Good skin care and healthy lifestyle choices can help delay natural aging and prevent various skin problems. Try these tips along with having a skincare routine to have better and shiny skin.
1. Wear SPF 30 or higher every single day
One of the most important ways to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun.
For the most complete sun protection:
- Use sunscreen. While we’re talking about sun exposure, make sure you’re wearing a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher every single day—regardless of the weather, time of year, your skin tone, or your skin type. This is recommended not only to prevent premature aging but also to protect you from skin cancer. Minimum SPF 30 each morning will keep your skin very healthy. Be sure to apply sunscreen to all areas of the body that aren’t covered by your clothing—this includes (but is not limited to) the face, neck, the tops of the ears, your scalp and hairline, and your hands. Apply sunscreen generously, and reapply every two hours — or more often if you’re swimming or perspiring.
- Seek shade. Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are strongest.
- Wear protective clothing. Cover your skin with tightly woven long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and wide-brimmed hats. Also consider laundry additives, which give clothing an additional layer of ultraviolet protection for a certain number of washings, or special sun-protective clothing — which is specifically designed to block ultraviolet rays.
2. Wash your pillowcase often
It’s important to wash your pillowcase regularly. Without washing it, this can turn into a vicious cycle of breakouts and bacteria.
3. Always wash your face before bed
Sure, you’re tired, and aside from the mess it may leave on your pillowcase, you don’t think sleeping in your makeup this once is such a big deal. Wash skin before bedtime to remove makeup, associated debris, and pollutants to allow the skin to heal and rejuvenate overnight. Then follow up with a hydrating product with hyaluronic acid to draw and hold moisture at the skin surface.
4. Don’t smoke
Smoking makes your skin look older and contributes to wrinkles. Smoking narrows the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin, which decreases blood flow and makes skin paler. This also depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients that are important to skin health.
Smoking also damages collagen and elastin — the fibers that give your skin strength and elasticity. In addition, the repetitive facial expressions you make when smoking — such as pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke — can contribute to wrinkles.
Also, smoking increases your risk of squamous cell skin cancer.
5. Treat your skin gently
Daily cleansing and shaving can take a toll on your skin. To keep it gentle:
- Limit bath time. Hot water and long showers or baths remove oils from your skin. Limit your bath or shower time, and use warm — rather than hot — water.
- Avoid strong soaps. Strong soaps and detergents can strip oil from your skin. Instead, choose mild cleansers.
- Shave carefully. To protect and lubricate your skin, apply shaving cream, lotion, or gel before shaving. For the closest shave, use a clean, sharp razor. Shave in the direction the hair grows, not against it.
- Moisturize dry skin. If your skin is dry, use a moisturizer that fits your skin type. For daily use, consider a moisturizer that contains SPF.
6. Eat a healthy diet
A healthy diet can help you look and feel your best. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. The association between diet and acne isn’t clear — but some research suggests that a diet rich in fish oil or fish oil supplements and low in unhealthy fats and processed or refined carbohydrates might promote younger-looking skin.
7. Drink enough water every day
Water is what our body needs to survive and what our skin needs to look and feel fresh. Drinking plenty of water keeps our skin cells hydrated, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and keeps our skin feeling supple.
Skin needs moisture to stay flexible. Even mild dehydration will cause your skin to look dry, tired, and slightly grey. If you work in an office, keep a large bottle of water on your desk to remind you to drink. Herbal, caffeine-free teas are good too. Don’t forget that some fruit and vegetables, such as watermelon, courgette, and cucumber, also contribute fluids – the added benefit is that the minerals they contain will increase the rate you hydrate your body and skin.
8. Try to manage the stress
There’s no doubt that in modern life, stress can be challenging to manage. Taking the time to relax, breathe, and exercise is essential for boosting circulation and giving our skin time to repair itself. Also, you can meditate daily to reduce your stress.
9. Sleep well
Another essential activity to prevent stress from affecting your body and look refreshed is sleep. When we sleep, we may be tuned out, but our body works hard to repair cells and produce important molecules, such as collagen. Blood flow to our skin also increases when we sleep, allowing new cell turnover to occur and giving our skin that healthy glow we all seek. Most doctors recommend 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night for maximum benefit.
10. Use minimal makeup:
Women often go overboard with makeup, especially during special occasions. We won’t ask you to eliminate your precious makeup routine; there is no need to use blush, concealer, foundation, and whatnot every day. Although makeup adds a glossy finish to your skin, overdoing it may cause damage to your real skin despite the expensive product. Therefore, it is suggested to limit heavy makeup for special days and let your skin breathe!
In the end, stop ignoring the signs your body is giving you, and start making some changes to your skincare routine. This article provides you with some daily tips for healthy skin that are easy to follow and very useful. Whether you are excited, stressed, or happy, your face acts as a mirror. So, pamper yourself by working on the basics and giving all the care your skin needs.