your complexion. The cold water will boost circulation, giving your skin a glow. It can also quickly reduce puffiness, tighten the appearance of your skin, and calm inflammation. To top it off, the cold water will also make you feel more awake.
Try to use tepid water instead of hot water when you wash your face (and body). Hot water can damage the lipid barrier of your skin, resulting in irritated and dry skin.
Give yourself a face massage
If rinsing your face with cold water literally gives you chills, use your fingers to give yourself a face massage. It will stimulate circulation and activate any skincare products you’re applying.
Pay attention to your neck
Treat your neck (and for that matter your decollete too) as an extension to your face and include it in your skincare. The skin on your neck is just as susceptible to ageing as anywhere else on your face or body and deserves just as much attention.
The dermis of the neck is thinner and more prone to wrinkling since there isn’t as much collagen. Think of it as being as delicate as the skin on your eyelids. Also, the skin on the neck has fewer pores and produces less sebum. That’s probably why there are fewer spots on your neck.
Eat a balanced diet
We all have heard “we are what we eat”. What we eat and drink affects how our skin looks and feels. Healthy skin starts with nourishment from within. All cells within our body get replaced regularly. The skin cell turnover is more or less every 28 days. Hence a steady supply of key nutrients is essential to support this turnover.
Don’t smoke
And now, e-cigarettes are not a good alternative. Traditional and e-cigarettes both contain nicotine that constricts blood vessels. Shrunken capillaries mean diminished blood circulation which in turn can resulting quicker ageing. Just think of the wrinkles around the mouth of a smoker. There’s even more: Nicotine slows healing, destroys collagen and elastin, and thins skin – these are all things you want to prevent.
De-Stress
Life can be stressful, especially in our current situation. Constant worry and fretting will give some people stress lines, for others it can show as puffy under-eyes, and for others, it can result in zits.
Stress is strongly linked to all different kinds of skin issues such as dry patches, itching, skin bumps, and eczema. When we’re stressed, our bodies release the home cortisol which triggers our skin to produce more sebum. This is not bad per se, but if you have a constant rush of cortisol, it can lead to skin inflammation. Inflammation in the skin can aggravate any existing skin conditions and also damage the acid mantle.
Some proven ways to reduce stress is to spend quality time with your friends or take a refreshing walk. For a very short term relief, try deep breathing: Inhale until your lungs have filled, then exhale. Try to exhale more slowly than when you were inhaling.
Exercise regularly
Exercising can be one way for you to reduce stress, but it can also improve your skin’s overall appearance. Exercise gets your heart rate up and improves your blood circulation. In other words: anything that promotes healthy blood circulation helps keep your skin healthy and vibrant.
Just keep in mind to cleanse your face post-workout to remove sweat, dirt, and any bacteria – this is to avoid any breakouts after sports.
Remove your makeup
You surely have read it thousands of times – especially on this blog, but removing your makeup is the fundament before you can even apply any skincare products. Especially before bed, you want to remove your makeup. You want to remove any dirt, bacteria, makeup, and pollution that have settled on your face during the day to avoid zits forming and skin damage.
Get enough sleep
Beauty sleep is not a myth. When I had a good night’s rest, I can skip applying concealer. The flip side is also true: After a night of tossing and turning, you could think I’m a panda bear.
Not sleeping enough can make itself apparent with fine lines or a sallow complexion. This is because too little sleep impairs blood circulation. The skin also looks its ability to retain moisture, protect and heal all combat the signs of ageing.
When we sleep, our skin goes into repair and restore mode. In our resting period, the skin removes toxins, repairs cells and DNA damage caused by the environment. In general, the skin cells regenerate more quickly.
It’s also during sleep, that the cortisol level falls in our bodies. If you’re constantly stressed and sleep-deprived, cortisol levels will remain high. This may interfere with wound healing, result in early ageing, and in general worsen existing issues.
As you see, taking care of your skin is more like taking care of your body as a whole. It may take time to change your habits, but it’s well worth changing your lifestyle. It will help reduce the amount of time and money you spend on your beauty routine: Simply having a healthy lifestyle will negate the need for many products.
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