8 Steps to Healthy Skin

Skin care is an essential part of our daily lives but it’s not always properly done. I’ve noticed people either do not take care of their skin well enough or over do it with too many treatments and products. In this blog, I will cover skin care for your face and body. There are so many factors in our daily lives that can affect our skin, from air pollution to stress but I will be covering the most important basics.

• Define Your Skin Type

            Everyone’s skin is different especially on his or her face. Defining your skin type is important so you can correctly determine the products you will use on your face and body. Knowing is half the battle.

There are four basic skin types:

• Normal skin is defined as skin that is well balanced with an even skin tone. Normal skin will have large pores on the forehead, nose and chin. It will also have very few problem areas.

• Dry skin is defined as skin that is dry on the surface and generally feels tight after cleansing. Dry skin is also susceptible to being blotchy. It is also thinner than normal skin with slightly larger pores.

• Oily Skin is defined as skin with larger pores on face and a generally oily surface. Unfortunately, oily skin is more prone to acne and other problems. On the Brightside, oily skin is less prone to wrinkles because of its flexibility.

• Combination skin is defined as having both dry and oily skin. Combination skin can be tricky to take care of because you will need to spot treat different parts of the face.

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If you are having trouble figuring out your skin type I highly recommend taking this online skin type quiz here. It’s very thorough and offers treatment options.

• Create a Routine

            For your face you generally want to cleanse, tone and moisturize but it really does depend on your specific needs. You also, want to create a routine when it comes to the shower too! Exfoliation of your skin is very important. You can buy a skin exfoliation cleanser at major retailers or drug stores, but you do not want to exfoliate daily because it may dry out your skin. Specific skin treatments should also be kept on a schedule, whether it’s every 3 days or just once a week. It is very important to not over do it with treatments. Once your skin is on a regular schedule it can start to create a balance for itself.

• Use Protection!

            Sun protection is HUGE in skin care and there’s a very good reason for that. The sun is just like anything else, it’s good for you in moderation but you do not want to overexpose yourself. Thankfully, there are a ton of products on the market today to help with everyday sun exposure. It is recommended that for daily sun exposure SPF 15 will work but for prolong exposure you should use SPF 30 or higher. To make it easier on yourself you can purchase makeup products and everyday lotions that contain SPF. Here is an awesome article on 9 really great products containing SPF’s!

• Keep it Clean

            Clean all of your make-up brushes regularly! Also, know the expiration dates of all your beauty products. You DO NOT want to put anything dirty or old on your face. Make sure you clean your pillowcases and sheets regularly as well. Also, you should NEVER go to bed with any makeup on. Try to wash your face twice daily, 10 to 12 hours apart.

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• Diet

            Your diet has a HUGE impact on your skin. What we put in our bodies tends to reflect on our outside. It sounds cliché but maintaining a healthy diet will help skin stay clear of breakouts and give you a natural glow.

Here are a few basic tips.

• Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water daily

• Lower your sugar intake

• Go easy on dairy products

• Eat healthy fats like fish and nuts

• Drink green tea

• Cut back on acidic fruits

• Take Biotin

            If you are able to take Biotin or a multivitamin containing Biotin, I highly recommend it. Biotin is a hair, skin and nails supplement that contains coenzyme and vitamin B. You can find Biotin at any drug store and depending on which brand you want and it can be pretty inexpensive! I suggest buying it in gel caps because the other vitamins can be really large and hard to swallow.

Here is a chart to help you determine the dosage you will need daily:

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• Catch Some ZzzZZzz’s!

            Being well rested can help you not only feel better but look better as well! You want to make sure you’re getting plenty of good sleep at night. If you are having trouble getting enough sleep then try adding more exercise to your daily routine! Do not fall asleep staring at your phone. Studies have shown that the light from your phone screen, tablet or computer can disrupt sleep.

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• Don’t Stress!

            This is a tough one. Most of us can get stressed out trying not to stress out! Unfortunately, stress can take a toll on our overall health and skin. Stress can cause acne, rosaceous to flair up and even eczema to appear. Taking out some time from your busy schedule to unwind or exercise can greatly improve your stress level.

Here are some activity ideas to help relieve some stress:

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I hope this blog helps you to achieve your best skin!

Stay Beautiful,

Kinzie