Exfoliate A Couple Times Per Week
We lose 50 million skin cells a day, and without a little extra nudge, they may hang around leaving the skin looking sullen. To fight this, you should “choose a product that is pH neutral so it doesn’t dry as it exfoliates.” And don’t just stop with your face — the skin on your body needs exfoliation, too.
Vitamins Should Go On Your Skin, Too
A balanced diet is important, but there’s more than one way to give your skin vitamins. There are also topical antioxidants, which are serums and creams that contain ingredients that nourish the skin (think vitamin C serum!).
These can really help to repair the skin from sun damage. Not sure how to use them? The best time to apply them is right after cleansing so that your skin can soak them in, or they can be layered under your sunscreen for added protection.
Get Your Greens
Though it’s tempting to grab a coffee the minute you wake up, Joanna Vargas, a skincare facialist in NYC, says choosing the right beverages can be a game changer. Drink a shot of chlorophyll every morning to brighten, oxygenate, and hydrate your skin. Drinking chlorophyll also helps drain puffiness by stimulating the lymphatic system, so it’s also good for cellulite.
If you’re not keen on downing a shot of the stuff, chlorophyll supplements can be found at many drugstores and health food stores. She also advised drinking green juices with lots of veggies in them: “It will transform your skin in a matter of days — and it helps oxygenate the skin and stimulates lymphatic drainage, so it’s de-puffing, too.
Maintain A Healthy Diet
Your skin has a natural barrier to retain moisture, and essential to that is omega-3 fatty acid.Flax seeds on your salad or even walnuts will be an instant boost to your omega-3, thus increasing your skin’s ability to hold onto moisture.And be sure to eat a diet low in foods with a high glycemic index (simple and complex carbohydrates).
Clean Your Makeup Brushes Regularly
To fight infection and clogged pores, washing concealer and foundation brushes once a week. For brushes you use around your eyes, she recommends twice per month, and for any other brushes, once a month is fine.
Here’s how: Put a drop of a mild shampoo into the palm of your hand. Wet the bristles with lukewarm water. Then, massage the bristles into your palm to distribute the shampoo into the brush. Avoid getting the metal part of the brush wet/or the base of the brush hairs because the glue could soften and the bristles could fall out. Rinse the shampoo out and squeeze out the water with a towel. Lay the brushes on their side with the bristles hanging off the edge of the counter to dry.
Wear Sunscreen 365 Days A Year — Rain Or Shine, Indoors Or Out
Many people feel they only need to protect themselves on sunny days or when visiting the beach.But the truth is that we need to protect our skin even when we’re driving a car, flying in an airplane, or running errands. It’s the daily UV exposure that contributes to the visible signs of aging. What kind of sunscreen is best? Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a SPF of 30 or greater — and remember that it needs to be reapplied every 2 hours.
Sun Protection Doesn’t Stop At Sunscreen
We’re talking SPF makeup, sunglasses, and broad-brimmed hats. Preventing sun damage is a million times better for your skin than treating it after the fact.
Simplify Your Skincare Routine
Fad products and fancy ingredients are fun to try, and sometimes they work well, but usually they’re off the shelves just as quickly as they’re on them. Find a cleanser and moisturizer that you know work for you, and keep them at the core of your routine.
