Since we face so many internal and external stressors that affect the functions of the skin, it's hard to always keep it clear and healthy-looking. From dry skin caused by air conditioners or water loss from heat waves, here are a set of general rules to hard code into your day-to-day. As soon as they become a habit, you'll find yourself with the clearest skin you've ever had. Great stuff, right?
1. Cleansing Your Face Twice a Day
You don't have to be prone to breakouts or have oily skin to have a good cleansing system. Even when there is no visible sign of pore-clogging or oil on your face, cleansing in the morning and evening with a mild cleanser can detoxify your skin's daily pollutants, bacteria, and dust that keep on accumulating even while you sleep. This prepares the skin for other products in your skincare system so they can do their job better.
There are a variety of face cleansers out there that just do the job. If you're looking for something a little more effective for a certain issue, make sure they have the right active ingredients.
Start by dampening your face if you are not in the shower. A cleanser will work more efficiently if the skin is steamed or dampened to open pores more readily - remember those trips to the barber and hot towels? Same idea.
A good cleanser doesn't require a lot of product. Start by thinning out a small layer of the cleanser on your face without pressing too hard.
It's always good to remember that better cleansers will need more time on your skin to let the active ingredients sink through. After about a minute of lathering your face, rinse with cold water - so fresh, so clear.
2. Remember to Exfoliate
Having a buildup of dead cells on your face doesn't sound too good or very healthy for your skin. Exfoliating is one of the most overlooked steps in a skincare system for clear skin. Yes, your skin does self-renew every 14 to 28 days, but there are times during the week where oil production goes haywire because of the few hours of sleep and the skin begins to stack and get rough. And you guessed it, you've created tired, dull, flaky skin. Exfoliating both prevents and supports healthy skin cell growth and gets rid of all the small face marks, finer lines, and rougher skin. Find out more below on GOA's premier exfoliating solution for healthier skin.
So how often should you exfoliate? Every three days is the magic number, but you need to keep an eye out for the ingredients in the formula. Some may be too rough on the skin or too powerful of an active ingredient - and you don't want to over-exfoliate. This would result in everything but clear skin.
What to look for in a scrub?
- Look for a blend of physical exfoliating ingredients and chemical exfoliants like AHAs and BHAs (Glycolic acid, an AHA, has the smallest molecular weight of all AHAs, so it penetrates the deepest and can build collagen in addition to improving texture and tone).
- Make sure the scrub does not have many essential oils which can further irritate the skin.
- Proteins are important to keep the skin moisturized while exfoliating. Many scrubs on the market today dry out the skin leading to a rougher texture
What's the best method to effectively exfoliate?
- The skin has got to be clean. Scrubs work so much better when they aren't working overtime clearing dust and other debris.
- Apply the scrub on damp or steamed skin in the shower.
- Don't use too much pressure on the skin while scrubbing in a circular motion.
- Wait for 30 to 60 seconds for the ingredients to absorb and then rinse with ice cold water. This wakes up the face.
3. Use an Antioxidant Agent in Your Life
Stress builds up in your system from internal and external sources. This leads to oxidation in the body including the skin. It can then lose a lot of efficiency in many of its functions and begin to age quicker.
To keep this in check, keep a simple tool handy to limit the effects of oxidation on your skin. A serum is highly recommended.
4. Catch Those Z's
During sleep, your skin regenerates and repairs itself from a hard day's work - blocking out the constant attack of pollutants, infection, temperature, etc. So naturally, it requires its own time to replenish.
This is part of your circadian rhythm that, at certain hours, releases hormones like melatonin to build antioxidant enzymes and break down stress. So without a good night's sleep, your skin cannot get rid of stress properly. No clear skin here.
5. Water Is Life, for Your Skin
Well, many stand by this mantra: drink your daily intake of water and your skin will become clear and well hydrated. This actually has not been proven. Regardless, water does make sure the body is working at its capacity while transporting nutrients through the bloodstream including to the skin. But like so many, we've put our trust in H2O as a step for clearer skin as staying hydrated can boost energy levels, help you become more resilient to stress, and optimize your focus. Whatever works, right?
With these small rules in mind, you'll be on your way to clearer, smoother, and healthier-looking skin.