Skin Care Tips

Your skin changes as you age, due to both normal aging and the action of external forces on your skin. With proper skin care, most people can retain smooth skin throughout life. However, due to genetic factors that are beyond our control, some people will have more difficulty retaining youthful-looking or smooth skin care at any age. The trick knows what to do if you are unhappy with the way your skin looks now. See below for 11 tips!

1 – Drink water

Keeping hydrated is always good advice for many parts of your body. It is especially true for your skin care. Drinking water helps remove toxins from the body through urination and sweat (the latter being important during summer!) The cells of the body are composed mostly of water – so drink up! That being said,  there is no need to drink more than 6-8 glasses.

2 – Apply sunscreen 

One of the fastest ways to age your skin is to damage it with too much sun exposure. Sunlight contains UV rays that harm our skin, causing wrinkles and redness among other things. Even in winter, when the sky may appear cloudy or you are stuck indoors all day, ultraviolet sunlight can penetrate through windows! If you work outside, always be sure to apply sunscreen when you are not wearing clothing over certain areas (e.g., face).

3 – Keep makeup use to a minimum when possible

Makeup is very hard to remove and, especially in the case of oil-based makeup (e.g., petroleum jelly) it will sit on the skin and block pores. This can lead to clogged pores. It may also cause irritation or breakouts for some people so it is best to be cautious about makeup use.

4 – Consider cutting down/stopping smoking if you smoke

Smoking has been linked with premature aging of the face, wrinkles, loss of elasticity, etc. Cigarette smoke contains a variety of chemicals that harm your body at various levels – this is just one example. If you choose to continue smoking then do consider reducing your intake and/or switching to a brand of cigarette that is lower in tar (e.g., Marlboro Lights).

5 – Try to reduce stress levels

Stress makes you age more rapidly! When we are under stress, our bodies release hormones such as cortisol, which interfere with the natural recovery process that keeps our skin healthy. If you cannot eliminate all of your stress overnight then try and do some breathing exercises or yoga every day until your stress levels normalize.

6 – Keep alcohol use limited

Alcohol may be relaxing for many people but it is not good for the skin care as it dehydrates the body as well as tends to leave one looking puffier or “bloated.” If you find yourself drinking alcohol, try to keep it to only 3-4 cocktails or drinks spread out during a week.

7 – Apply moisturizer 2x/daily

Moisturizing your skin is important because it locks in moisture that would otherwise evaporate into the air around us! It also makes skin more smooth and elastic. Moisturizers generally come in creams or lotions but there are many factors involved in choosing one specific moisturizer for your skin type. Another tip – after applying moisturizer, be sure to let it absorb thoroughly before getting dressed. This will help ensure that clothing will not rub off on wet spots on your clothes or be uncomfortable against dry patches on your skin.

8 – Eat lots of fruit and vegetables

Eating fruits and veggies is always good advice because it helps maintain health in many ways. This includes proper skin care function because these foods are full of antioxidants that fight free radicals that cause skin damage (similar to how certain drugs/medicines may contain antioxidants).

9 – Consume more Omega-3 fatty acids 

Omega-3 fatty acids may help create the moisture barrier on the surface of your skin, preventing too much evaporation from taking place. This can be helpful for those with very dry skin! Check out a list of fish high in omega-3s here.

10 – Clear up acne as soon as possible

Acne may make you feel unattractive but it is very harmful to your skin. It increases the risk of scarring and makes you look older. This is because acne is an inflammatory disease that can cause swelling, redness, irritation, etc. If you think you, have acne then see a dermatologist for advice on how to treat it (e.g., topical or oral medicine).

11 – Apply sunscreen 15min before going out

Sunscreen helps prevent aging by blocking the UV rays in sunlight, which damage our skin cells. What many people do not realize is that sunscreen needs time to be absorbed into the skin so always applies at least 15 minutes before going outside! This way your skin will absorb more of the lotion and the sunscreen will work better.

12 – Reduce sun exposure when possible

Too much sunlight is bad for your skin in several ways: it causes dryness, redness, swelling, irritation, and then potential cancerous changes in your cells.