Habits for Great Looking Skin
Skin conditions can be somewhat hereditary, though there are actions one can take to improve the quality and look of one’s skin. Here are a few simple habits that can help one’s skin look its best.
Wash Your Face
This may seem intuitive, though most of us have experienced feelings of sheer exhaustion, and have opted to fall straight into bed without cleansing the skin. Even if I am not wearing makeup on any given day, I still wash my face to remove pollution and bacteria from the day. At the very least, use a makeup remover wipe followed by microcellular water. They really work. I like Garnier SkinActive Microcellular Cleansing Water, which I mostly use in the morning, and Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes do the trick in removing makeup.
If you have allergies, washing your face is super important at the end of the day, in addition to washing your hair. Pollen clings to skin and hair, which means you are floating around in a cloud of irritants all day. I used to wonder why even when I was inside, my allergies seemed severe, and when I started washing my hair at the end of each day, my symptoms were greatly relieved.
Use a Tinted Moisturizer
A little bit of color on the skin helps to even it out, in addition to making a person look refreshed. A tinted moisturizer can add a tiny hint of color, and gives a more consistent look by evening out the skin tone. Beautycounter’s Dew Skin is amazing, and I use the No.2 shade no matter the season. At first I thought it might make my already oily skin look shiny, though instead gives it a nice glow. The coverage is light enough for everyday wear, yet just enough for evenings. I am super picky about tinted moisturizers, and this one is one of the best I’ve found.
Examine Your Diet
Everyone is different so this tip may not apply to you, though I find when I eat too much sugar, my complexion tends to look a little dull. When I’m eating well and keeping hydrated with lots of water, my skin looks fresh. For some people, and I have a couple friends that swear this, eating dairy can cause havoc to the skin, resulting in hormonal acne. This type of acne is more severe, cystic acne along the jawline.
Layer Products from Thinnest to Thickest
Consistency of products affects their ability to penetrate the skin. Using lighter products first, allows for subsequent products to be more effective. For example, if you use a skin serum, you would want to apply that prior to a moisturizer. Some people have multi-step skin care routines and the general order of application for products is toner, spot cream, serum, moisturizer, eye cream, and then lastly, a facial oil if you use it.
Use a Sunscreen
You’ve heard this before, though it bears repeating. Wear sunscreen on your face, neck, and decolletage! I wear a UVA/UVB full spectrum sunscreen everyday, even on cloudy days. My face and neck never get tan. To even my face out with my body in the summer, I fake a bronze with self-tanners and makeup. My skin tends to get oiler in the summer months, and I do find that many moisturizers with sunscreen in them can look chalky or greasy. I looked high and low to find one I could wear under makeup even in the summer, and have been very happy with Differin Oil Absorbing Moisturizer with Sunscreen Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 30.
Glycolic Acid Toner
I love to use glycolic acid toners on my face, neck, and decolletage at least four nights a week. Glycolic acid toners are a liquid exfoliant, meaning they remove dead skin cells for a smoother complexion. This in turn evens out the skin tone and removes rough patches that can make the skin look dull and cause makeup to go on unevenly. The best toner I have found is DDF Glycolic Toning Complex, a liquid you apply with a cotton round. I have used it for years. I also really like Beautycounter’s Rejuvenating Toner Pads. Your preference as to whether or not you prefer the liquid solution to those that are formulated on presoaked pads. The Beautycounter pads are very thin and have little ridges on them, so it does seem to provide a little extra exfoliating effect.
These habits should help improve the look and quality of your skin if consistently followed.
If you like this post, you might enjoy Easy Habits for Healthier Hair.
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