6 Steps for Your Skincare Routine
Gorgeous skin isn’t unattainable, but there are steps everyone should take on the road to radiance. Implement a simple skin care routine by following these six steps for a stunning, youthful glow.
1. Start with Sunscreen.
Sunscreen isn’t just for the beach – it’s for every single day. Rain or shine, the first step to healthy, youthful skin is to keep it protected from damaging UV rays. Sure, a bronzed face may glow today. But unprotected UV exposure breaks down the collagen and elastin in skin, leading to wrinkles, dark spots, and a leathery look later in life. Sun exposure can damage more than your appearance, too. Unprotected exposure to UV rays also sets the stage for skin cancers like melanoma.
2. Simplify your Routine.
Using a pharmacy full of facial products doesn’t guarantee great results. Instead, the fountain of youth is more likely to be found in a simple cleanser, a good sunscreen, and a nice moisturizer. Overloading on products can irritate your skin. Plus, all the serums, mud masks, and exfoliants on the shelves can’t do their job if the basics are skipped. Focus on the essentials. When it comes to skin care, less is more.
3. Moisturize
Using moisturizer is a vital part of any healthy skin care routine, and the sooner you start the better. Beyond managing dry skin, moisturizing helps skin maintain its youthful appearance, because the delicate skin on the face and neck needs moisture to aid in new cell repair. Experts say it’s best to use moisturizer right when you jump out of the shower while your face is still damp. Why? Hot water from the shower strips moisture and oil from your skin, leaving it parched and dry.
4. Remove Makeup Before Bed.
Leaving a face-full of makeup on your skin overnight can clog acne-prone pores. But that’s not all: a makeup-faced slumber means you haven’t washed away the pollutants from the day that cling to makeup. These pollutants can cause the breakdown of healthy collagen, resulting in fine lines and premature aging.
5. Get Plenty of Sleep.
Beauty sleep isn’t just a myth – it’s actually true that the more sleep you get, the better you’ll look. No stranger to dark circles after a long night out? Those are the result of your blood vessels dilating in response to lack of rest. Plus, lack of sleep reduces your skin’s hydration, making your face appear dull and potentially causing wrinkles. Sleep works to restore your skin, giving it a chance to grow new cells to replace older cells.
6. Eat a Healthy Diet.
It’s true that you are what you eat—what you put into your body is reflected on the outside in your skin, hair, and nails. So it only follows that maintaining a healthy diet – one rich in foods like nuts, veggies, and lean proteins – can do wonders for your skin. For example, vitamin C-rich foods like broccoli can cancel out free radicals that cause wrinkles and sagging, and walnuts are packed with omega-3 fatty acids which can lower inflammation and prevent breakouts.
