Is there anything better than a healthy, glowing complexion? (We’re talking skin care goals here!) And how do you get it? Like so many questions in life, there isn’t a single, straightforward answer.
cleanse daily
It’s essential to cleanse your face daily to remove dirt, oil, makeup, and impurities that accumulate over the course of a day. Buildup can clog pores and cause skin dullness, so best to start with clean, clear skin!
moisturize
Hydration helps keep skin looking dewy and fresh, as dry skin is more prone to wrinkles. Moisturized skin is smoother and reflects light, so it appears more glowing. Use a facial moisturizer daily to maintain your skin’s moisture levels.
exfoliate
Regular exfoliation is an important step in your skincare routine. Exfoliation removes the buildup of dead skin cells that can give you a dull complexion, revealing new skin underneath. Skin cells naturally renew themselves but the process slows as you age, so exfoliation helps nudge this renewal process along.
Try alpha or beta hydroxy acids (like salicylic or glycolic acid) or facial scrubs that can buff your skin to a renewed glow. Use gentle products if you’re starting out, up to a few times a week.
antioxidants
Antioxidant treatments can help fight off skin-aging free radicals and encourage cell renewal. One example is vitamin C. In addition to boosting the production of collagen, an essential protein that keeps skin bouncy, firm, and elastic, vitamin C is known to reduce hyperpigmentation and brighten up your skin.
healthy lifestyle
Last but not least is your lifestyle – your nutrition, sleep, and exercise habits. (You didn’t think we’d forget this, did you?) They may not seem very impactful, but these small daily choices really do affect the appearance and health of your skin.
Eat a diet with lots of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. It’s crucial to get enough sleep so your body can rest and recover from the damage of environmental stressors throughout the day. If you smoke, it’s best to try to quit – nicotine speeds up aging and can lead to dull, yellowing skin.
We often think about skincare as what we put on our skin. But what we put into our bodies and our overall health are just as important. Glowing skin results from taking care of your skin inside and out!
Sources: Good Housekeeping; Skinkraft.com
