Let’s talk about skin! These sunny days are times when most of us love to be out and about, enjoying the nice weather! I don’t know about you, but the vibe about summertime usually involves people looking for better skincare. I mean, who doesn’t like to flaunt vibrant, glowing skin? But, before you invest in expensive chemicals and products that could do more harm than good, let me break down some essentials on how to get healthy skin. Besides that, your skin health can reveal a lot of things about your body. So, let ‘s dive in!
Have you checked your skin lately? How your skin can reveal if you’re dehydrated
Your skin is your best accessory. As an aesthetician also, I would say your skin is the first thing that reveals how healthy you are. Because of this, you shouldn’t neglect proper care of your skin. Just as you eat to tone your body and lose weight, you must also think about eating to have a healthier skin.
If you didn’t realize it, you can easily tell if you’re dehydrated by exploring your skin. Signs of dark spot, irritation, itchiness, dullness, darker under-eye circles, sunken eyes, more fine lines and surface wrinkles are just a few. However, severe dehydration can include dizziness, dry mouth, faintness, overall weakness and darker urine color. So, in order to avoid these symptoms, you need to make lifestyle changes.
Sometimes, the first thing we want to do in these circumstances is change to expensive products, which by the way, they may not be bad. But, the bottom line to get healthy skin relies on lifestyle improvements. The good news is that dehydrated skin is manageable. Check out more on the previous blog about Skin glow! Let it be flawless naturally!
These are the basics on how to get healthy skin
Drink plenty of water
Well, you’ve probably heard this a gazillion times, but it is very easy to forget to hydrate our bodies. And, by drinking enough water, I mean having it throughout the entire day, not just when you’re thirsty.
Nourish your body with enough protein foods
Protein foods are the foundation to build collagen, which is our main skin protein. This is how we keep our skin firm,thick, glowing,and avoid premature aging. My best bet is to have natural whole foods. Also, if you want to supplement your intake, you can try collagen peptides,drinks or even your favorite protein powder for your workouts.
Know your skin type
Learning about your skin type is so crucial, because this is how you’ll know how to treat it. Following the wrong skincare routine or using the wrong skin products will not benefit. Besides that, you’ll end up frustrated and wasting money.
Read more: Skin care and beauty tidbits- Facts to know
Limit sun exposure
Sun is good for your skin! Unfortunately, too much negative propaganda has made people miss getting enough sunlight. Here’s the thing, your skin needs sun to produce vitamin D. This is one of the key vitamins to keep healthy skin, strong bones and teeth and proper brain function. The problem is not the sun itself, but it’s the overexposure. So, my best advice is to get at least 30 minutes of sun exposure, during the early morning before 10am, or after 3pm. These are the times of day when the sun rays are not that strong. That way, you’ll avoid sunburn and damage. Do you plan a pool day or going to the beach? These are the best hours to be exposed to the sun. Plus, if you’re going to be exposed for an hour or longer, you should get sunscreen protection.
How to get healthy skin: Ensure your vitamins
Our skin needs those vitamins to stay glowing and firm. Vitamins A and C, D and E are the ones your skin mainly needs. Focus on getting enough fruits and veggies, nuts, seeds and whole grains.
Get enough omega-3
Omega-3 is one of those nutrients you can’t miss when aiming for a healthy skin. This nutrient is essential to protect your skin from inflammation. Eat enough avocados, nuts, healthy oils, seeds and fish.
Antioxidants will be your best friends
Eating enough antioxidants is key to protecting your skin from toxin exposure and damage. Eat the rainbow, as someone once said. Focus on getting that colorful plate and nourishing superfoods. If you didn’t know, foods like turmeric, green tea, and goat milk are just a few examples of natural antioxidants that will benefit your skin health and appearance.
Read more: Apple cider vinegar: Top benefits you can’t miss
Limitting exposure to toxins is key on how to get healthy skin
When your face is constantly exposed to toxins in the environment, be that smoke, dirt, etc, your skin gets free radicals.These substances are very damaging to your skin. Free radicals cause wrinkles, dehydration, excess oil and dark spots.
Avoid excess of overprocessed foods
Eating too many over processed foods causes your skin to become very oily. That’s one of the main reasons why people struggle with breakouts and acne. Remember that balance is key and you should limit fried foods, excess sugars and packaged goods.
How to get healthy skin: Embrace natural makeup
Natural is the go-to, my friend! Especially during summer, less is more! Wearing less makeup helps to clear your skin. Also, less makeup will help your skin breathe and avoid clogging your pores. If your skin is smooth and doesn’t have many spots or wrinkles, why not skip the foundation and simply go with loose powders or moisturizer?
Don’t use makeup all the time
I’m recently going with this trend and I’m so loving it! Being out with my bare face is giving my skin some chance to breathe. Besides that, makeup has chemicals that can cause you to age faster.
Use products according to your skin type
Talking about skin types, now there are varieties of products specifically designed for skincare. If your skin is oily, make sure you use facial cleanser and toner for oily skin. The same thing goes for the moisturizer and other types of facial products.
Stay away from “heavy chemical creams” that contain damaging ingredients
Most of the commercial skin products are made of harmful chemicals that can damage your skin appearance, oil/water balance and health overall. Some of the ingredients were made to preserve the products, giving specific texture or even fragrance. Seriously, these don’t do any good to your skin, especially if you use them often. Avoid skincare products that are heavy on parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and alcohols.
Use sunscreen in order to get healthy skin
You’ve probably heard about this one many times already. But, just as the other products you choose for your skin type, you have to be careful to use the right sunscreen. It all depends on whether your skin is sensitive, if you’re spending a lot of time outdoors, if your skin is oily or dry, etc. Here’s a guide to choose the right sunscreen for your skin type.
Read more: 10 Best ways to boost skin collagen naturally!
Check your skin products expiration date
This may sound like a simple thing to do, but we often forget to check out our skin products. Just as you check your fridge and food pantry, make sure you regularly go through your skin items.The reason why I say this is because we could keep makeup in our bags for ages. Sounds gross, right? Well, apart from keeping bacteria, ingredients are no longer effective and can damage your skin.
Change your makeup products and materials often
In the same line as checking the expiry date, it’s time to take action! Getting rid of old products is essential to avoid any unnecessary bacteria, and pore clogging. Seriously, let’s get rid of that 6 month old mascara!
How to get healthy skin: Don’t share your cosmetics with other people
Another good practice is to keep your skincare products personal. You may be tempted to share with your mother or sister, but this doesn’t help. As a matter of fact, even in your own family, skins are different. Plus, for the topic of hygiene, you want to prevent infections or breakouts.
Embrace more environment friendly products
This, by far, has made my life so much better when it comes to keeping my skin healthy. I recommend using more natural products. For instance, the ones that are animal-cruelty free or vegan. These types of products are not tested on animals, and they have less harsh chemicals.
One of my favorite animal-cruelty free, non-toxic brands is the Detox Market. Their line is so good for skin, since it’s free of harmful ingredients, under the concept of clean beauty. You’ll have 10% discount of all purchases here.
Read more: Top skin superfoods you can’t miss
How to get healthy skin: Have a basic daily skincare routine
When you have a basic daily skincare routine, besides keeping it clean, you’re helping to maintain it nourished. Sticking to a routine that includes at least washing your face, toning and moisturizing it is essential on how to get healthy skin.
Include a thorough weekly skincare routine
A thorough routine also includes applying a face mask at least once or twice a week. Another thing that you should do weekly is exfoliate your skin. Especially if you have oily skin, you want to regularly exfoliate by using soft scrubs. As well, you have facial scrubs depending on your skin type. Keep reading more below to learn how to exfoliate.
If you have severe breakouts or acne, don’t self-medicate
This should be a no-brainer, but people tend to use products they see on TV to treat acne. It’s not bad to try to improve your skin health, but acne in itself is a medical skin condition. So, before trying any commercial products, or household stuff, check with a doctor.
Avoid touching your face constantly
This old advice about keeping your hands off your face is for a simple reason: hygiene. Your hands usually touch all types of surfaces. Passing bacteria to your face can cause it to get irritated, infected or even get it more oily. Make sure your hands are clean before treating your face.
How to get healthy skin: Avoid indoor tanning
Indoor tanning is very popular to get that darker skin color. But, did you know that direct exposure to the artificial rays can be more damaging? In that case, prefer using natural sunlight or embrace your natural skin color.
Use DIY natural products for face masks
This old practice about DIY face masks works! I do it often for my hair and also for my skin. Now, there are easier ways to get clay or even using plants like aloe vera, tea tree oil, as well as foods like cucumber, strawberries, flaxseeds and avocado. These are just a few examples.
How to get healthy skin: Do a deep facial cleansing
Have you considered doing a deep facial cleansing? I know most of us have been guilty for skipping this step for so long. But, having an appointment at the aesthetician’s office can save you tons of stress and money in the long run due to lack of proper care. It’s good to get your face in a professional’s hands, plus it’s part of essential self care.
Read more: Beauty hacks for glowing skin to apply now!
Avoid skin bleaching and discoloration
This is a controversial topic. Whatever the reasons why people do it is unclear. But the truth is, having your skin undergo these procedures means applying very harsh chemicals.These products seriously alter the skin foundation and it’s health.
Avoid abrasive face treatments without medical supervision
Abrasive treatments like peelings and others should be done with caution and only by a professional. Because these products have highly acidic ingredients, you want to avoid doing it by yourself. Besides that, these types of treatments are only necessary for certain serious skin conditions.
Massaging your face is one of the basics on how to get healthy skin
Getting that good face massage is a must! Just as you treat the rest of your body, massaging your face everyday will improve blood flow and face tone. If you didn’t know, this is one of the best anti-aging secrets.
Don’t exfoliate too much
As I mentioned earlier, exfoliating your skin is a must in order to keep it clean, smooth and healthy. But, you don’t want to overdo it. Exfoliating your skin too much, meaning everyday or multiple times each day, can alter your oily balance. In other words, instead of reducing the amount of oily skin, it can increase. So, if you have oily or sensitive skin, go easy on facial scrubs.
Consult your dermatologist
Checking with a dermatologist before trying any skincare procedure is key. The basics on how to get healthy skin are easy, and you can do most of the steps at home. But, if you have a skin condition like acne, severe dry skin, spots, or irritation, check with your doctor. Good care equals healthy skin.
Final thoughts,
Taking proper care of your body is the key on how to get healthy skin. Staying on top of the game with your nutrition, active lifestyle and stress management are essential to keep your skin beautiful. If you want to avoid premature aging, make sure you also care for your products, and go natural as much as you can. Let me know, are you applying any of these principles to improve skin health? Comment below. Sharing is caring!
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