So many of us have trouble with our skin. We want it to be flawless, radiant, and youthful, but we end up with dry skin, breakouts, and unsightly rashes! Sound familiar? You might want to check out my top tips for getting skin that glows. It’s not always easy and you need to commit to a long-term regime, but the skin you want can be yours…
Find out your skin type
If you’re serious about getting skin that glows, the first thing you’re going to want to do is work out what kind of skin you have. If you don’t know this, then you’ll struggle to choose the right products and procedures for looking after your skin.
How do you work out what kind of skin you have? It’s pretty easy to determine if you have oily or dry skin because…well oily skin will tend to be oily with bigger pores and dry skin will lack in moisture, have red patches and pores that are barely visible.
Once you know what kind of skin you have, you will be able to take much better care of it.
When it comes to looking after dry skin, for example, you should take extra effort to moisturize and keep it hydrated. If you have flaky or cracked skin, you should shower quickly and only use lukewarm water, and you should only every use mild soap products.
If, however, your skin is oily, you will need to wash it gently twice a day use noncomedogenic skin products, and do what you can to lower your stress levels. You should also refrain from popping pimples or picking at zits – two things that can make the matter worse.
If your skin is combination, here is a good resource to help you look after it. It can be a bit trickier to deal with, but you can get it under control.
Follow a routine
Each day you should cleanse, tone, and moisturize morning and evening using products that are suited to your skin. Once or twice a week you should add exfoliation to your routine too. really, you should exfoliate after cleansing but before toning for best results. If you want to use a serum daily, it is fine to do so – just apply it before moisturizing. Stick to this routine come what may and your skin will start to respond positively.
Drink more water
A lot of people simply do not realize just how important water is for your skin, which is a little weird because most of our body is actually water, so it stands to reason it would help.
Being hydrated clears your skin of impurities and helps your body to get rid of toxins. Not only that but it also helps your body to transport nutrients to your skin via oxygen. It also helps to plump and smooth your skin. That’s why you should aim to drink a minimum of eight cups of water each day. If you find that hard, eating foods with a high water content, such as melon, oranges, and cucumbers can help you to meet your quota while also providing your body with skin-helping antioxidants too.
Clean up your diet
Eating a healthy diet is food for you in so many ways; it can build your immune system, help you maintain a healthy weight, and ensure that you get all of the vitamins and minerals your body needs to function optimally. It’s also really good for your skin.
If you’re serious about getting that radiant glow, therefore, you should aim to eat a diet that’s rich in fresh fruit and vegetables, whole foods, and lean protein, as well as foods that are rich in omega-3 fats. These foods contain the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that your skin needs to stay healthy and develop that natural glow. Vitamins C, E, and A are particularly good for this, but the more diverse the nutrients you eat, the better you will look and feel.
While we’re on the subject of diet, it’s a good idea to avoid eating sugar and dairy products in high quantities. You see, sugar can increase your insulin levels which throws your hormones out of whack, and this can cause breakouts and other skin problems. Dairy can behave similarly, particularly if you have an intolerance – something an allergy blood test can help you determine – and it is also known to increase oil production in some people. So, experiment and see what works for you.
Get your beauty sleep
Beauty sleep really isn’t a myth. If you want to look good and have beautiful skin, you really do need to get your 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Doing so will give your skin time to rest and rejuvenate so that you wake up with a natural glow that is free from dark circles, eye bags, or skin sag.
Use a silk pillow
While we’re on the subject of sleep, it’s worth pointing out that the type of pillow you use can seriously affect your skin. A lot of pillow fabrics will drag against the skin as you move around in your sleep, which can prevent you from looking your best. Silk and satin pillows, on the other hand, are smooth and gentle, which means they won’t cause you any irritation to the skin, which is why you should consider investing in a set – they’re great for hair too.
Stay away from hot water
Hot water might feel good, but you should avoid it as much as possible if you’re serious about getting skin that glows. Why? Because really ht water will strip the natural oils from your skin and you need those oils to keep your skin supple and moist. If they are removed, your body will go into overtime producing more oil, and this could lead to an overproduction that will make any oily skin problem worse.
Don’t rub your skin
When you’re drying your skin, you should never rub it – pat the area instead with a soft towel. This will help to prevent irritation to the skin which could cause it to turn red or become flaky.
Use a vitamin C serum
Vitamin C serums are great for the skin. They help to boost the body’s production of collagen, which helps to smooth and plump skin. Not only that but they can strengthen your skin cells and increase its brightness. They are even good at minimizing dark circles. The key is to find one that works well for your skin type, so some research may be required.
Use Retinol
Retinol is one of the best products you can use if you want our skin to look younger and brighter. It works by stimulating the production of skin cells so that you always appear fresh-faced. It is also really good for evening out hyper-pigmentation and minimizing the appearance of blemishes and scars. The only catch is that you need to use retinol regularly and or the long-term if you want to see lasting results. That being said, you can typically see a great difference in the appearance of your skin after 3 months’ use.
You should also bear in mind that, immediately after using retinol, your skin may appear red and flaky. This is something that normally ceases shortly into continual use of the product, but it can put some people off.
Always wear sunscreen
One of the best things you could possibly ever do for your skin, and indeed your overall health and wellbeing, is to always, and I mean always wear sunscreen. The sun’s rays can be amazingly damaging, causing everything from freckles and sunspots to fine lines and wrinkles to appear with prolonged exposure. It can, as I’m sure you know, also cause skin cancer. So, it makes sense to use sunscreen daily, even if you think it won’t get sunny enough for you to need it – that way you’re always protected. You should apply your sunscreen after you’ve moisturized and top it up throughout the day as required. Oh, and make sure that it’s at least 30 SPF to ensure that it can do its job and keep you safe.
See a dermatologist
If you have skin problems that just won’t clean up, from eczema to rosacea, it could be that you either have skin allergies or very sensitive skin and the best thing you can do to get the glowing complexion you’ve always dreamed of is to see a professional dermatologist who will be able to access your situation and treat you appropriately. A lot of people don’t realize they have sensitive skin, which means they use products that are too harsh and which frequently do more harm than good to their bodies – don’t let that be you and get the help you need. By treating the root cause of your problem, you can finally get clear skin that glows.
So what are you waiting for? Go get that glow!
