The Free, Accessible Health Tool You Probably Haven’t Optimized Yet
This article is written by a guest author.
A healthy skin doesn’t just make you look fresh and glowing – it also forms your first line of defense against germs and toxins. When it comes to caring for your skin, it can be difficult to find the right solution for you specifically. With so many products saturating the skincare market, who’s to know what will work and what won’t?
If you’re feeling lost on what habits you should or shouldn’t be partaking in, keep reading to learn the do’s and don’ts for healthy skin all-year-round!
Don’t: Overexfoliate
Exfoliation is an essential component of a successful skincare regimen as it helps to get rid of dead skin cells and grime. However, exfoliating too often can strip your skin of the natural oils it needs. Before you know it, your skin may become dried out, irritated, and can even overcompensate by creating excess oil in the skin. The key here is balance, so limit exfoliating once to twice weekly. Be sure to use an exfoliator that is gentle on your skin.
Do: Implement Retinol in Your Nightly Routine
Whether you’re experiencing acne, wrinkles, or discoloration, retinol products can help. The ingredient, retinol, serves to boost collagen production in the skin and increase cell turnover. This means your skin is producing new skin cells and shedding old layers faster. If you choose to use skincare products with retinol, be sure to only use them at night as they can cause sun sensitivity and remember to always follow with a moisturizer.
Don’t: Overdo It
There is such a thing as using too many products. Although the skincare market is flooded with products promising to better your skin, using a variety of different products at once can end up causing irritation. You can still have a great complexion with a minimal routine! A helpful tip is to use products that are dual-purpose, meaning they benefit your skin in multiple ways but through only one product.
Do: Identify Your Skin Type
Understanding your skin type is crucial for you to determine what type of products and techniques you should implement in your skincare routine. Those with oily skin will want to treat their skin differently than those with dry/sensitive skin, and vice versa. If you’re not sure what your skin type is, take this quiz.
Don’t: Touch Your Face
You likely won’t realize how often you touch your face throughout the day unless you’re actively thinking about it. During the day, your hands will touch just about everything; door handles, keyboards, phones, steering wheel, etc. All of these things are a breeding ground for bacteria and germs and can be easily transferred to your skin. If you’re experiencing breakouts, clogged pores, or irritation, take a closer look at how often your hands are on your face.
Do: Wear SPF
Wearing sunscreen regularly is one of the oldest, widely known tricks for radiant and healthy skin. Even so, people tend to skimp on sunscreen, especially during the colder seasons. The sun penetrates us all year long and can reflect off of surfaces (like snow and water) to penetrate us not once, but twice. Sun damage is one of the biggest contributors to noticeable aging. For that reason, be sure to use an SPF all year long on your skin and in your chapstick!
Don’t: Use Toners With Alcohol
The last ingredient you want in your toner is alcohol, but that doesn’t stop brands from putting it in their products. Alcohol strips your skin of its natural moisture and can send your oil glands into overdrive. You may notice temporary benefits of it drying out acne breakouts, but over time, it can actually worsen your complexion.
Do: Change Your Pillowcases Often
Pillowcases collect skin cells, dirt, and sweat throughout the night. If you tend to sleep on the same pillowcase for long periods of time, you end up sleeping on pillows with built-up germs and bacteria that are in direct contact with your skin. To allow your skin to repair while you rest, be sure to change your pillowcases roughly once a week. Another good idea is to switch to silk pillowcases as these don’t absorb products and are gentler on your delicate skin.
Don’t: Pick Your Skin
As mentioned earlier, touching your face is a big no-no. What’s even worse is picking your skin whether it’s peeling dry skin, popping a zit, or squeezing your pores. This puts any bacteria from your nails and fingers directly into open areas of the skin. As a result, your breakouts will likely get worse and spread to surrounding areas. The best thing you can do is refrain from picking your face overall.
Do: Check Product Expiration Dates
Your food’s expiration dates aren’t the only ones you have to worry about, your beauty products expire too! Many people don’t realize that most makeup products only last for a year or less, while skincare products also have expiration dates making them less effective. Be sure to keep track of how long you’ve had your makeup products and replace them as needed. As for your skincare products, many will indicate somewhere on the container how long they last for. If you want to check the freshness of your beauty products, go here.
Don’t: Ignore Your Neck and Chest
When you’re young, caring for your neck and chest has likely never even crossed your mind, despite the fact that these areas of the skin are just as delicate and vulnerable to aging as your face. For this reason, it’s a good rule of thumb to apply the products you use on your face on your neck and chest as well. Treat these areas as a whole unit and care for them daily. You’ll thank yourself later!
How do you care for your skin?
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