While beauty is in the eye of the beholder; nothing says beauty like healthy blemish free skin. We can all agree soft, supple, and smooth skin is always in. That’s absolutely universal. Growing up (age of 12) I suffered from oily acne prone skin. It really did a number to my self-esteem. I felt unattractive, ugly, and broken. As I got older I tried various different methods to get my oily acne prone skin under control. I hid it behind pounds of makeup. I tried all sorts of antibiotics for acne, rituals, diets and acne creams. Acne Light Therapy. Laser Acne Scar Removal. Infomercials “saving grace.” Professional Acne facials. Face Peels. Salicylic Acid for acne. Every single over-the-counter acne cream I could get my hands on or afford. – I contemplated hard on acne surgery, but because my funds were low it never came to fruition. I prayed to the universe, God, my Mother to relieve me of my whiteheads, blackheads and back acne. You name it, I probably tried it. Nothing really worked. They were all mostly temporary relief. Now an adult, I’m dealing with the scars of my youthful acne days. I suffer from hyperpigmentation, anchor sized pores, and the occasional hormonal breakouts. You know the ones you get before your friend comes to town? But, one thing that I am today (29 years of age) that I wasn’t as a 12-year-old girl. I am happy with who I am. I’ve found peace within myself.
1. Skin Type. What’s Yours?
As I mentioned earlier, I suffered from bad acne breakouts. Understanding what your skin type is one of the most important skin care tips. There are many skin care products out there on the market. They are all made and tailored for different skin types. It’s crucial to understand what your skin requires. Everyone is unique, no two faces are alike.
2. Drink A Lot Of Water.
Soft. Supple. And Moist Skin. We all want that. The very first step to a glowing outside. Is a glowing inside. As you may know, our bodies are a huge percentage of water over 50 PERCENT! So, H2O is an enormous deal for us. I’ve always been a fan of drinking water. I like mines plain. No extra condiments (i.e fruits, lemons, etc). But, there are several fun ways you can drink it if you find it too dull. I know some folks who dress there’s up.
3. Your Diet Matters.
I love cheese. Extra Cheese pizza, extra cheesy nachos. Cheese everywhere and make it EXTRA, please. I also enjoy a hearty juicy piece of flamed broiled steak. Yummy! But – as I recently discovered. My skin DOES NOT. My body hates dairy. It reeks havoc on my face. I pay for it each time I eat cheese. It shows right on my chin and cheeks. I start to look like the pizza I ate the night before. So, I cut back on the dairy and meats. Ever since I’ve done this (wished I known @12) my acne has cleared up 75%-80%. You read correctly. All these years I suffered, thought something was internally wrong with me. I now know, the foods I was eating were not conducive to my overall health and well-being. Cutting out dairy and meats and focusing more on a plant-based diet has substantially increased my energy levels, productivity while subsequently decreasing my WEIGHT and acne breakouts. That’s a W (win) in my book.
4. Cleanse Your Skin Regularly.
(1-2 times every day) A very effective skin care tip that helps in getting rid of the dirt and other harsh elements from your skin. Cleansing is especially important when you have been out of your house (and hence exposed to pollutants, dust etc). Use of lukewarm water for cleansing (extreme hot or cold water, may cause damage to your skin).
5. Be Gentle, Please.
While exfoliating weekly, and monthly are an important skin care step to add. Scrubbing too hard is not. So, be gentle. Also, check out this product, it can help save lives. No, seriously.
6. Keep Your Skin Moisturize.
There’s nothing attractive about dry, flaky skin. We’ve all had our moments. Running late. Cold weather, whatever! If it’s within your control. Don’t let your skin get too dry. Use moisturisers/ emollients. Moisturisers work best when applied while the skin is still damp. Try it next time.
7. Avoid The Use Of Harsh Chemical Filled Soaps On Your Face.
Certain soaps can have harsh drying chemicals within them that makes them unsuitable for facial usage. Test the products on a different (less sensitive) part of your body before using it on your face.
8. Always Use Sunscreen.
Beautiful skin requires the daily use of sunscreen. As wonderful and warm the sun may look sometimes. It can be very costly on your skin. Protect by using a day-time moisturizer that has sunscreen built into it. Use them even when it’s cloudy out. UV radiations are known to cause skin cancer, so follow this skin care tip without fail.
9. Exercise.
We’re all affected by stress and we all deal with it differently. But – for most of us. Stress shows up on our skin. Under our eyes, on our cheeks stealing our glow. Stress, unfortunately, is a way of life. We can’t get rid of it. But, we can combat it with exercising. Exercising helps us in every single possible way. Working out is your skin’s second best friend. Get your body moving 30-minutes a day will do wonders for your overall health and greatly benefit your skin. Thank Me Later!
10. Sleep.
This one is my favorite. Anyone that knows me, knows that I love Sunday afternoon naps. Midday naps. Naps period! :). Sleep is essential to our lives. We need it to survive. We need it to function. And your skin needs it to repair itself. Sleep allows your body to recoup and reboot from a long day of hyperstimulation. While sleeping our bodies cells undergo regrowth and other essential components to function optimally.Good SLEEP is important. Do this one often as your lifestyle allows you. After reading this article of course. 😉
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What are some of your skin care tips that you’ve used to get healthy, glowing beautiful skin? I’m all ears.