There are tons of beauty products in the market and tutorials on the Internet detailing how to use them -- all in the pursuit of clear, bright, healthy-looking skin. But no matter what you put on top, what really matters is what's underneath. Makeup begins with skincare, so you need to treat it with love and care. Whether you have dry, oily, or combination skin, you don't necessarily have to spend a lot of money to help you take care of your skin. So let's start 2018 with a more mindful skincare routine by following these simple steps.
1. Be hydrated
Obviously, water is essential for the body, including maintaining optimum skin health. If you're dehydrated on the inside, it will almost always show up on the outside, in the form of flaky, itchy and stretchy skin. That's not all. Due to the excessive chemical pollutants in the air, invariably, tiny particles tend to enter our system through the pores and even the air we breathe, causing the skin to break out into pimples. Water flushes out the toxins in the body, preventing the skin from breaking outs. So don't forget to have at least 1.5 to 2 liters of water daily.
2. Get enough sleep
Just like in the case of water, if your body is tired and low on energy, it will start showing on the skin. When your body doesn't get enough sleep, it starts producing hormones like adrenaline and cortisol to help it deal with the stress of tiredness. These hormones can lead to inflammation of the skin. Not getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep can also lead to dark circles and bags under the eyes. All of these make your skin look fatigued.
3.Hands off your face
Our hands go everywhere, accumulating dust and bacteria from all the surfaces they touch. When you touch your face or someone else touches your face, these pollutants come in contact with the skin. This might seem like a small thing, but if you anyway have sensitive, irritable skin, touching your face with dirty hands could be the cause of constant breakouts. Drop this habit.
4. Clean your face
Make sure you clean your face twice a day. Once in the morning and every night before going to bed. At night, make sure you remove all traces of makeup with a non-alcoholic cleanser. Once done, you need to thoroughly wash off the cleanser with a gentle face wash as well. While we all know leaving makeup on can clog our pores, leftover cleanser too can lead to skin issues such as acne.
5.Don't over wash
Whether your skin is dry, oily or combination, over-washing it can disturb its ph. balance and make your skin alkaline. High alkalinity is a breeding ground for acne and can increase the occurrence of breakouts
6. Figure out your skin type
Everyone has a different skin type, if you're unknowingly using oil-based products when your skin is already oil, you will aggravate it, likely causing breakouts. Sometimes, oily skin can seem dry due to dehydration. So go to a qualified skin expert to help you understand your skin type and make product recommendations, accordingly.
7. Beware of the sun
Sunscreens are not for just summer; our skin needs protection from the sun no matter what the season is. UV rays from the sun are harmful to the skin, and are present even in the winters or when it is not too sunny. Don't leave your house without SPF-protection not only for your face, but the lips as well. Get a sunscreen and a lip balm with SPF. There are now sunscreens for every skin type, so your face stays matte and pimple-free.
8.Exercise
You know how, when you first start working out, your body feels sore, but soon, you start to feel a whole lot more energy? Just like your body, your skin loves it too. Sweating after a workout will open up your pores, allowing all the oil, dirt, and bacteria trapped inside to be washed away. But make sure you wash your face immediately after a workout so that all the grime that comes out, doesn't get sucked back in!
9. Exfoliate
Exfoliating your skin once or twice a week is important to remove dirt and pollutants and clear up clogged pores.
