Eight Simple Additions to your Everyday Routine for Healthier Skin

Many of us want to have beautiful skin and a youthful appearance. The best way to achieve this look is by paying attention to your skin’s health. It’s your body’s largest organ and it is extremely important to take care of your skin, not only for your visual appearance but also for your general well being. There are so many simple things you can add to your everyday routine to make your skin look and feel healthier. Getting enough sleep each night is one of the best (and often most overlooked) skincare habits.

When you sleep, your body produces collagen which helps your skin look fuller and reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Losing sleep can also lead to under-eye bags. Getting enough sleep helps increase the blood flow in your skin and face, helping you acquire that desirable rosy glow. Another major benefit of getting adequate sleep is stress reduction. When you sleep, you are spending your time resting, not stressing.

When you are anxious and stressed out, you could be prone to accelerated aging, including wrinkles and grey hair. By sleeping for just an extra hour or two per night, you can reduce the number of hours spent stressing, and obtain the added benefit of a lower likelihood of wrinkles.

Nutritious eating is not only important for the health of your body, it’s also imperative for the well being of your skin. Good nutrition can help keep your hormones in check and give your complexion the healthy glow you are looking for. Including healthy fats in your diet can help to keep your hormones balanced. Healthy fat sources like avocados, nuts, seeds, and coconut can help regulate your hormones and keep your skin from getting dry, as well as keep your breakouts to a minimum.

Most dark-colored vegetables and fruit contain high concentrations of micro nutrients, which aid in your body’s well being, and especially your skin. Foods like berries, kale, and even dark chocolate contain antioxidants which help your body protect itself. Antioxidants can help keep your skin looking young, and they can even assist your body in keeping your skin safe from UV damage (although you should still wear sunscreen). Some of your skin is always visible when you are outside.

Whenever your body is exposed to ultraviolet rays, your skin can suffer some serious damage. If your unprotected skin is exposed to UV rays for more than 15 minutes, even if you don’t get a sunburn, there may still be some damage done. Your skin will look younger and healthier for far longer if you make sure to wear sunscreen (especially on your face and hands) every day.

It is important to reapply sunscreen if you are outside every two hours, and after swimming. You can even find lip balms and makeup with built-in sunscreen. When you touch your face and neck with your hands, all the day’s dirt can be transferred easily. Think about it, your hands touch everything: door handles, trolleys, your phone, food, et cetera.

Even if you are diligent about washing your hands, it is likely that there is some less-than-appetizing residual dirt under your nails. You do not want that on your skin! Extra dirt, oil, and bacteria can lead to acne breakouts, so keep your hands away. This may be a difficult habit to break, but it is well worth it. When you fuss with pimples, zits, and spots, not only will irritation occur, but you run the risk of a couple of bad side effects. If there are any bacteria that shouldn’t get into your skin, you could get an infection. Infected acne can compromise not only your complexion, but the health of your skin.

Medications for acne are often drying and painful. Acne scarring can also occur if you pick at your face and clearing facial scarring can be a lot more difficult than preventing it. Just don’t pick. Your hands produce oil, so when you rub them all over your face, it is not only the makeup you are spreading around. It is better to use a makeup brush or reusable blending tool to apply makeup. This way, you can be sure nothing else gets rubbed into your skin.

It is very important to keep your makeup brushes clean, especially your foundation and powder brushes. Cleaning and drying them once a week should suffice.

Washing your face every night with a gentle cleanser and removing makeup is a great way to keep your skin healthy. You may want to keep extra clean pillowcases on hand as well so you’re not re-using the same one each night. Your head is on the pillow for a large portion of each day, around 6-9 hours, and having a clean pillowcase every day or two can help manage what your face absorbs.

We all know that adequate hydration is crucial to overall health. In the same vein, drinking enough water is also recommended for healthy skin. People who stay hydrated have less dry skin and also a lower likelihood of developing wrinkles. In addition, if you keep yourself well hydrated your skin will look less puffy, reducing features like bags under your eyes. The exact number of ounces you should drink differs from person to person.

For most people, between six and eight glasses of water each day is adequate. If you exercise, live in a very warm environment, or often feel thirsty, you may want to up your water intake. Taking care of your skin for better skin health and a clear, glowing complexion is simple. By turning these easy steps into daily habits, you can improve your skin health with very little effort! With a few easy adjustments to your daily routine, you can protect your face and look forward to a healthier future for your skin.