12 Habits for Healthy Skin

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Are you tired of your skin acting up? Feel like you always have pesky dry patches, acne or oil build up that just won’t seem to go away? Then it’s a perfect time to look into your skincare habits and start implementing habits that will help you achieve that stunning, youthful skin.

I was blessed to have a mother who helped me learn a lot about skincare early on in life and I’ve been implementing the steps she taught me ever since I was 15. 

I’m a firm believer that when it comes to skin that the best defense is a good offense! I’ve had many people compliment my skin and chalk it up to good genes but honestly, having good skin takes work and understanding. Now, I’m 30 years-old and people still wait for me to say “just kidding” when they hear my age because my skin makes me look years younger! Seriously, no one believes I’m over 25 max unless they see my driver’s license for proof.

If you take care of your skin it will take care of you right back & make you look younger, too — and I’m going to tell you how.

Taking the best care of your skin takes a bit of investment in time, quality skincare products and learning the basics of a healthy skincare routine. 

Below is a list of 12 top skincare tips that will help you achieve that always glowing, healthy skin. Let’s get started! 

01. Cleanse in the Morning & Evening!

Going to sleep without removing your makeup is a HUGE no-no! Even on the days you go au naturel and think you don’t need to clean anything off, you still need to cleanse before bed. We expose our skin to so much throughout the day whether it be sweat, dirt, or our skin’s own natural oils. Washing your face twice a day is a bare minimum step, the same as taking a shower. We wouldn’t go without a shower just because we didn’t go out and do much during the day. 

02. Apply Specific Products at the Right Time of the Day

Learning how to properly create a skincare routine can be a bit overwhelming, but completely worth it! It’s another part of caring for your body and depending on the time of day, the steps you take to care for it can either be extremely helpful or hurtful. Learning what products should be used in the morning or night make a huge difference in your skin’s health. 

For example, Retinol is a power-house ingredient for anti-aging but also makes your skin more sensitive to sun exposure, so using this in the morning would hurt your skin more than help it. 

Adding Vitamin C to your skincare helps brighten, hydrate and wake up your skin, but sleeping on it can negatively react with products designed for nighttime use causing breakouts, redness and excessive oil build-up overnight. It can also hurt your ability to fall asleep due to the citric acid and scents that accompany it. Think of smelling a fresh orange. Your senses are instantly awakened when you need to be relaxed & in turn, will cut into your beauty rest.

Learn to use the right products and ingredients at the right time of the day for your skin’s best results.

03. NEVER Pop or Pick at Pimples

I know it’s hard & they can be sooo tempting to pop, but please don’t do it! This method may seem like it’ll help but it’s a fast track for creating acne scars, which are even more stubborn to eliminate. I have to force myself to stop all the time. My love for pimple popper videos runs deep too, but please leave it to the doctors if you really need assistance. 

A better practice is to treat pimples or trouble spots as soon as they come up with spot treatments containing Salicylic Acid, Vitamin C, Tea Tree Oil or Benzoyl Peroxide. There are also great concealers with acne-fighting ingredients that can cover & cure throughout the day. 

04. Incorporate Serums Into Your Skincare Routine Daily

Establishing a solid base skincare routine consisting of cleanse, tone, moisturize is important, but as we get older we need some extra help — whether it be for acne, dark spots, wrinkles, anti-aging, etc. Adding serums that target these concerns are game changers for our skincare. 

• Hyaluronic Acid - hydrating, firming & elasticity

• Vitamin C - brightening, reduce discoloration, target hyperpigmentation

• Niacinamide - fade dark spots, even skin tone, anti-aging

• Salicylic Acid - acne, light exfoliation

• Benzoyl Peroxide - topical acne treatment (usually found in face washes, creams, serums & gels)

• Alpha-Hydroxy Acid (AHA) - exfoliating, dead skin removal, resurfacing

• Retinol - anti-aging, wrinkles

05. Exfoliate Regularly

Everyone’s skin type is different, but all skin types can benefit from exfoliation. Dead skin cells are a byproduct of our skin’s natural repair and renewal process. As we age and expose ourselves to multiple elements, our skin produces new cells and replaces old ones. This process is healthy and plays a big part in keeping our skin smooth and youthful, but it’s our job to remove those dead cells. 

Try using a gentle solution like The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution, The Ordinary’s AHA 30% + BHA 2% Exfoliating Peeling Solution or Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Ultra Gentle Daily Peel to start lightly exfoliating. Avoid scrubs that have sugar bases. They seem like they’d do a great job exfoliating dead skin — which they do — however, they also break into your skin’s natural barriers and go a bit too overboard.

06. Moisturize Every Single Day

Moisturizing your face will help you look and feel younger, reduces the chance of developing dryness or oiliness, and seals in all of your skincare prior steps. Using a good moisturizer helps keep your skin young and more able to perform at its best. Our skin is constantly regenerating itself — face, neck, chest and ears more often than other areas — which makes the new skin cells vulnerable to the elements we live in each day. These areas are also at higher risk for cancer. Moisturizing helps give your skin the boost it needs to repair itself and stay healthy. 

Using a different moisturizer for the morning, night and changing seasons provides our skin with added benefits at the right time of the day and are highly encouraged. 

Daytime Moisturizers with SPF help protect us from the sun’s UV rays and tend to be more lightweight so you can pair them well underneath your makeup without making your skin feel greasy. Nighttime Moisturizers usually include ingredients like retinol or glycolic acid — amazing for anti-aging, but make our skin sensitive to sunlight — and promote skin cell turnover which occurs most at night. Summertime is usually dryer and needs a more hydrating, gel moisturizer to combat the hot days, while the winter often requires a richer, cream moisturizer to protect against the harsher, cold weather. 

07. Always Use SPF!

We need a healthy dose of Vitamin D, but we also know the harmful effects the sun’s UV Rays can have on our skin without protection. Even during the winter months, cloudy days and working inside we are still exposed to skin damaging elements. Those phone and computer screens we sit in front of each day emit more blue light than we realize, as well.

Using a strong SPF every day is a must to protect your skin! Don’t forget to reapply every 3-4 hours, too. This can be a bit tricky with makeup so apply something like La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt in Milk Body & Face Sunscreen SPF 60 in the mornings underneath your makeup, then touch up throughout the day with a cream-to-powder coverup like Eau Thermale Avéne Tinted Compact SPF 50+ or Supergoop! (Re)setting Refreshing Mist, SPF 40 PA+++ if you prefer a quick mist & go design. Don’t forget to show some love to your hands with Supergoop! Handscreen SPF 40. 

08. Use Face Masks 1-2x a Week

Various face masks can provide your skin with the extra love it needs, offer a quick fix for dryness or tired skin issues, can “deep clean” your pores, and more. When my skin needs a boost of hydration I love using the Lancôme Génifique Hydrogel Melting Rejuvenating Sheet Mask or Lancôme Rènergie Lift Multi-Action Ultra Double-Wrapping Cream Face Mask for a deeply moisturizing facial. For a deep clean, the New York Biology Dead Sea Mud Mask works wonders for clearing pores, reducing acne & blackheads — this one can be used on your whole body, too! 

09. Exercise Regularly

Yes, that post-workout glow is real! When you work out, you’re increasing blood flow, which in turn helps renew skin cell turnover. Studies have shown a boost in collagen (a power player for skin’s elasticity) with regular exercise. Working out also helps carry away waste and toxins in your body, allowing your entire body to function properly. 

Sweating through a workout & then staying in your sweaty leggings and sports bra, however, can cause acne breakouts so make sure you shower right after a good workout. Wash with something gentle like Cetaphil Gentle Hydrating Face & Body Wash before your pores get clogged. Make sure you remove your makeup before your next gym session. I know there’s makeup out there now that says it’s designed specifically to go with your workout, but going makeup-free will always be better for your skin. Besides, you’re there to better and take care of yourself, not impress others.

10. Get Your Beauty Rest

This can be a tough one for many of us — myself included. Sleeping on your side puts pressure on your face and chest causing those pesky wrinkles. Sleeping on your back is the best position for your anti-aging efforts, along with sleeping with a Silk Pillowcase. Who doesn’t want to sleep on silk? Kitsch’s Silk Pillowcase is a wonderful option to promote happy, healthy skin and also helps eliminate frizzy bed-head.

Getting a good night’s rest makes a huge difference in our skin’s appearance & health! Our skin regenerates as we sleep, allowing us to wake up looking refreshed. Get at least 6-8 hours of sleep every night and let your body get the care it needs. 

11. Drink Your Dang Water!

Having moisturized skin helps it look refreshed and healthy. While having a great skincare routine helps us achieve that glowing look, there’s another player who has a major role in our skin’s health: water! Water keeps your body hydrated and helps maintain your skin’s elasticity. Drinking enough water every day flushes out toxins, improves skin tone, speeds up healing, prevents acne, maintains your pH Balance, promotes a healthy gut, the list goes on an on. 

Keep a water bottle on you throughout the day to ensure you drink enough water every day. I like using ones with time stamps on them to keep me accountable. 

12. You Are What You Eat

Eating healthier foods containing vitamins our body needs helps keep our organs working in tip-top shape. Often times people forget that our largest organ is actually our skin, so it should come as no surprise than when you eat better, you look better. 

Eat plenty of healthy fats such as nuts, seeds, avocados, chia seeds. Anti-aging antioxidants are found in our fruits & veggies so take advantage of nature’s candy. Seaweed, cacao and many organ meats contain copper which helps us achieve a vital glow in our skin. 

Take a look at the foods you’re eating, start making some changes where needed and appreciate the body you have. Our bodies our astoundingly resilient and know how to heal, call for our help, and respond well to care. Be grateful for your body! Show it love by thanking it with verbal and physical gratitude. 

Visit a Dermatologist or Esthetician if Needed

If you feel like you have some truly stubborn obstacles that just don’t want to respond to your efforts or feel confused about your skin in any way, see a dermatologist or esthetician. They earned certifications for a reason and will be able to assist you with deeper skin issues so you can find & use products that will work best for you.

Hopefully these tips have been helpful. Try them out and see how great you look and feel!

Thanks & We Wish You the Best,
Let’s Do BetterTogether!