Having happy, healthy, and well-adjusted skin that looks effortlessly dewy is… hardly effortless. In fact, it requires a great deal of care and attention to ensure that your skin receives all the help it needs to not only look, but feel its best too! With that said, you don’t have to splurge insane amounts of money up-front to get better skin.
In fact, there are some steps you can do to improve your skin health from the comfort of your own home right now, while spending a minimal amount!
7 things you can do for healthier, happier skin
- Understanding your skin type
Understanding your skin type is definitely the most essential step out of everything on this list, as it can help you choose products that are more suitable for your face. Generally, our skin is broken into five distinct different types, each with their own specific needs — dry, sensitive, oily, combination, and normal.
Generally, it’s easy to judge for yourself what skin type you fall under by checking the overall condition of your complexion for signs such as flaking, or greasiness. If you would like a more accurate understanding of your skin, you can visit a dermatologist for a professional skin analysis.
- Drink your water
Many of us, especially working adults, are often guilty of neglecting their hydration. This means working hours on end without a single drop of water to wet your lips with. And while bad breath is one of the first signs of a less than ideal water drinking habit, did you know that your skin can also suffer as a consequence?
According to research published by Harvard, having enough water to drink can help increase blood circulation, which further promotes your complexion’s health by transporting crucial nutrients and oxygen into your skin cells. While it may not solve all your skin woes, it’s definitely a good habit to keep up given how effortless it is!
- Always wear sunscreen
With continued pollution, the Earth’s ozone layer has begun thinning drastically, reducing its ability to protect us from harmful ultraviolet rays through sunrays.
And that spells bad news for your skin, as UV rays are capable of breaking down your skin cells and causing an onset of premature aging or worse still, raising the likelihood of skin cancer. Which is why if you want your skin to look its best, consider wearing sunscreen daily! If you’re looking for suggestions, check here on our list of favourite sunscreens to use.
- Change your pillowcase every week
This small step may seem simple (if not a little tedious), but changing your pillowcases on a weekly basis can help protect your complexion over time, as the fabric can contain a buildup of oils, dirt, and sweat from constant use. Consider how often you press your face against them when you sleep, and all of that gunk could be going onto your skin!
So try to change your pillowcases as often as you can, to ensure that they remain clean every night as you head to bed.
- Removing your makeup before you sleep
Understandably after a long night out, it would be easier to just crash in bed and deal with the aftermath the next morning. But leaving your makeup on overnight can have horrendous effects for your skin! Again, this goes back to a buildup of makeup, sweat, and dirt across a span of hours, which can lead to clogged pores and eventually acne.
So no matter how tired you get, you should always remove your makeup before falling asleep.
- Double cleanse
While having an extensive skincare routine may help, you might find your efforts going into waste if you don’t cleanse your skin properly from the beginning. And the best way to do so is by using a method known as double-cleansing.
To make it simple, double cleansing refers to the act of washing your face twice with two different cleansers. This is typically done with an oil-based cleanser followed by a water-based cleanser, but you can definitely opt for two regular based cleansers. The first cleanser is to help remove any heavier impurities like makeup and sunscreen while your second cleanser helps strip away grime and sweat.
- Exfoliate
Exfoliating is also a crucial process to incorporate into your skincare routine, as it is capable of brightening the skin by removing dead skin cells, while also refining its texture. To exfoliate, you may choose to go for a chemical-based exfoliant such as an AHA or BHA peel, or a physical exfoliant such as sponges or washcloths.
However, it’s worth noting that that you shouldn’t exfoliate too frequently, especially if you have dry skin. This is due to the fact that constant over-exfoliation could compromise your natural skin barrier and weaken your skin texture, causing damage. And always remember to hydrate your skin after exfoliating!
Disclaimer: above recommendations given are not medical advice and results may vary based on your skin conditions.
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