5 Tips for Healthy Skin

Can you believe I’ll be turning 30 next month? Ugh, I don’t even want to deal with “getting older” kinds of things, most especially, *dun dun DUN* wrinkles… I want to keep my youthful complexion! For the past few years I’ve made my skin care routine a bigger priority; just because I am getting older doesn’t mean I have to look it. Here’s my 5 tips on keeping skin healthy:

Confession: For years I would wear my makeup to bed all the while knowing it wasn’t good for my skin. Luckily I smartened up and started washing my face every single night and my skin has been oh-so-grateful. Use a gentle cleanser or at the very least, makeup remover wipes, to take off makeup and remove any dirt and oils from the day.

After having a mole on my back several years ago that could have potentially become cancerous I have become a SPF nut. Sun exposure is not only the leading cause of skin cancer but UVA rays and constant tanning can actually cause premature aging. When I know I’m going to be spending most of my day outdoors, no matter if it’s summer or winter, I make sure to put on products with SPF whether it’s a broad-spectrum sunscreen, moisturizer with SPF or even makeup with SPF– powders, BB Cream, Bronzers, I have SPF everywhere in my beauty arsenal!

With so many products available for so many skin ‘issues—there’s a serum for this, a cleanser for that— it can be hard to figure out what to use. For me, I like to keep my skin care routine super simple—cleanser, exfoliate once a week, and moisturize. During the day I use a moisturizer formulated for dry skin (SPF if I’m going to be outdoors!) and an eye cream. At night, after washing or wiping my face I will follow up by applying moisturizing argan oil to my face, letting the oil work it’s magic while I sleep.

I jokingly tell people I go to bed early because I need my beauty sleep but it’s actually half true. While you sleep, skin has a chance to recover, repair and rejuvenate. Not enough sleep can worsen skin conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis and more, not to mention it can accelerate the aging process. 

I’ve never been a smoker but I do have friends who smoke and sadly their skin just isn’t great; those who are in early 30’s or even under 30’s look a lot older and not in a good way. Sorry ladies!  If the threat of lung cancer and the myriad of other health-related issues aren’t scary enough to get smokers to quit, maybe the thought of premature wrinkles. Here is a good article with some additional information on how smoking affects the skin.

Going hand in hand with smoking is drinking, which I am guilty of and can be equally as damaging to skin. Sugary sweet drinks are the worst offenders as the sugars lead to increased skin aging. On the other hand, red wine in moderation can actually be good for you as it contains antioxidants that counteract aging. Here’s a guideon how different drinks affect the skin.

Tell me, how do you take care of your skin?